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Game 90: Yankees at Devil Rays

July
15

Here are the lineups:

YANKEES
Damon DH
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui LF
Cabrera CF
Cano 2B
Phillips 1B
Nieves C
Mussina RHP (4-6, 4.62)

DEVIL RAYS
Iwamura 3B
Crawford LF
Harris SS
Pena 1B
Young RF
Upton CF
Norton DH
Wigginton 2B
Navarro C
Jackson RHP (1-9, 7.23)

Pregame chatter: Joe Torre mentioned today that he had lunch with George Steinbrenner, Hal Steinbrenner and Felix Lopez on Friday at Legends Field. … The Melkman is feeling better and hitting sixth with Jorge Posada getting some rest (well, at least for a few innings). … Derek Jeter said he is missing his 15th high school reunion today. So a lot of women back in Michigan are telling fibs in a hotel ballroom someplace. … Bobby Abreu is 6 of 11 in the series with two homers and eight RBI. He is 17 of 33 in his last nine games with five homer, four doubles, nine RBI and 10 runs scored. … Hideki Matsui is 12 of 35 over the last nine games with five homers and nine RBI. He has at least one hit and one run scored in each of the last nine games.

Wild card standings
Cleveland 53-37
Seattle 51-37 -1
Minnesota 48-43 -5.5
New York 44-44 -8

Enjoy the game. Back later with some updates.

UPDATE, 2:36 p.m.: Nice game so far by the Yanks. Edwin Jackson is one-hitting them and Mike Mussina is pitching like he had 100 days off, not 10. That said, Yanks win. The lefty hitters have crushed pitches from Jackson to the track. They’ll get to him.

UPDATE, 3 p.m.: Will Nieves has allowed 14 stolen bases in a row. He’s also 0 for his last 13 at the plate and 6 of 51 (.118) for the season. At this point, anybody from within the organization as to be better, no?

iced.jpg
UPDATE, 3:07 p.m.: Here’s an exclusive photo of the Dunkin Donuts Ice Coffee Guy who was walking around the field before the game. As Sweeny Murti said, the Pack of Cigarettes Guy had the day off. I only wish Diet Coke or Red Bull Guy had been around.

UPDATE, 3:16 p.m.: That Wil Nieves, he’s the next Johnny Bench.

UPDATE, 4:08 p.m.: So much for Ron Villone’s long scoreless streak. Coming out of this series 2-2 would be a huge failure.

UPDATE, 4:27 p.m.: Good for Andy Phillips, who has had several personal hurdles to overcome in the last two years. He’s taking first base and running with it. … Matsui has scored a run in 10 straight games, which isn’t easy to do.

Krazy Kyle is warming up, so the Yankees could use an insurance run or six here.

UPDATE, 4:35 p.m.: I’d love to see a stat for beating out a grounder with the bases loaded and two outs in a close game. Derek Jeter has to be the all-time record holder.

UPDATE, 4:48 p.m.: What a day for Andy Phillips, who saved the game in the eighth inning with that diving stop and throw to second. He’s 2 for 4 with the go-ahead RBI and the defensive play of the game.

Now it’s up to Mariano Rivera to determine whether it’s a good series or a disaster.

This entry was posted on Sunday, July 15th, 2007 at 1:04 pm by Peter Abraham.
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539 Responses to “Game 90: Yankees at Devil Rays”

  1. jim

    I still can’t believe that in less than one year they’ve gone from Stinnett to Fasano to Nieves. It’s like someone is trying to get the worst possible option. I wonder who?

  2. ben from boston

    guys if the mayor of beverly hills offers you his gf just say no

  3. ben from boston

    jorge deserves the rest. i know its the mussina thing but he really deserves it

  4. Rocco

    1:40 start time? ugh.

    Yey for entourage tonight!

  5. ben from boston

    rocco! hes back. cannes tonight whos pumped?

  6. Alan

    ben, I agree…but wouldn’t you feel better if our backup catcher had just a LEETLE pop in his bat ? I just think that we can do better at that position, although it will NOT stop us from STOMPIN’ the DRays today…...POSITIVE, POSITIVE, POSITIVE !!!! (wink)

  7. ben from boston

    haha funny alan and of course i would be happy but he needs a rest every fifteen games or so he isnt superman. hes good but not that good. plus the sox have dougie it could be worse

  8. ben from boston

    and yea its safe to say if we lose this game… then when can we win!

  9. Rocco

    i bet the cannes ep will be similar to the utah ep. Hopefully there will me no crossing of swords.

  10. Rocco

    err be not me LOL

  11. E-ROC

    Rod Barajas could be our catcher if we trade with the Phillies. We could give up some relievers for him. Anyway, I got us winning 14-5. I think Mussina will come back to earth but I’ll offense will wake up against Edwin Jackson. I’m predicting a breakout game for Nieves because Derek Jeter gave him some more advice.

  12. ben from boston

    haha that was a hilarious scene though the look on turtles face. why does harvey come around whenever they go to a film festivel

  13. jim

    Nieves: .120 .154 .120 (50 AB)
    Belli: .182 .259 .312 (77 AB)

    Actually, it couldn’t get any worse.

  14. Rocco

    i don’t like harvey. hopefully we never see him again. I doubt he’ll go to cannes.

  15. ben from boston

    i dont think thats the last well see of him. hes coming back. i predict that moose goes the full 9 or atleast gets kicked out in the ninth but hes going the distance or close to it

  16. E-ROC

    Jason Giambi (foot) is in Tampa Bay and is expected to begin working out at the Yankees’ minor-league complex this week.

    He has told people within the organization he might need two weeks to get ready – however, it’s more than likely Giambi won’t return until the middle of next month. He’ll probably share most of his time with Johnny Damon at DH when he is able to return.

    Doug Mientkiewicz (wrist) is hoping to be back in the lineup the first week in August, but realistically it will probably be closer to mid-August.

    “I’d have to see significant improvement to get back that quickly,” Mientkiewicz said. He is scheduled to be examined in New York on Thursday and hopes to be cleared for baseball activities at that time.

    ALL FROM ROTOWORLD

  17. E-ROC

    Darrell Rasner (finger) was finally able to play catch on flat ground, throwing from 75 feet Saturday.

    Rasner will do so again Sunday. “It feels fine,” he said. “It’s just a matter of building my arm strength.”

    ROTOWORLD

  18. Bronx

    Why does everyone care so much about the backup catcher? According to Jim at 1:22 Nieves has 50 ABs with 6 hits. If he had 12 hits, he’d be hitting .240 – then presumably we’d all be happy. How many wins could those extra 6 hits possibly be worth? Especially considering that he will almost always be pinch hit for in close and late situations anyway.

  19. Dr. Acula

    C’mon Moose, win one for all the little kids out there tossing their cookies, win one for ‘da Melky!

  20. Alan

    ben from boston
    July 15th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
    and yea its safe to say if we lose this game… then when can we win!

    What do you mean by that, ben ???

  21. Dr. Acula

    Bronx-

    If he had 12 hits… then presumably we’d all be happy.

    No, but if he had zero hits, then I wonder if he was related to Bush.

  22. E-ROC

    Bronx- Nieves is nearly an automatic out. Our offense isn’t consistent enough to overshadow Nieves’ shortcomings so his AB or stats will stand out more than they should. We had Sal Fasano and we do have Raul Chavez in the minors.

  23. Dr. Acula

    Bronx-

    If he had 12 hits then presumably we’d all be happy

    No, but if he had zero hits, then I wonder if he was related to bush.

  24. Alan

    Bronx…I admit that it is NOT our #1 need,,,just that it would be on my WISH LIST…..I know that we have bigger fish to fry, admittedly….GO YANKEES and GO BRONX MAN ! My uncle was from the Bronx and he was an awesome man. He lived off Morris avenue and when we would visit him, we would get REAL Italian Coffee and awesome NY Pizza at places that were a walk from his APT….those were the days !

  25. jim

    Bronx –
    What if those six hits meant one win? And the Yanks lose out on a playoff sport by 1 win?

    Of course, no writer would present that story, but every hit could mean something. Indeed, watch how many times Nieves comes to the plate with a runner on base today. ANd if they lose by one run, then those ABs mean something.

    Worse, the fact that Nieves has only gotten 50 ABs means something for Jorge. He’s about to be 36 years old. And every extra inning he plays just increases the chances he gets hurt.

    And who would step in for Jorge in that case?

    Wil Nieves.

  26. ben from boston

    that were playing a guy whos era is above 7 and we have our number two guy out there. if we cant win today then idk… and its not a very good team behind the pitcher either

  27. Bronx

    E-ROC
    Sal Fasano is 8 for 45 this year with Toronto. Do you really thing having him instead of Nieves would have won us any more games?

  28. whereareusj44

    Remembering the days when Edwin Jackson was one of the top pitching prospects in the game.

  29. Alan

    MAN…Bobby is smoking the ball lately,,,,I would keep him at #3, unless he goes into a super slump again…He just seems that he is swinging the bat WAY better and with a lot of confidence at #3 …

  30. ben from boston

    yes alan i agree and for the answer to your question is above

  31. ben from boston

    on fsn florida for mussinas profile it said: Invents pitches, good fielder. Then the line drive they go WOW I GUESS HE DOES FIELD WELL

  32. jim

    Bronx –
    So Fasano has more hits in few AB, and you’re asking if that would help win any more games?

    Meanwhile, Fasano has more hits, more doubles (3 vs 0), more HR (1 vs 0) and has scored more runs, etc.

    Indeed:
    Nieves: .120 .154 .120
    Fasano: .178 .229 .311

    Yes, unbelievably, Sal Fasano is a better option than Wil Nieves and thus would be more likely to help the Yankees win.

    And I can’t believe I’m actually arguing this point.

  33. mel

    Here we go again.

  34. ben from boston

    heads up play

  35. Bronx

    Jim – Agreed Fasano’s numbers are better than Nieves’s numbers. My point is that difference between them is so small that it probably would not make much difference. It seems to me that the lack of production from Nieves is very far down the list of the Yankee’s problems. On this blog (in general – not just today) I think it gets much more attention than it deserves.

  36. Alan

    OK…MOOSE…NO Excuses…finish off this inning and let’s get back to hitting the COVER OFF THE BALL, YANKEES !!!

  37. jim

    But Bronx, it’s such a dumb move. Nieves never showed he was worth the roster slot – not even in the minors. If they weren’t going to get anything better in the off-season (Lieberthal or even a Molina) then there’s no reason not to keep a Fasano around.

    And if they lose out on a playoff spot by 1 win, all the wasted ABs by Cairo, Nieves, and Doug certainly will add to more than one win.

    But…

    Playoffs? What playoffs?

  38. EdFl

    Pavano could not pitch because of injuries. What’s Mussina’s excuse? For a guy complains so much, he is not producing.

  39. ben from boston

    jim you butured it. and yea i could see this going either way moose just shutting them down or being taken out next inning but i doubt its normal after this either side of the spect5rum

  40. rover

    moose looking uncomfortable in the firs, hope that changes

  41. Rocco

    I hate inconsistent umpires

    sigh

  42. LathamJoe

    Is there anything worse than watching an Over-The-Hill, ineffective, 83 MPH ,Whining, Bitching MIKE MUSSINA pitch???????
    UGH!

  43. Colorado Yank

    Who is watching the game? What was the deal with Carl Crawfords single? Listening to Sterling and was not clear, except that Matsui should have made the play. Just like Abreu’s first inning hit, initially called a home run…

    Help. Sterling has me soooooooooooo confused.

  44. ben from boston

    can we hit the ball on the ground

  45. ben from boston

    it was in no mans land colorado nobody could have gotten it

  46. Alan

    we are crushin’ the ball and soon the balls will find the holes….yankees win today 7-5 !!!

  47. rover

    would bet they get to this jackson in the next inning or so

  48. Colorado Yank

    Latham, agree. Mussina is the worst when he thinks that his defense let him down he quits. Could have gotten out of the inning with only 1 run.

  49. LathamJoe

    Jeter normally catches that popup. I think he had trouble picking it up under the Dome.

  50. Alan

    playoffs = when the yankees shock everyone but me & ben, the place the yankees will be this year !!!!

  51. james

    it was good of the yankees not to give a pena shot. because the one thing we DON’T need is a slick-fielding, power-hitting first baseman. nice work!

  52. ben from boston

    alan thats not how you win these contact hitters need to stop swinging for the fences and need to hit it on the ground let the big boys hit it out

  53. Colorado Yank

    Thanks ben… completely different than sterling’s assessment.

  54. ben from boston

    haha thats right alan we got this sh!t

  55. ben from boston

    colorado, it was the old triangle play: the ss running back but he needs to make a willie mays catch to get it and the cf, and the corner fielder busting in but neither getting to it

  56. Rocco

    The Yankees are hitting Jackson hard but right at players… Tampa is getting bloops, bunts, and seeing eye singles. Weird game.

  57. ben from boston

    this game isnt coming easily like i stated. theyre going to have to earn this win

  58. Josh

    Bring the bullpen in, let’s get Ramirez out there for a few innings.

  59. Bronx

    Jim – I’m not so sure choosing Nieves over Fasano was such a dumb move. Fasano is an 11 year veteran .220 hitter. You pretty much know what you are getting with him. Nieves hit .289 and .259 in AAA the last to years – not tearing it up but respectable. It was a gamble that he might do more than Fasano this year. So far that gamble has not worked out, but I wouldn’t say it was obviously dumb to take the chance.

  60. Andrea

    Moose is kind of reminding me of someone’s dad who won’t really yell at you, but you know he’s disappointed in you.

  61. ben from boston

    haha good synopsis andrea but hes only got one person to be mad at

  62. Stuart

    Moose will be his usual whining complaining excuse self after this game.

    I had 11 days off blah blah blah..

    the guy needs to step up…

  63. Dimitri

    Wait a second, I thought the pitcher with the 1-9 record pitches for the devil rays. What is he doing in Mussina’s body?

  64. ben from boston

    i agree with stuart the pitching staff needs to step up. offense comes and go, but pitching takes hard grinding work. i hope nieves gets a 10 RBI day to shut you guys up

  65. T.J.

    Good day finally got some time to come to watch the game with my online pals. Just looked at the score. I think Yankees can come back. Thanks for the update on Doug.

    Guess when my buddies saw Giambi at the club in Vegas last weekend he was relieving stress. I’m anxious to know how it turns out for the guy. Hope it goes in his favor.

  66. bakra

    wil nieves,
    cant hit, cant throw out runners. why on the team?

  67. Andrea

    ben—I thought it was pretty good myself. And you’re right. Though Nieves could do a better throwing out stealers. I can’t tell if that’s Moose’s problem, though, or NIeves’s, because I’ve only seen Nieves catch Darrell Rasner and I don’t really recall those games.

  68. T.J.

    Hate to ask but how’s our pitching been so far today. At work and just getting around to getting the game online

  69. ben from boston

    ytheyre hitting the ball hard its just not landing. god i hate these games they are the worst

  70. Alan

    ben…is THAT you being positive ???

  71. Andrea

    I agree Ben. Because there’s not really much they can do to change their approach cause they’re hitting the ball well, just not in the right places.

    Though Jeter’s strike out just now wasn’t too pleasant.

  72. BBB

    Gat damn…my man Moose is stinking up the joint big time.

    I thought giving him 10 days off COULD actually be a good thing if he did a couple innings worth of throwing on that 5th day. Does anyone know if he did?
    Ya know, when the All-Star break came, the Reds sent their top prospect Homer Bailey down to the minors so he could stay on a regular schedule. I know it sounds ridiculous to compare a rookie and a 38 y/o vet. But given that we all know what happens when Moose gets off schedule would it have been so crazy to have him pitch at Scranton or something on that 5th day?

    Meanwhile we’re making this big ole pile of suck Edwin Jackson look like freakin Cy Young. This is truly nauseating.

  73. Rocco

    Boston down 2-0…

    I’d like to take this game and be 9 back :)

    It seems like whenever the yankees win, Boston wins. Oh well.

  74. ben from boston

    alan im trying man. unlike a lot of these animals im hoping for success i think they enjoy the yanks losing so they can “female dog” about it. i think i take this too seriously. when the yanks lose im miserable. BUT THIS GAMES NOT OVER. HOORAH!

  75. Colorado Yank

    Ok watching this game now… Yankees look a little flat that inning.

    How many batters has crybaby started 1-0 with? Anyone know?

  76. Rocco

    “Meanwhile we’re making this big ole pile of suck Edwin Jackson look like freakin Cy Young. This is truly nauseating.”

    That’s not true… there have been a lot of hard hit balls today. Just right at the Rays. They’ll get to him dont worry.

  77. Andrea

    ben: the game is FAR from over! It’s only the third inning! Moose is going to have a 1-2-3 inning and we’re gonna come back with a 6 run 4th.

    seem doable?

  78. ben from boston

    meanwhile the devil rays announcers are comparing joe maddon to young frankenstein. this is horrible

  79. Andrea

    Moose is gonna get thrown out.

  80. ben from boston

    yea except they got a hit. but thanks anyway andrea. you me and alan we are the positive crew

  81. rover

    that upton hit courtesy buckner, he is just lousy today.

  82. BBB

    Also I saw Greg Zaun is off the DL and the Jays’ original BUC is that Jason Phillips (?) dude correct? We need to re-acquire Pisano Fasano, stat!!

    I do agree with whoever wrote above that it wasn’t a crazy idea to choose Nieves over Sal in the offseason. But Sal’s avg would at least be .220 as opposed to .120, he might actually hit a couple of homers, and he’s got a helluva arm on him. Barroid Bonds wouldn’t have stolen off him in that game @ SF a couple of weeks ago, that’s for damn sure. Bring back Sal!

  83. rover

    upton was out on the previous pitch.

  84. Andrea

    Maybe Moose isn’t the disappointed dad. He’s the disappointed mom. Dad (home plate umpire Buckner) got angry with mommy and their son, little Wil, had to diffuse the fight. Poor Wil. He’s gonna have a lot of therapy.

  85. Rocco

    Joe Torre arguing with a black umpire? He must be racist!

  86. ben from boston

    andrea = 0 for 2

  87. rover

    nieves has some fire in him, think he thinks enough is enough

  88. Colorado Yank

    Ok… CB Buckner needs to go.. The guy is always more about showing he is the boss than umpiring…

  89. ben from boston

    haha rocco i was thinking the same thing ump : “gary and kenny were right. YOURE OUT OF HERE”

  90. rover

    trying to save a hispanics butt i think

  91. jim

    Bronx –

    At the very least use OPS – please. Nieves is a singles hitter. Fasano will hit doubles and homeruns. Doubles and homeruns are much more valuable than singles, right?

    I’m officially done with this topic. I’m about to throw up.

  92. River Ave Report

    Best thing is if Buckner kicks Moose and Nieves out. Posada and Villone could come in.

    Buckner didn’t give up that single, Moose did and he is looking for excuses like always…he will be talking about his 10 days off in the post game.

  93. BBB

    “That’s not true… there have been a lot of hard hit balls today. Just right at the Rays. They’ll get to him dont worry.”

    My fault Rocco, I just turned on Gameday and hadn’t had the heart to put on MLB Audio once I saw what the score was. I am working my nerve up to do so right now :) In the meantime I appreciate your optimism and am normally one of the more positive fans myself…it just made me ill when I saw Edwin Jackson of all people had only given up 1 hit!

  94. Mike S.

    I didn’t like the move when the Yanks did it, and don’t like it now.

    Giving a 38 yr. old fading Mussina a two-year deal was a bad move. They are stuck with him for next year too, and he is fading badly.

    I would not have minded if he walked.

  95. Andrea

    Ben—well, if you ask me, Moose did just get that 2nd guy out…he just wasn’t called out. So it’s a 1-2-3 inning with a slight hiccup!

    I decided a while ago that even if the Yankees are completely craptastic this season, i am going to be the biggest fan of a crappy team there ever was!

  96. Alan

    for those of you that can’t read lips….after moose gave up that single after he thought he had strike 3….he ignores the rest of the play and says ” that’s f*ckin’ horse sh*t” to the home plate ump…that is the BEST way to conduct youself on the mound…right?

  97. Rocco

    WOO OHOO

  98. rover

    upton out on throw from matsui, yay. buckner gets one right.

  99. ben from boston

    haha buckner wanted to call him safe

  100. Josh

    Let’s hope that put out by Matsui gives us a little momentum in the next inning.

  101. Alan

    we will come back to win this game though…and toronto is on their way to beating boston, too !!! bank on it !!

  102. jinx

    Can mussina stop making excuses and pitch. We should of never resigned this baby. Find a taker on before the
    deadline. Someone needs to tell him hes no longer in
    the 90’s. He isnt as good so shut up and pitch.

  103. ben from boston

    andrea i assume youre a woman and i know that its a faux pa but how old are you? and i sense a turning point. im not liking buckner he wanted to stick it to wil on that one

  104. Dimitri

    I guess those ballet lessons paid off for nieves… =)

  105. Global Warming

    CB Buckner? That’s the guy who danced around after he called a Strike 3 pitch way outside against a Red Sox batter for the final out this year. Reminiscent of Naked Gun!

    Good times good times, he’ll always be AOK in my book.

  106. ben from boston

    alan im positive for us but dont be sure about the sox. im watching the game and beckett is doing better than the score indicates and those two runs werent earned. after i dont think beckett has given up a run so.. i love your enthusiasm, i feed off positivity but idk about that.

  107. Colorado Yank

    Rocco, you are right… Buckner’s press people just released a statement saying that Torre argues more and differently with Buckner than he does with other white umpires…

    This also just in the fat umpires association is now saying Torre targets the fat umpires, even offering them green tea over liquor…

    What a shame the Yanks have become.

  108. rover

    yanks are hacking not hitting

  109. BBB

    “I decided a while ago that even if the Yankees are completely craptastic this season, i am going to be the biggest fan of a crappy team there ever was!”

    Great attitude! I think I’ll join you. :)

    We don’t ditch our beloved friends and family members when they are going through hard times in life, we support them even more. Should be the same deal w/our beloved Yankees!

    I do hope the craptasticness ceases and desists soon though.. but I’ll be there cheering em on either way, every step of the way.

  110. ben from boston

    so bbb joins the club. andrea, alan, bbb, and i are all positive. anybody else want to join?

  111. ben from boston

    and here come the red sox

  112. rover

    hmmmmm, two yankee fans who don’t bandwagon, there is hope

  113. Rocco

    i’ve been positive ;)

  114. rover

    sui, sui, well done

  115. rover

    thinking there is a future in the beverage distribution bus, for the melkman, oops that was arod.

  116. ben from boston

    rocco!!! yes sorry i forgot my entourage buddy. we got the rock, big al, the one and only andrea, the b-b-big man, and i. who else. GUYS DID YOU SEE THAT POP UP THAT WAS A NICE SWING!

  117. Andrea

    ben—yes I am female. And I am 23. Why? is that bad?

  118. Rocco

    LOL nice inning from the SOX

    runners on 1st and 2nd and no outs… bunt to move the runners over and toronto throws to 3rd for one out. on the next pitch ortiz grounds into a DP… good job.

  119. BBB

    “we got the rock, big al, the one and only andrea, the b-b-big man, and i.”

    Boston Ben, I’m a chick, lol. :)

  120. Rocco

    yey chicks!

  121. jinx

    Why is Nieves on this team again?I havnt seen him throw out
    a runner this year.

  122. Rocco

    “UPDATE, 2:36 p.m.: Nice game so far by the Yanks. Edwin Jackson is one-hitting them and Mike Mussina is pitching like he had 100 days off, not 10. That said, Yanks win. The lefty hitters have crushed pitches from Jackson to the track. They’ll get to him.”

    That’s exactly what i’ve been saying Pete.

  123. ben from boston

    i know they blew that that was great. and andrea i thought you were going to say youre 80 you are wise behind your years.

  124. ben from boston

    if phillips went down… oh

  125. rover

    ooooooooo, collision between phillips anc crawford, lucky no one hurt.

  126. Colorado Yank

    Nice hustle by moose…. never knew he was so fast (sarcasm)

  127. ben from boston

    beyond* your years

  128. rover

    well at least cabrera can run and catch at the same time time

  129. jinx

    Melky CF “08”

  130. Alan

    HERE WE GO…Only Chasing 3 to a pitcher that is livin’ on BORROWED TIME !,,,,,That play by Melky is gonna get the bats hot and we are gonna get at least 2 this inning….GO YANKEES !

  131. ansky

    yanks really need to break through this inning. Granted, the Rays pen is garbage but to be this inept against a 1-9 Rays pitcher is bad. Somethings gotta give when moose is coming this close to really letting the game get away. Meanwhile, Jackson hits spots and (for the most part) is throwing 1st pitch strkies

  132. Andrea

    Ben: thanks! Maybe deep down I really am 80.

    I was so scared just now that Phillips wouldn’t get up. Who would they put at 1st? Cairo again?

  133. Alan

    gritty AB by Cano here….way to make Action Jackson work for it…

  134. Rocco

    nice at bat by cano so far

  135. rover

    trying to get to the pen on this ab

  136. ben from boston

    CANO at first haha. WHAT ALAN SAID GO YANKEES

  137. H82LOSE

    Need to capitalize on boston losing.

  138. rover

    good ab for cano

  139. Rocco

    wow uptun didnt even try on that ball.

  140. ben from boston

    CANO CANO CANO!!! guys boston is going to win this game. theyre playing well

  141. Limey Yankee

    wow cano actually fights off to get a blooper in to short center.

  142. Alan

    THAT was a very good start…Let’s hope that the other Yankees follow suit and let’s show this 1-9 BUM to be the pitcher that he REALLY IS !!!

  143. T.J.

    We were down yesterday and came back and won the game. Too early to put this game away.

  144. Locakes

    This team have given us no reason to believe that they can mount a comeback in the late innings. Therefore, this season when they are losing after the sixth inning, I pretty much write the game off. I still watch for some reason though.

    Andy needs to show some power here.

  145. ben from boston

    alan youre my favorite accountant youre on my fantasy team!!! CUT THAT MEAT

  146. Ron Benbow

    Are we going to generate some offense? I’m starting to feel ill with anxiety. They can’t afford to split this series. So who do I owe for naueating me: C.B. Buckner or Mussina?

    The Yankees need to go at least 20-9 over the next 29 games.

  147. Alan

    benbow…MUSSINA is the obvious answer to your question…

  148. ben from boston

    its safe to say locakes is not invited to the positive club

  149. rover

    oooh misplayed in center run in phillips on third

  150. Rocco

    THANK YOU BJ!

  151. ben from boston

    what a play

  152. Global Warming

    Wow Phillips lucked out after looking foolish at a ball 4 pitch.

    Ok, Nieves need to bunt squeeze here. I don’t think he is capable of hitting a Sac Fly ;)

  153. H82LOSE

    Just the break we needed.

  154. rover

    didn’t seem to be uptons fault, just got victimized finally

  155. ben from boston

    god is with the yankees

  156. Colorado Yank

    Ok, possible sign things will change for the Yankees, in the first half that ball would have been caught… that is a lucky break that prenotes a long winning streak.

  157. jim

    Bronx –
    You want to put on money on whether Nieves gets this run in?

    One out, runner on third – chances look good –
    Except Wil Nieves is at the plate.

  158. Alan

    Here comes the offense….We can still win this game easily…and Boston is well on their way to losing their game…with over 70 games left in the season and the Yankees just starting to both hit their stride and a very soft schedule…the WINNING KEEPS GOING TODAY…( oh and Triples by the man hitting 8th don’t hurt either !!! )

  159. WeMissPaulie

    Well, that was our big break.

    Jackson’s 7.00 ERA is going to catch up with him now too…

  160. Ron Benbow

    Odds that Cash-man’s backup catcher strikes out

    If Nieves doesn’t get this run home, I’m writing Cash-man a poison pen letter.

  161. Andrea

    What is BJ Upton’s deal?

  162. rover

    phillips smacked the stuff out of it too

  163. WeMissPaulie

    Squeeze Phillips….

  164. BBB

    wowowow…that 11 pitch AB by Cano was a total thing of beauty. Robbie and Andy rawk!!!

    76 pitches for Edwin “not even close to Cy Young” Jackson now…as they’d say in the movie Almost Famous, “it’s all happening!”

  165. ansky

    LOL….i love that the D-Rays announcers are chalking this up as a wierd ball (like a bad hop) rather than Upron just flat out misplaying it

    “that ball somehow changed directions in mid flight”....damn those Trop SouEasterly winds.

  166. Rocco

    DFA NIEVES!

  167. Ron Benbow

    I recant.

  168. rover

    nieves doubles, hah, go figure.

  169. Global Warming

    Dear god what just happened? I don’t believe it.

    Ok it’s time to go pick up a lotto ticket.

  170. WeMissPaulie

    NO way….

  171. ben from boston

    take that you nieves haters

  172. rover

    andy scores

  173. Mike

    Holy crap… Nieves doubled and got in a run.

  174. jim

    My god! First extra base hit of the season! on July 15th!

  175. H82LOSE

    NIEVES!!!!

  176. Alan

    the bats are OFFICIALLY AWAKE….Top of the lineup is now OBLIGED to follow suit here… !!! YOU ARE RIGHT ON THE MONEY, WeMissPaulie !!!

  177. ben from boston

    johnny dont blow it

  178. Colorado Yank

    so much for the Yankees hacking.. those were legit hits, very hard and on a line.

  179. BBB

    Wil Nieves FTW!!!

  180. Mike

    Damon… at the very least, move the runner over…

  181. jim

    Meanwhile, Damon can’t hit the ball out of the infield.

    They go from the worst 1B in baseball to the worst DH. ANd the latter is hitting leadoff.

  182. rover

    nieves hits the ball just as hard as arod, just doesn’t go as far.

  183. rover

    jster goes yard, yeehaw.

  184. ansky

    el capitan!!

  185. rover

    jeter goes yard i mean

  186. WeMissPaulie

    JETER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  187. ben from boston

    ALANNNNNN ALANNN YOU ARE A LUCK CHARM

  188. BBB

    JETER 4 PREZ!!!!!

  189. Rocco

    WOO HOO!

    I told you guys… they were hitting jackson pretty hard, they were just not dropping…

    Now Moose should be taken out if he shows signs of trouble.

  190. Andrea

    and THAT is why I love Wilbert!

  191. H82LOSE

    K.C. mounting a comeback. WIN,WIN.
    GO YANKEES!!!!!

  192. ben from boston

    wheres lolacke or whatever

  193. WeMissPaulie

    Anyone know who is pitching for Boston today?

  194. jim

    WMP –
    Beckett.

  195. Will Nieves is intimidating.

    Let’s hope Mussina doesn’t give back the lead

  196. Rocco

    dang… another hard hit out.

  197. H82LOSE

    BLISTER BOY

  198. rover

    bobby just missed that one a bit

  199. Limey Yankee

    Beckett is pitching for the BoSox

  200. BBB

    lmao Andrea, is his name really Wilbert? I woulda bet the farm on it being Wilfredo..

  201. T.J.

    Captain Clutch to the rescue once again

  202. ben from boston

    “the yanks have proven they cant come back late in the game”

  203. Andrea

    I have a Nieves t-shirt. I’m gonna wear it proud the next game I go to!

  204. David (in Seattle)

    Somebody, somewhere, must be eating a lot of pizza

  205. rover

    arod looks bad, maybe that hammy is worse then they are letting on. give the dude some rest i think

  206. Ron Benbow

    Damn, that’s the second time my boy, Bobby, wuz robbed. Still, the hard hits bode well for the second half.

    Let’s get this guy’s pitch count over 100 in the 6th and get into that TB pen.

    Alex, what’s wrong? All this contract nonesense adversely affecting him or is it the hamstring? That was an awful swing on a ball way out of the plate.

    What’s amazing to me is that here you have the game’s best player and yet when he’s in a slump he can look no better than Will Nieves at the plate. The disparity baffles me.

  207. mel

    FYI: Phillips has 6 rbis in 51 AB. Nieves has 5 rbis in 52 AB. 1 homerun by Andy is the difference.

  208. by request

    Now the question is whether pussina can give us another two scoreless innings . . . ?

  209. Andrea

    BBB—it sure is Wilbert. I saw his rookie card and it said Wilbert Nieves. Hysterical.

    I love him. It makes me so sad when everyone hates on him. And anyone who can deal with Moose on a regular basis is ok by me.

  210. rover

    disparity = baseball and vicea versa i think

  211. Ron Benbow

    If Mussina gets in trouble in this inning, llok for Joe to go to Villone.

    If not in this inning, then in the 6th or 7th.

    We’re going to see Villone or Vizcaino next; it’s just a question of when.

  212. 2007 Yankees

    Wilbert Nieves came through BIGTIME there.
    Now we wait to see how long it takes for Moose to give the lead back.

    And for those non-believers, that Phillips ball did change direction in mid-air. It was almost like somebody turned on a fan in right and blew the ball back towards left. I thought the ball was knuckling but it somehow just made a left.

  213. BBB

    LOL I just noticed that the game caption on yankees.com has a grammatical error…”Yankees gives Rays fits..” ...ohh the irony of incorrect grammar right under Moose’s picture! hahaha.

  214. Rocco

    upton is the player of the game for the yanks today

  215. rover

    463, gets moose in dugout

  216. BBB

    “And anyone who can deal with Moose on a regular basis is ok by me.”

    I love Moose regardless of anything…and I can definitely deal with that DP he just induced. MOOOOOOOSE!!!

  217. rover

    has anyone noticed the game has changed tempo since torre bailed out nieves a few inning ago

  218. Alan

    4-6-3,,,,swinging that BP was huge…I’d like to see MOOSE come out and pitch 2 more innings of shutout ball, then let the pen take it to the end…you KNOW we are gonna score more against either a tired Action Jackson or a SUPER POOR DRays Pen…time to put some distance here, boys !!!

  219. jim

    mel –
    Andy also 3 doubles and a triple and 2 more walks – that’s the difference between .808 OPS and a .321 OPS (Nieves).

  220. Alan

    of course I meant…swinging that DP…

  221. rover

    nice play by rays ss harris, need more of those.

  222. Rocco

    ...and the sox waste a lead off double…

    still 2-0 Jays.

  223. Alan

    David (in Seattle) .....you have a keen sense of reality !!!

  224. BBB

    Guys who is pitching for the Jays today? Is it a lefty? Whoever he is, doin a pretty good job so far!

  225. Ron Benbow

    Hey, anyone here about what’s it’s like to deal with D-Rays. I heard their GM is a little 30-year-old snot who made big bucks on Wall Street screwing the working man.

    You think the Yankees could pry away Carlos Pena—yes I know he was in our minor league system last year (thank you Cashman’s scouting: also check out Jesus Colome’s numbers)—do you think we could pry away Pena without surrendering anything more than a B-level or C-level pitching prospect.

    I know the D-Rays need pitchers. Would you trade Chris Britton for Carlos Pena?

  226. rover

    nice bunt by cabrera to move matsui to second

  227. rover

    walking cano to get to phillips, hmmm.

  228. Ron Benbow

    Yo BBB, enlighen me on the irony of that grammatical error. Cause I ain’t smart enough to get it.

  229. ben from boston

    BBB he actually isnt doing too well (stats-wise). but i guess hes 2-0 so hes doing his job. but the job hasnt been pretty

  230. rover

    well that paid off, for the rays.

  231. ben from boston

    what a bad call. this ump things we go out to watch him. this is a bad epidemic that you see in the nba and mlb all the time. its so irritating

  232. rover

    nieves is still nieves, go figure

  233. Andrea

    BBB—I like Moose too, but after the last couple days, he’s been kind of ornery. Scary.

  234. Ron Benbow

    Chris Britton for Carlos Pena? Thought anyone. Is it feasible; is it fair; is it prudent?

  235. BBB

    Ron Benbow, I’m not sure I’d want to trade anyone for Carlos Pena, because he’s never really hit anywhere else he’s been, has he? But if we did trade a reliever I think it’d be Sean Henn. Supposedly the Rays are pretty interested in him.

    And the irony of the incorrect grammar by Moose’s pic is that Moose is s-m-r-t SMART. It’s kind of like if they had a caption full of 10-cent words under Farnsworth’s picture.

  236. rover

    cabrera cuts down wigginton trying to stretch one into a double great play

  237. will

    and you manage to work in a simpsons reference BBB. nice

  238. BBB

    Melkman delivers another great throw!

  239. Stuart

    he was safe at 2nd but I will take it. Moose has given up only 3 runs but he has been lucky. the out at home and the play at 2nd.

    his day should be done. how would bernie or damon have done on the wiggington hit????

    Man at 2nd easily with 1 out that is my prediction.

    please pen hold the lead.

  240. LathamJoe

    Mussina: I haven’t seen a pitcher get hit harder for 6 innings and only yield 3 runs – Time for the relief corps!

  241. Stuart

    Yeah Britton for the power guy straight up. I got some beachfront property in Kansas also…

  242. ben from boston

    guys the sox scored 2-1

  243. Rocco

    crap 2-1 now in the red sox game.

  244. Stuart

    Moose had zero strikeouts and I can’t really remember a ray batter swing and miss the ball the whole game.

    that is not a good thing at all..

    he was houdini today….

  245. ben from boston

    rocco im on top of it

  246. Rocco

    ok Ben :)

  247. BBB

    Damn, I guess the Jays’ pitcher’s luck finally ran out there. Time to score some more runs Toronto! Go V-Dub..he is my favorite non-Yankee by far.

    OK so who comes out for the 7th? I vote Viz.

  248. rover

    villone

  249. ben from boston

    wells is sucking this year lets go rios hes due. id all for back to back to back to back. make them all shut up about what they did to the por rookie. WHAT A GRAB BY PHILLIPS. TAKE THAT SOX

  250. Rocco

    lol the toronto catcher is having an interesting day with pop flys

  251. ben from boston

    ORTIZ OUT ORTIZ OUT ORTIZ OUT AT HOME!!!SOX RALLY DIES NO MORE RUNS

  252. Rocco

    big sloppy thrown out at the plate! woo hoo

  253. ben from boston

    yea rocco did you see that play?

  254. ben from boston

    what a play i told you rios is my bohoy

  255. Andrea

    Ortiz is a funny runner.

  256. rover

    villone gives up single to oki

  257. rover

    viz is warming

  258. ben from boston

    andrea you should have seen the slide it hurt me all the way out here in the burbs

  259. rover

    arod, cano, phillips for two

  260. Andrea
  261. rover

    real nice stretch by phillips

  262. BBB

    Yeah Villone with the DP!! That’s my Bergen County homie…Dirty Jersey represent!!

  263. Ron Benbow

    Have the Yankees been playing superb defense this since May or is it my imagination?

  264. Rocco

    haha yeah I’m surprised ortiz didn’t hurt himself on that slide.

  265. Andrea

    Aww. Poor empty comment.

    What I was saying is that I love Andy Phillips.

  266. rover

    villone gets bailed then puts one right back on, not good.

  267. Andrea

    Damn you, Ron Villone.

  268. Rocco

    :(

  269. rover

    pena goes yard for two, thank you villone

  270. bakra

    that sound was ron villone crashing back down to earth

  271. ben from boston

    and then theres that

  272. rover

    an absolute no doubter, hit that one a ton

  273. Rocco

    Yanks will still win…

    as Alan would say, “Bank on it!!!!”

  274. Andrea

    Let’s go optimists! We can get it back!

    Let’s Go Yankees!

  275. Pedro

    That’s what happens when you let the likes of Ron Villone pitch high leverage innings

  276. Frankie D.

    It seems like gone are the days when the Yankees could tack on a few insurance runs without running up the score and show a team up. Torre loves to manage dangerously.

  277. rover

    maybe we need pitchers whose last names start higher up in alphabet, some one say something to cash about this, couldn’t get worse.

  278. BBB

    there’s a tear in my beer. :{

    Still though, only 1 run down, let’s get a comeback goin. GO YANKS!!!

  279. rover

    did matsui catch that one or no? i don’t think he did.

  280. Stuart

    are pen is great.. that is why we have 8 strike throwers out there..

    nice walking harris on 5 pitches..

    classic, there pen sucks and it has sucked all season. Ramirez has not seen the field in weeks..

    Our lefties give up big hits to lefties like no one else.. crawford slam off mr myers and VIllone did it up.

    how can a team win with a pen like this???Ramirez got 2 outings,,.....

    another crusher if we do not come back, they only lose tough games…........

  281. ben from boston

    there goes the win for mussina and my fantasy team

  282. Voice of Reason

    that is what happens when you have washed up bums running out of your bullpen instead of young guns because Torre is an A$$

  283. BBB

    Ditto for my fantasy team, Ben. Boo.

  284. rover

    arod, doubles, leading off

  285. Stuart

    why VIllone has potential!!!!He is a 38 yr old journeyman….....to go along with myers and the rest of the scrap heap…

    we have Britton and others wasting away in the minors and expect pigs to turn into princes…

  286. Will

    Hey Pete,

    Going 2-2 against Tampa would NOT be a failure, it would just validate this team’s status as a mediocre ball club this season.

  287. bakra

    free edwar

  288. Dave

    I’d love to know the reason why Torre hasn’t used Edwar Ramirez in the entire series. The Rays have seen Villone many times but never have seen Edwar. How much does it take to build up “trust” with Torre ?

  289. Alan

    i have it locked in,,,have no fear…7-5 yankees !

  290. Andrea

    And that’s why A-Rod is my boyfriend.

  291. rover

    looks like fossum coming in, against matsui.

  292. ben from boston

    so lets go win for rivera! or atleast get him a save

  293. LathamJoe

    The YES Pre-Game had a pieche wtih manager Joe Madden on how nicelt BJ Uption has taken to centerfield. He looks absolutely lost as an outfielder!

    Good start ARod! Now 5 & 6 hitters need to get him across.

  294. Alan

    7.52 era reliever…i see the yankees salivating !!!!

  295. ansky

    praying we can knock fossum around. If i close my eyes, he’s still in a Sox uni.

  296. rover

    arod giving someone else just like matsui a chance to pad stats, can’t get in on matsui single, i and 3rd

  297. Alan

    time 4 a melky jack & all will be well in yankeeland !!!!

  298. ansky

    yeah alan,

    just like the 7+ era starter jackson..its all good.

  299. Steve

    i agree, where the hell has edwar been? you gotta belive hes a better option than villone and I would rather keep him than farny as well. im glad tore will be done at the end of the year

  300. ben from boston

    the game is never over with this lineup

  301. rover

    melkman down swinging.

  302. ansky

    aww melky…that thing was cheese.

  303. bakra

    great AB by the melk man. here comes a double play by robbie

  304. ben from boston

    guys stop predicting b ecause the opposite hapens

  305. whereareusj44

    Thanks Melky, this team is pathetic at advancing runners from third base with less than 2 outs.

  306. Rocco

    NICE

    Good base running by matsui also.

  307. rover

    tie game, good for robbie, sf, matsui advances to second.

  308. ben from boston

    ill take it

  309. Rocco

    “Thanks Melky, this team is pathetic at advancing runners from third base with less than 2 outs.”

    eat your crow

  310. rover

    fossum leaving,

  311. BBB

    Thank you Robbie!!

  312. ben from boston

    that was good baserunning by arod cause if matsui gets thrown out, no run

  313. rover

    gary glover pitching

  314. Rocco

    Andy Phillips for president!

  315. ansky

    very nice baserunning all around this innning. Aggressive and timely. Cant ask for more.

  316. ben from boston

    i love baseball

  317. rover

    phillips scores matsui, on single makes second on throw toplate, cut off by catcher throw to second late.

  318. by request

    Got to wins, folks. Splitting with the Rays = big time suck up.

  319. hello

    6-5 Yanks lead

  320. rover

    posada, cant rest.

  321. rover

    int wald to posada

  322. ben from boston

    THAT IS BULL SHERFEREFIT

  323. ben from boston

    hit posada in make them pay

  324. Andrea

    here here, Ben.

  325. Rocco

    FARNSWORTH? AHHHHHHHHHHH

  326. bakra

    yay farnsy time.

  327. CB

    Phillips coming through with two outs! How many people in this line up come up with that hit besides ARod and Jeter?

    He looks very good. Relaxed. No white knuckles. If he can hit even 260- 270 he’ll be fine in the line up and they may be fine at 1st base for this season

  328. rover

    damon drwas a walk loads them up for the captain

  329. hello

    Bases Loaded for jeter

  330. tomasoli

    phillips lead the yankees last season in the month of june and then went downhill. lets hope he can stick this year.

  331. ben from boston

    we need opponents to be afraid of the yankees again. no mercy jeter. blast the hell out of it

  332. Rocco

    whats with rover’s play by play?

  333. DJ

    UGHHH farnsworth warming up.. USE EDWAR TORRE

  334. Wouter

    Way to pad your OBP Jorge.

  335. Kevin

    Pete,

    Can you please ask Joe why he insists on bringing in Farnsworth in one-run games despite the fact that he has, what, two 1-2-3 innings in 40 appearances?

    The guy can’t consistently get people out and yet here he is, day after day, put in situations where he can lose the game with two meaty fastballs.

    Though I’m a big backer of Edwar (and Britton, FWIW), I’m not even saying he should put the untested rookie there (though it worked for Mo, no?). These are the situations Proctor is here for, not to get his daily workout in 5 and 6-run games. Torre’s bullpen management is just so amazingly frustrating.

    Hopefully Derek will get a hit here and make this whole argument moot.

  336. Andrea

    Farnsworth….NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

  337. rover

    jeter singles in a run , hard hit to third, and nowhere to go with it.

  338. BBB

    YEAH JETER!!!!

  339. Rocco

    more cushion please!

  340. ben from boston

    YES!!! MY MLB TV cut out i was furious. i had to switch to gameday

  341. Alan

    OK…is the score really 7-5 ???

  342. Tseng

    The 7-5 prediction could come true.

  343. ben from boston

    rover haha i love the enthusiasm but i assume everyone here can see the game. dont need the play-by-play

  344. Cumberberg

    Farns is going in because Torre is omnipotent and knew that Jeter was going to knock in an insurance run.

  345. ben from boston

    alan i have to hand it to you a little bit

  346. Mike S.