Game 93: Blue Jays at Yankees
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- July
- 18
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Here is the lineup:
YANKEES
Damon LF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Phillips 1B
Cabrera CF
Clemens RHP (2-3, 4.20)
Pregame chatter: Cleveland has lost, so the Yankees start the game 6.5 games out in the wild-card race. … Toronto is pitching RHP Shaun Marcum (5-3, 3.68). … I spent some time interviewing Kyle Farnsworth and he believes he needs to use his slider more because hitters are sitting on his fastball. “I don’t blame people for booing me, I’d boo me,” he said. “I know I’m not pitching well.” Farnsworth said he would understand if Torre took him out of the 8th inning. “Whatever they want,” he said.
UPDATE, 6:03 p.m.: Karstens will start on Sunday for Scranton and Hughes on Monday, Brian Cashman said. … Torre said that Vizcaino and Farnsworth wouldn’t be available today and Proctor would be the 8th inning guy most likely. … Torre didn’t say that Farnsworth was out of the 8th inning mix but he said that they would move forward with a committee of guys. … Today is the anniversary of David Cone’s perfect game against the Expos.
UPDATE, 7:25 p.m.: It’s Joe Torre’s birthday today. He’s 67.
UPDATE, 7:26 p.m.: It’s amazing how shallow the Toronto outfielders were playing Johnny Damon. Reed Johnson was practically behind the shortstop. Damon hasn’t had an extra-base hit since July 1, one of three he has had since June 6.
UPDATE, 7:49 p.m.: Here is the audio of the start of Joe Torre’s pregame media session. He was talking about Matsui, last night’s game and Krazy Kyle.
UPDATE, 8:21 p.m.: Bobby Abreu is hitless in his last 13 at-bats with five strikeouts.
UPDATE, 8:54 p.m.: You have to hand it to Clemens, he’s keeping them in the game. He has given up nine hits and a walk but only one run in six innings. It shouldn’t be too much to ask for two runs against Shaun Marcum but he’s dominating them.
UPDATE, 9:00 p.m.: The Yankees are 2-5 in games Clemens has started this season.
Meanwhile, Scott Proctor is taking after his mentor Farnsworth here. On a day when Cleveland lost and Boston is losing, the Yankees can’t run in place.
UPDATE, 9:27 p.m.: I haven’t done this in a while. But A-Rod is crushing one here.
UPDATE, 9:31 p.m.: Eat your damn Wheaties next time, Alex.
UPDATE, 9:54 p.m.: Up 4-1 and Brian Bruney walks the first batter. This is why criticizing Torre for his bullpen moves is pointless. Other than Mo, he has nobody who is reliable.
UPDATE, 10:06 p.m.: The gun at the Stadium had Mo at 96 on the strikeout of Rios. I’m not sure I buy that. But he looks great.
UPDATE, 10:13 p.m.: I see some people were calling for Edwar Ramirez in the 8th inning. While I am totally down with the idea that he should be getting more of a shot than he is, you don’t put a rookie with two games of experience in the 8th inning of a game like this. You just don’t. There is a human element to this game. A manager’s job is to give his players the best chance to succeed. You don’t toss a rookie over the cliff like that.
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Well Kyle certainly sounds like a stand up guy at least. Not a jerk like Kevin Brown or even Carl Pavano. No reason he can’t turn it around, but I prefer he does it in the 5th and 6th innings of blow outs for now.
COME ON JOHNNY DAMON ONE TIME!
Abreu is 0-13 so hopefully he can get a couple of hits tonight to break out of his new mini slump.
Any news regarding the proposed Proctor for Betemit swap that was in the Post today? Personally, I think it makes no sense; they’re basically giving up both on their 08 chances (regardless of your opinion on Proctor, at least he has the ability to help the club this year, while Betemit would be a backup at best), as well as their chances of signing Arod. To make a trade for a potential third baseman now is telling the world they don’t think they can resign Arod, and to me, tells Arod that he isn’t needed.
Yes, kudos to Kyle for speaking candidly about his struggles.
I know it’s all in good humor Pete, but is there ever any kind of tension that needs to be worked through if players become familiar with the nicknames and opinions expressed by you on this blog?
What’s the weather forecast in the Bronx tonight? Will they get the game in?
Doreen,
It’s cloudy but dry. I think they will play with no trouble at all.
Thanks, Todd. Good news.
Doreen,
There are no guarantees with that. I only know enough to look out the window and step outside.
Pete – Mike Francesa is saying to bring Joba up for the 8th inning to throw his heat. Obviously that is what Mike wants them to do, but is it something you see happening?
Todd –
That’s the only reliable way I know of to report on the weather.
I almost never rely on what’s on t.v. or radio, or even the weather channel if it’s too far in advance. Plus, living in Central N.J., we have to kind of figure it out between what Philly’s getting and what mid-town Manhatttan’s getting weather-wise. We’re the orphans of the Tri-State area.
Abreu has no hits in 3 games since Torre moved him to 3rd in the order. It does not take much to throw Abreu off his game. Put Melky back batting 2nd and drop Bobby back down.
Refreshing to hear Farnsworth say he stinks. What about Damon? What does he have to say for himself? He is a disgrace.
River Ave,
If anyone in the organization seriously considers it for 3 seconds or more, they should be fired.
1. It slows Joba’s development
2. It exposes him to greater risk of injury
3. It risk damaging his confidence if gets hit
4. It starts his ML service clock
All of these drawbacks FAR outweigh any potential gain. AND what’s the guarantee he’ll even be successful?
Wow, didn’t expect that from Kyle. Thought I read he’d been snapping against reporters who questioned his 8th inning role lately. Maybe he’s trying to earn karma points
).
First catch Cleveland (who’ve been overachieving anyway; our ExpWL is actually better than theirs), then Boston!
Gah, why is Damon still leading off and why is he playing the field. The team is getting shot twice with Damon, on offense and now defensively. Oh well, Matsui does need a break every now and then I suppose, but can’t Torre please drop Damon a bit in the order?
*The Mets scored their run off Hughes in the first when Corey Coles doubled, stole third and scored on a throwing error. The run became earned when the next batter hit a fly ball deep enough that it would have counted as a sacrifice fly.* Tell me this isn’t completely silly. So IF the catcher threw the runner out ( which is possible ) he would NOT have scored. But since the catcher threw the ball into left field and the next batter came up and in the scorekeeper’s judgement ( is he 100% sure ? ) would have resulted in a sac fly, then the run is earned ? Kinda silly, don’t ya think ???
We’re gonna catch Cleveland.
I have this theory that whenever a coach/manager gets a contract extension because his team is playing well during a season, usually the team hits the skids after the ink dries. Eric Wedge (who last season was rumored to being close to unemployed) just a got a 3 year contract extension (along with Hafner who got his money mid-season too).
Remember what happened to the Knicks after Isiah got his extension last year? They lost like 13 straight.
I know there is no scientific empirical data to back this up so you’re just going to have to trust me.
The big question is next Monday — who are we all rooting for? Cleveland or Boston? We’ll be playing KC while they are duking it out.
I’m rooting for Cleveland. I think if we get w/in 5 games of Boston, they are going to crumble like a house of cards. All the stories in the Boston papers are about how they shouldn’t be jumping off ledges and how their team should be able to come through. We’re 7 out in the loss column and they are feeling the heat.
If we catch Boston and win the division this season, it won’t erase what happened in 2004, but it sure as hell will be a step in the right direction.
i thought i heard(or read) that damon was going to get a day off soon?
Alan,
According to the definition, the official scorer was correct. They do have to assume he would have been safe at third, because the ball didn’t get there, or get there in time to get him out at third.
“Unearned Run Definition”:http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1681941
Alan, I agree with you whole heartedly. Isn’t that what Michael Kay calls a “fallacy of predetermined outcomes” ?
It’s like saying “Oh god, if Melky didn’t get thrown out stealing second base, then A-Rod’s homer would’ve brought TWO runs home!”…Do they add on the 2nd run? No. They don’t.
Alan & I make sense, ha.
Pete, two things,
1. How does the field look? Is the game going to be delayed? Any thoughts?
2. Isn’t it awkward interviewing Krazy Kyle after you rip him apart and call him that on this blog? I enjoy your commentary on him and agree with it – but just saying, doesn’t seem like he would go out of his way to be cordial to you/give you an interview. Especially the day after you called for his removal from the set up man role.
yeah alan, it’s ridiculous. just like farnsworth not getting an earned run last night.
i’m still confused over the defensive indiference call a few weeks back when either giambi or posada (can’t remember) stole 2nd late in a game that the yankees were winning by a few runs. didn’t get credit for a SB.
If Johnny D. has to play the field, let it be in LF. At least nobody will be too tempted to run on our CF’s arm tonight. Random thoughts: there will be 6 lefty bats tonight (Melky and Po switch hit) against the Toronto starter, Marcum, who is .261 BAA /.835 OPS versus lefty batters. In Marcum’s last start he went 6 innings, gave up 7 hits and 5 runs against Boston. (Thanks, ESPN)
Baseball is the only sport I know that has rules as ridiculous as the one Alan mentioned above.
Doreen,,,my point includes how does the official scorer KNOW FOR SURE that the dude on 3rd would have scored on the next fly ball ? Isn’t it possible that he would have been thrown out ? What if he leaves early ? What if he falls on the way to the plate ? What if the 3rd base coach helps him score by giving him a push ? What if he leaves early, goes back to tag then trips over his shoelaces and is tagged out ? These things can ALL happen, right ? To ASSUME a run would score on a play, thus making a runner who ACTUALLY scored on an error, then an EARNED RUN,,,is just stupid. The rule should be changed.
Alan –
This is from the Baseball Rule Book.
“(b) When a runner is attempting to steal, and the catcher, after receiving the pitch, makes a wild throw trying to prevent the stolen base, credit a stolen base. Do not charge an error unless the wild throw permits the stealing runner to advance one or more extra bases, or permits another runner to advance, in which case credit the stolen base and charge one error to the catcher.”
Alan –
My last post was before I read your last post. I understand you now. Just trying to help, not aggravate.
The big question for Pete remains: Did Kyle read your blog before, after, or never with respect to this interview?
All unearned runs are like that to a certain degree – a routine grounder turns into a guy on first instead of an out – that changes the next hitter’s approach – if he hits a double, and the guy scores, the one run is unearned – what if there was no one on base and 2 outs, instead of 1 on, one out? Maybe he hits a homer so should the run be earned? Would have happened anyway possibly? Who knows. There has to be some guesswork/assumptions otherwise there can’t be any differentiation between earned and unearned runs.
jk,
You are right on. Abreu is in a slump and doesnt seem
to like the pressure of being 3rd. Melky seems to gring
at bats and is hot hitting in 13 straight games.
Damon needs a wakeup call!! He goes hitless every game
and knows his name will be first in the lineup daily.
Time for him to get a reality check bench him a couple
of games or place him 9th in the order.
NO MORE EXCUSES FOR HIM.
My prediction for the day is we will be within 7 games of boston by the end of the day. Clemens is pitching for Yanks and some Shawn Marcum is pitching for Toronto agains the hottest team in baseball which is showing now signs of cooling down. Yanks offense will rip Marcum. Boston’s version of Krazy Kyle(Tavarez) is pitching for the Sox today. He is terrible in the last few starts and there is good chance Royals will kill him.
I guess it’s one of those “judgment calls” like the checked swing. (Which, by the way, drives me nuts!)
Farnsworth was about to read this blog, but he walked a batter, then he gave up a hit and then he tried to throw to first, but he threw over the 1st baseman head and the runner on second scored.
PETE…THANKS SO MUCH FOR DOING THIS BLOG !!! It’s must reading for true-blue Yankee fans ! I prepare for the games by reading your stuff, read the up-dates, and the follow-up! GREAT STUFF!
Yup….it’s an error because the runner DID advance an extra base, so the run is unearned…but wait…IF the next hitter hits a ball that in the scorers judgment would score the runner from 3rd ( if he WAS still there ) then keep the error and switch the run to earned….that is, unless the pitcher is a lefty and the game is played in July in a stadium that faces north, in which case the play is called CHARLEY and everybody must do the HAPPY DANCE…
Any reason the Yankees don’t bring up Joba Chamberlain to pitch out of the pen?
It seems like a logical choice when the guy throws 98, is highly regarded, and this is his perfect way to break in to the Show.
At least he’s being honest about things. (Now, if only he could pitch and be trusted in tight siuations!)
Hopefully seeing that Melky is still in cf and Damon
taking Matsui’s spot in left means that Melky has cf
locked up when Giambi comes back.Correct me if im wrong,
didnt Damon come in the last time in center and Melky
changed position to right.
Melky needs to stay there for the rest of the year.
Keeps runners going station to station.
I prefer that Cleveland sweeps Boston, if possible.
I am not very conerned about Cleveland as they are not as good as some of the media guys, especially from ESPM, make them to be and they have to deal with tougher opposition in AL Central.
Ultimately, we will overtake both the teams and win the division. Boston is playing bad right now and they have not yet hit significant injury bug like Yankees in the beginning of the season.
“Any reason the Yankees don’t bring up Joba Chamberlain to pitch out of the pen?”
Bronx
July 18th, 2007 at 4:39 pm
“If anyone in the organization seriously considers it for 3 seconds or more, they should be fired.
1. It slows Joba’s development
2. It exposes him to greater risk of injury
3. It risk damaging his confidence if gets hit
4. It starts his ML service clock
All of these drawbacks FAR outweigh any potential gain. AND what’s the guarantee he’ll even be successful?”
Posted this on a thread that wasn’t active before…
Brian Cashman did a very interesting interview today with the Trenton Thunder radio broadcasters during an 8th inning rain delay. Cashman was there to watch Hughes.
He spoke about the overall direction of the organiztion, player acquisition and some trade deadline issues. He seemed much more relaxed with the Trenton broadcasters than he usually does with the media.
The game was broadcast over the internet through http://www.milb.com.
Highly recommend it.
All the game stuff aside, you do have to feel kind of bad for a guy who, because he’s not performing well athletically, is absolutely hated and constantly booed by fans of the team he’s on. That’s got to be pretty tough on anyone.
It’s never good when a pitcher admits he would boo himself. This guy needs to go. The Yankees need to make a deal and there have been a lot of rumors from Texiera to Wilson Betemit. Betemit would be more likely and if they can get that done, he could possibly become the next Yanks utility man to spark a comebcack (Cairo, Melky…Betemit(?)).
BeegcellentBaseball
is there any reason people listen to mike/maddog or read other blogs like nomaas, then take any ideas spouted off there, and parade them here like they thought of it themselves? yes, there are lots and lots of reasons joba’s not pitching the 8th here. read some of the earlier posts. there have been 3-4 or more people bring that up after mike f. talked about it. same thing with everyone talking about trading cano, melky, and kennedy or some other high prospects to florida. it’s fine if you want to talk about it, but it’s sorta funny have people keep bringing the same thing up as though it’s this great new idea they just thought of.
sounds like Kyle is really rocking the confidence…
A diagnosis of the Yankees problems can be found here.
http://bryle.freehostia.com
Read The Gamble to see what has gone wrong so far and what needs to be done
Bob,
Thanks for that, but that is all speculation.
He is a year older than Hughes and I think we all know where he’ll be pitching in two weeks.
Plus, Joba wouldn’t start, he’d work in the pen, say the 7th inning. They can limit his pitches and work.
Confidence wise, he has to come sooner or later and 22/23 seems like the perfect age to me.
On the flip side of those speculations, what if we are holding him back? No one knows, speculation.
“All the game stuff aside, you do have to feel kind of bad for a guy who, because he’s not performing well athletically, is absolutely hated and constantly booed by fans of the team he’s on. That’s got to be pretty tough on anyone.”
You know what else has to be pretty tough? Is cashing those checks the yankees make out to him.
“The Mets scored their run off Hughes in the first when Corey Coles doubled, stole third and scored on a throwing error. The run became earned when the next batter hit a fly ball deep enough that it would have counted as a sacrifice fly.” from MLB.com
Will,
No one brought it up thinking it was some new, great idea.
I happened to read a chat on ESPN and wondered about it.
Why don’t you write about what concerns you and if you don’t want to participate in a thread, talk about something else. Don’t get on people’s case for broaching a subject that you don’t think is important.
Bob, correction, he turns 22 in Sept…so he is 9 mos older than Phil.
Interesting tidbit about Krazy Kyle – I can feel for the guy – Things aren’t going well, and he’s exposed for everyone to see. At least he owns up to it. And as a Yankee fan, I truly hope that he turns it around. However, he has shown no sign of that, and with his silly pickoff moves with the runner standing on first base, I wonder if he’s is pressing too much to eve succeed. He may benefit from a change in scenery. From what Peter has written over the course of the season, Kyle seems like an OK guy. It’s just really unfortunate, for both himself and the team (and us fans) that he’s not getting it done. And while I don’t personally dislike him for not succeeding, it is getting frustrating, and it’s at the point where we can’t tolerate it any longer. He may benefit from a change in scenery, as they say.
Yes let’s bring up Joba that’s a great idea.
Let’s see we can him continue his monumental development in AA, starting every 5 days, and dominating
-OR-
Have him come up to our pen and rot. Pitching once a week in lackluster blowouts.
He’ll be a September call up. Nothing more, nothing less. No need to mess with the kids momentum.
Its has nothing to do with age between Hughes and Chamberlain. Its a variety of things. Professional experience for one. Not being on the 40 man roster (which means they have to make a move to activate him) is another. It starts his ML clock, which is not something they may want to do in the same year as Hughes arrival. He has NEVER thrown a pitch in AAA, and has only been in AA for a little over a month.
How many more reasons do you need to see its a bad idea?
How about the fact he has NEVER pitched out of the bullpen in his life?
Just because he, “throws 98″ doesn’t make him an 8th inning specialist. Kyle Farnsworth throws 98. How’s that working out?
Two weeks ago, Mike Francesa had never heard of Joba Chamberlain. Now, he wants him to pitch 8th innings in the home stretch for the Yankees when there is no evidence, NONE, that he can do that job. Its just flat out dumb.
Yet, because Francesa says it, folks parrot it like its some kind of brainstorm.
Of course, if he did it, and got hurt, the “Fire Cashman” “Clueless Joe” posts would go through the roof, with Francesa leading the way on the airwaves.
They have an 8th inning guy, Luis Vizcaino. They don’t need to make a AA starter an 8th inning specialist.
Francesa says the, “Red Sox did it with Papelbon”. But, what he fails to realize is, Papelbon had about 100 more innings of pro experience than Joba Chamberlain. It makes a difference. Big difference for some pitchers.
Homer Bailey, the next “big thing” after Phil Hughes, was supposed to help the Reds. A month and a half in, 7 ERA later, he is back in the minors. All of the scouting gurus ripped the Reds for not calling him up earlier. Turns out, they were wrong.
Fausto Carmona is the CLASSIC example of how you can’t just put a guy in the bullpen, in a key role no less, and expect him to do it if he has never done it before.
He was AWFUL out of the ‘pen last year. Probably cost the Indians a playoff spot. This year, back in his usual role as a starter, he has been great. The Indians got lucky. They could have destroyed that kids confidence, instead of just their season, with that move last year.
There is a reason why good organizations don’t rush prized prospects. Its not in their best interests.
Larry,
I didn’t mean it to be a rant, but it sort of turned into one.
if we want him to be a front line starter, why would we take him out a starting role? it makes sense, at least in my head, that he would progress faster, in terms of developing as a starter, to remain a starter, pitching along his mapped out development path, gradually building innings, being able to build confidence in his pitches as he’s working on them. pushing him to the bull pen would give him less certain work, and probably less innings in higher pressure situations.
plus, the whole skipping AAA thing hasn’t really worked for us. how’s chase wright looking?
basically, it doesn’t make sense to hamper our bright young rising stars right now. we’re doing ok in the bigs recently. if we need bullpen support from the minors, bring up some of our relievers. Britton, Brower, etc., or use ramirez. Cashmans doing the right thing taking it slow with hughes, and i think the only way we see chamberlain this year, especially in a relievers role, is if cash gets fired.
Just a guess but seems to me that Farnsy isn’t the blog reading type.
According to Hector the Projector, Roger will get all the necessary run support for tonight’s game. The Captain, A-Rod, and Jorge will be solid contributors with help from Melky. He did not want to get involved with a weather projection.
What’s IMO?
Once a fanboy idea gets out here, it rattles around the internet and the blogs and the chats for a while until the next fanboy idea supplants it. So, for all of those fans of Mike Francesa who wish to bring up Joba because he’s young and he can throw as fast as 98 mph, consider this:
1) Kyle Farnsworth can throw as fast 98 mph too. How effective has he been based solely on his MPH?
2) Exactly when did being young and having like 150 innings of minor league ball under your belt work to your benefit in MLB pressure situations, maybe even wild card contention?
There’s just a little more to pitching effectively in the bigs than throwing 98 mph, dontcha think?
Jerry,
IMO-In my opinion
IMHO-In my honest opinion
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L.....ng_phrases
On Joba
Mike Francesa is far from the first person who thought up the idea of bringing up Joba and putting him in the pen.
Many of the non-Yankee scouts in baseball have been saying they see Joba’s future as a closer. This idea has been batted around by Baseball America’s writers a great deal this year and was a common theme during the futures game. Fracesa, who likely heard it from some scouting source.
Could Joba come up now and help the yankees in the pen?
Yes.
Would that hurt his long term development?
Probably,
Joba has two terrific pitches right now. The fastball and slider. Both are plus pitches.
He does not yet have a consistent third pitch. That’s one of the things he has to learn this year (along with working deeper into games, building arm strenght, etc.) He’s working on his change and his curve ball. Neither is there.
If they bring him up to the majors to pitch from the pen I don’t see how his change is going to improve.
He already doesn’t have the best command or confidence in his change/ curve. He’s cautious about throwing them in teh doube A. He’s really not going to trust throwing them in the majors. And out of the pen he’ll only need two pitches to succeed anyway.
If he doesn’t develop that third pitch and if he doesn’t develop more arm strength he may be relegated to a relief role long term. Say he comes up, has some success in the pen this season. Next season they aren’t going to send him down. Nor will he necessarily have that third pitch. He may get caught in this limbo young pitchers often do.
The Reds can afford to bring up Homer Bailey before he’s ready to pitch in the majors because they are willing to let Bailey learn how to pitch in the majors by having rough outings.
Could Joba do that with the yankees? Would yankee fans stand for it?
Seems unlikely.
The Mets may have screwed up Aaron Heilman’s development this exact way. Great fastball, terrific change. No third pitch. He wants to start but the mets won’t let him. He’s too valuable short term in that relief role and they say he has no third pitch so how can he start anyway? He has no third pitch because he wasn’t given the chance to develop one in the minors.
Joba can throw 97-98 into the 6th inning (latest he usually goes). He is a special arm and may have the highest upside of any pitcher in the minors (him or clayton kershaw of the dodgers). Long term, his value as a starter would far exceed his value as a reliever.
He needs to develop that third pitch. He needs to learn to pitch deeper into games.
He won’t learn either coming out of the pen.
agree with everything SJ44 said about chamberlain.
we still disagree on abreu tonight. i have a hunch that about 4 days from now, when he’s trying to bunt his way aboard, still pulling off the ball, and looking completely overmatched at the plate again, you and i will be closer to the same page on that one.
bobby was hitting fine in the 7 hole, and he clearly can not handle hitting 3rd this year. he’ll prove it again tonight.
if torre’s going to baby him by sitting him against tough lefties (not something i necessarily disagree with, although against kazmir it was questionable), why throw him into the 3-hole, where he’s so clearly uncomfortable this year? if you’re going to treat the guy with kid gloves, go all the way with it.
Speculation Global Warming.
The pen is a great way to break a guy in to the bigs…don’t pour the responsibilities of a starter on him all at once (like DeSalvo for instance).
Its not like he’ll be around for a full season…we need bullpen help, isn’t this obvious. Let him come prove his worth.
OK, FYI: I don’t listen or read about Mike and Mike, I don’t listen to Mad Dog or any of that BS.
As I said, I happened to read something on ESPN in a chat with Keith Law…he is what most refer to as an analytical expert.
It was an intersting idea and for any of you who say that our bullpen is okay, you are nuts. It is not okay, in fact it sucks with the exception of the Sandman.
I am simply arguing that bringing him up for less than a half season to get acquainted with big leaguers is not going to kill his development.
It could help his development just as much as it could hinder it.
And what is all this “fanboy” BS about?
Abreu was great hitting third last year. When he got hot earlier this year, he was hitting third. When you look at the lineup, without Giambi, he’s really the only guy that can hit in that spot. Matsui and Cano can’t. With Damon struggling, Jeter can’t hit third and Melky really hits better batting 9th than first or second.
Moving Abreu kind of messes up the entire lineup and I don’t want to see that right now. Especially now that they are winning.
That’s why I think they need to keep Abreu in the third hole and hope hitting behind Arod will get him more fastballs to hit and he puts them into play.
I kind of discount his night last night. Nobody hits Halliday when he is on like he was.
Constantly moving guys around in the order often messes them up. At this point, I say keep him in the third hole, unless he completely falls off the map again, and hope for the best.
Maybe when Giambi gets back, you can move him. It would also help if Damon was hitting.
Frankly, I’m more concerned about Damon than Abreu right now. Bobby is having good AB’s. Damon is not. That’s real worrisome to me.
Just to be clear, I am a HUGE Chamberlain fan. I have seen him pitch 7 times this year, had the pleasure of meeting him (a GREAT kid) and I think he is going to be special.
Tempted to put him in the bullpen? I could see it but, man, if he gets hurt, you wanna be the GM who got Joba Chamberlain hurt? That’s a real risk, IMO.
He is special. Hughes-type special. I don’t believe in messing with those guys unless you KNOW how you are going to use them.
One thing we have seen with the bullpen, roles are not exactly “defined”. That’s a big reason why I don’t endorse a Joba to the bullpen move.
Well this is all nice and well but all I know is that the EPL begins August 11th. I can’t wait.
Mehdi, hockey is a joke.
I can only hope you are referring to the soccer league.
SJ44,
Lets say you keep Abreu where he is.How long do you continue
to keep Damon at the one spot. We are winning in spite of
him. He is not hitting in any oppertune time. I say drop
him to ninth. He looks like he is just dropping the bat to
the ball, no hard swings what so ever.
thoughts?
This is the lineup I want:
Jeter
Abreu
A-Rod
Matsui
Posada
Cano
Phillips
Melky
Damon
Basically the same line up except Damon gets the fewest at-bats instead of the most. Plus your best hitter usually hits 3rd. And an OBP guy usually hits 2nd instead of 3rd
lets keep the order we have and put the panic buttons away
I don’t know if any of you saw this, but there was an article in the Star Ledger this morning about Long and Mattingly going over tapes of Damon from last year and comparing them to this year. The found a point of adjustment and Damon’s working on it.
“Damon Adjustments”:http://www.nj.com/yankees/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/118473403494000.xml&coll=1
The Damon situation is a tough call. I agree with you about him. I was at all four games in Tampa and, even in BP, he wasn’t hitting anything hard. It probably depends on Giambi’s return. If Giambi is back by August 1, then I think Damon’s days in the lineup are over. Giambi will take his DH spot, and Damon moves into the “Melky role” from earlier in the season.
It creates the question of, who becomes the leadoff guy? Not an easy answer. The guy I’d use? Abreu. I’d lead him off, then Jeter, Giambi, Arod, Matsui, Posada, Cano, Phillips and Melky.
That’s a winning lineup, if Giambi is healthy. If he isn’t coming back by August 1, they may have to find a bat (a Ty Wiggington-type, for example) to handle the DH spot.
I guess Abreu could lead off. In a way, he’s similar to what Damon had been — good eye at the plate, some power, doubles hitter. It could work.
I have a question about BP. For a player like Robinson Cano who needs to acquire better discipline and maybe develop a better sense of the strike zone, can that be addressed in BP? You know, the coach purposely tossing balls outside the strike zone or something like that? I really have no idea. I’m wondering.
Totally agree with you SJ44 on that line-up.
Abreu takes a lot of pitches, has a good OBP usually and has decent speed. Jeter may have better speed, and also a good OBP, but he’s better suited for the 2-hole, because he can do more with a bat. Hit-and-runs, situational hitting etc.
I like that lineup much more than what it is now. Thats
assuming that Torre will sit Damon instead of Melky.
I know we are all counting down the return of Hughes,
but we seem to have forgotten that Karstens is rehabbing
as well and pitching well. What do we do with Karstens?
Do we put him as the long man and send Igawa back to
the minors. Or do we make him a 6th or 7th inning guy?
Guys work on all kinds of things during BP. I always love Jeter’s BP. He takes three rounds. He starts by hitting the ball up the middle. Next round, he goes exclusively to right. Final round, some situational hitting, then look to pull a couple of pitches. Its the same routine everyday. Great stuff.
Cano’s problem is, and I am not being sarcastic, he is too good. His hands are so quick, and his arms long for his size, he can get to almost anything. That’s why its tough to get him to think in the zone.
If he ever can do it, he can be special. But, it sure is maddening watching a kid with his talent waste as many AB’s as he has this season.
Hopefully, last night was a start of a hot streak for him. Last year, this team really took off when he got hot around this time of the year. I am hoping for similar results.
Any idea how long the Yankees intend to bat their worst hitter in the leadoff spot?
It is a little disturbing that Damon even looks so weak during BP. I like to give Torre and the coaching staff the benefit of the doubt but why continue to bat Damon lead-off if he clearly isn’t up for it?
News Flash: Joba Chamberlain is NOT that good. He’s a two pitch pitcher with a great fastball and slider. Sounds familiar? yeah it sounds like Kyle Farnsworth to me.
SJ44,
That’s a great observation about Cano. Kind of reminds you of another player who, of course, has a lot more success at the plate: Vlad Guerrero. Vlad swings at slop and makes a 3-course meal. I think we forget that Cano is so young and will get more experienced at the plate. Pitchers have adjusted to Robbie, so he needs to adjust to them. We know he’s capable of making changes. No more lazy fielding from Robinson after some horrible gaffes earlier in the season.
Damon’s OPS is now down to .669. That’s worse than Mientkiewicz or Phelps.
Thanks, SJ44. I appreciate your answer.
News Flash: Joba Chamberlain is NOT that good. He’s a two pitch pitcher with a great fastball and slider. Sounds familiar? yeah it sounds like Kyle Farnsworth to me.
But Chamberlain has a much better slider and is 23 years old
Does Farnsworth really have a ‘great fastball’? I know he throws it upper 90’s but it is always described as straight.
Yeah, he has no control to
Bullpen Opposition Batting Splits 2006 & 2007
Player 2006 AVG/OBP/SLG 2007 AVG/OBP/SLG
Brian Bruney .189/.333/.270 .228/.361/.325
Kyle Farnsworth .243/.318/.376 .286/.366/.422
Luis Vizcaino .215/.311/.397 .218/.337/.359
Mariano Rivera .223/.264/.288 .250/.288/.347
Mike Myers .244/.318/.378 .241/.318/.379
Ron Villone .250/.362/.400 .213/.294/.307
Scott Proctor .232/.292/.376 .242/.335/.376
abreu looked lost monday, too, and josh towers isn’t roy halladay. he’s pulling off the ball, swinging at terrible pitches again, trying to bunt when he has no business doing so, and looking generally like somebody who expects to fail. we’re 3-4 days away from pete and the other writers mentioning how he’s fallen off a cliff.
i agree that moving guys around messes them up, which is why i was baffled when joe moved him back to the 3 hole when bobby had finally settled in to hitting 7th. is he the perfect 3 guy for this team? sure, when he’s hitting like bobby abreu. this year, he ain’t. you have to adjust your plans accordingly. you can’t keep depending on a guy because of his name. you keep him in the three hole and, soon enough, jeter stops seeing pitches because he’s hitting between two guys pitchers think they can get out.
damon’s just a wreck. i expected this kind of dropoff in year 4 of his contract, but not year 2. he’s been an incredible disappointment this season. but at least he looks sexy for his wife, right?
again, there are a number of reasons this team has been hovering around .500 for 3 1/2 months now. the bullpen is part of it, the pitching staff is part of it, the injuries are cetainly part of it, and guys like damon and abreu underachieving are part of it. the yankees are back over .500, so it’s easier to start getting excited about the miniscule possibility of a playoff run but, realistically, you’re not going to make alot of noise with a leadoff guy hitting .240, a 3-hole hitter who lacks confidence in himself, a set-up guy who is nearly a guaranteed trainwreck every time out and somebody who is the worst back-up catcher in recent memory.
Thanks Mike
It really shows how Torre kills those guys in the bullpen and how unpredictible relief pitching is
I wonder if Brayan Pena of the Braves would be available
As others have said it is nice to hear that Krazy Kyle is manning up to his struggles. I was so excited when the Yankees signed him not only because of the success he had in 2005, but because he is the kind of Bad Ass guy that every bullpen could use. I figured he wouldn’t be afraid to fire back if one of our guys got beaned and he’s definitely someone you want on your side in a bench clearing brawl. I even heard he used to have a side job bartending when with the Cubs which only made me like him that much more.
It is hard…no, impossible to like him though when he pitches as lousily as he does. But I still think he is a decent guy…of course I want him to be traded ideally, above all else, but if he isnt some reason I hope he turns it around…just not in the 8th inning please!
Same BBB
As others have pointed out it really illustrates just how much the walks are killing the pen. Bruney and Vizcaino have not been that easy to hit, but both have walked waay too many guys.
Damon really has a terrible arm
Peter Gammons was on Michael Kay’s radio show today and was raving about Joba Chamberlain and the young Yankee pitching.
This is what he had to say (from my own transcription):
Kay: Now is he [Joba Chamberalain] as good as people are telling me?
Gammons: I was stunned
Kay: Really
Gammons: I knew he was really good but… I see he and Ohlendorf coming up for the stretch to be in the bull pen.
He’s [Chamberlain] somewhere between Bobby Jenks and Joel Zumaya…I had a couple of guys in the Red Sox Organization… one of whom managed against him in Hawaii … and one …said as a relief pitcher that’s a very good call as a reliever we could see that [comparison to Jenks/ Zumaya]
Down the line he has Justin Verlander stuff… I mean he [Chamberlain] is stunning…
I think he is going to be a huge story…I think Ohlendorf is going to be good down the stretch just as I think Phillip Hughes is going to be very good down the stretch. To me, I think the race will change with those three young pitchers coming in… I think they will inject a tremendous amount of energy into the Yankees.
Kay: Chamberlain is a starter… but you think he could come in and relieve?
Gammons: Absolutely…His stuff is…he was 95-99 with a great…slider and a slurve
… The Yankees have 3 guys coming… in Chamberlain, Ohlendorf and Hughes who are better than anything they can get in the trade market.
Kay: I’ve been told by someone very high up in the organization that Chamberlain is better than Hughes
Gammons: I don’t know… the only thing you worry about is that he’s had some history of injuries but that’s why some teams backed off of him and let him get to the end of the second round…
It’s evident to me and a couple of people said this to me in the past couple of days that the Yankees did a great job on the information on him [Chamberlain] that some of the knock on him… being injury prone…the Yankees just did better work than a lot of other teams… I look back to the draft of 1983 when 11 teams took pitchers ahead of Roger Clemens because scouts had “good information� that Clemens was a breakdown…
clemens will bang his fist
aaaand in other news, Alex Rios smells.
However, optimism! Let’s go Yankees, answer back! Maybe Clemens will have an Andy-esque start; tough first, great rest of the game!
Damon has had a great AB so far working the count.
Hey guys! glad I found this blog again. My family attended the July 2nd game and had a BLAST!!! I was wonderfing if ANYONE knew where I could purchase a video of the July 2nd game. In the excitement of going on vacation to NYC we forgot to set the tv up to record the game. I’ve looked all over the Yankee’s sight and I can watch the game but not own a taping/dvd. Any help would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!
Thanks and GO YANKS!
i wish my arm was as good as damons. go knows i could hit as well! and yea im so much faster. guys seriously you have to lay off this negativity is killing me i feed off of positivity
Oh well
At least he worked the count. I predict that Jeter will have a hit
Way to see a lot of pitches Johnny. Great AB, even though it was an out.
It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that Marcum could go 1-2-3 and have a 20 pitch inning. I think that’s a good thing
Yeah, it’s ABs like that that make me remember why I hated Damon so much when he was w/Boston. Too bad nothing came of it but at least he made him throw a lot of pitches.
Yep a 20 pitch 1-2-3 inning at least
Pollyanna, its so much more fun when you are around to do some fist banging.
I guarentee that either Jeter or Damon will homer today
How can a ML hitter, batting in the 3 hole, see 5 pitches without taking a hack?
I agree with Kasey above,,, why did Torre mess with a good thing and move Abreu back into the 3 hole after he seemed comfortable batting low in the order?
Mike NYY, how ’bout both of ‘em homering.
Maybe, I don’t want to jinx it though
A-Rod should try bunting up the first base line
real quick while we’re in between innings, did anyone else immensely enjoy El Duque schooling Jake Peavy last night? I hate the Mets as much as the rest of you but Duque is one of my favorites of all time, and it is great to see that even nowadays, at age undetermined, he can show up these young studs. He even stole a base LOL!
yay leadoff walks!
I wish we still had El Duque
Double plays are bad
Dear Will, Murphydog, SJ44, and Kasey,
Kay: Chamberlain is a starter… but you think he could come in and relieve?
Gammons: Absolutely…His stuff is…he was 95-99 with a great…slider and a slurve
I think Mr. Gammons knows a heck of a lot more than any of us, but my point is made. He can come in and relieve this year and make a big difference…then he can start down the road.
CB, THANK YOU!!!
CB,
Can’t be. Joba is only a two pitch pitcher and isn’t any good. At least that’s what I read on the internet.
CB,
I heard the interview with Gammons this afternoon and I have to thank you for saving me some typing. As I was listening to him, I couldn’t help but think of the debate this was going to start on this blog – At the time I hadn’t realized Franscesa was going to promote the same theory on the same afternoon.
Gammons really sounded blown away by Joba, and he really made me think that a promotion to the pen could happen this season.
I started to worry, and then realized he’ll probably just ride the pine with Edwar while Kyle blows games in the 8th.
Phew, I feel much better now.
But Chamberlain has not pitched above Double A. That is a big jump to the majors.
I do too Mike. To this day I can’t think of anyone I’d rather give the ball to in a game 7. Duque lives for moments like that.
Larry,
That’s his opinion and he is entitled to it. Doesn’t make it gospel.
If they do it and he gets hurt, the same people who were screaming for him will turn and say, “what were they thinking” like there is no tomorrow.
The most valuable commodity in baseball today is young pitching. The DL is littered with young guys, used too early, who have suffered significant injuries.
I would hate to run that risk with Chamberlain. Its taken this organization over 15 years to have two guys the calibur of Chamberlain and Hughes in their system.
Running the risk of “too much, too soon” with either of them amounts to GM malpractice to me.
I do too Mike. To this day I can’t think of anyone I’d rather give the ball to in a game 7. Duque lives for moments like that.
Sandy Koufax or Pedro in their primes?
Thank you for your insight SJ44, I do respect your opinion, but on this one, I’m with Mr. Gammons (old as he may be).
Koufax, screw Pedro.
Well okay, I suppose you got me there. But the homer in me says, El Duque all the way!
OK,,,,,have no fear, underdog is here ! I mean ALAN is here….OK, Clemens will get the GDP here and the bats are gonna WAKE UP in the bottom of the inning….*GO YANKEES !!!* KC still hanging with the BoSox….No Score in the 4th inning there…..*GO ROYALS !!!!*
Would it NOT be sweet for GLAUS to strike out to end the threat…..MR. GLARE !!!!
Rocket!!! Rocket!!!! Rocket!!!
Come on Yankees, lets get some RUNS
alan + crystal ball = priceless
I hate to say it, but if the Yanks are challenging in mid august and the bullpen has not been effective, I can see the Joba move being made damn the costs. Making the playoffs is worth an enormous amount of money to the organization and I can see an “all hands on deck” attitude overtaking management to achieve that goal.
I’m not saying it would be right, and I am not in agreement with it, but I can see it happening just because most business decisions are made at the bottom of an Excel Spreadsheet.
swing strike, well-done rocket, but 51 pitches how long could he last?
I could see Ohlendorf in the bullpen. Actually, I think that’s the best place for him. Perhaps as soon as the second half.
Chamberlain? JMO but, if they go that route, that’s a panic move and I really hope it doesn’t blow up in their faces.
This Marcum dude is just too good. I see a complete game shutout.
Marcum has been very good this year but terrible in his last 2 outings which caused his season-long era to increase by almost a full run. But up til then, he was the equivalent of RH. Unfortunately, pitchers seem to get their heads right against us.
jebus, these DPs are irritating.
However, for some positivity, Marcum has thrown nearly as many pitches as Clemens and KC just took a 2-0 lead over Boston, and still batting in the top of the 4th.
Let’s go Yankees!!! Alan is your crystal ball predicting any offense?
This Rattachewy dude is just too negative. I see his predictions looking silly a couple innings from now
Ugh ESPN makes me ill…they’re talking about the Sheffield nonsense and said nobody from the Yanks camp said anything back…conveniently forgetting to mention that both Strawberry and Tom Gordon backed up Joe!
OK…the Rocket needs to DP this slow catcher,,,WE NEED to STAY AWAY from the dang GDP….and TOP ‘O the Lineup….2nd look at this pitcher…give him a SPANKIN’ !!!
Ok I am scaring myself now…..SWEET !!!
For minor league freaks like me, Kevin Whelan has pitched 4 hitless innings for Tampa and his era is down to 1.80> Some folks are very high on him and think once he pitches a while longer (he is a recent convert from a positional player) he will be a top prospect. The exciting thing about the Yankees is the ton of talent they have pitching wise in minors AFTER names like Hughes, Chamberlain, Kennedy, etc. It just keeps coming. As for Ohledorf, I do not see him helping this year, as he continues to give up more than a hit per inning. But Britton and Brower– and of course, Edwar, wherever he is– may very well.
JETER DID NOT SWING AT THE FIRST PITCH !!!
Hey, Mr. Leadoff Man! How ’bout swipin’ a bag! (online heckling)
ohhhh, beautiful hit and run. Come on Yankees… let’s put some runs on the board.
remind me again why abreu is the perfect 3-hole hitter, please. because right now, he’s not showing me anything that supports the argument.
oh YES…Abreu is JUST what we need in the #3 hole….he is CLUTCH and the KEY to ALL Yankee Victories…..NOT ! Put him and KEEP him down in the 7 hole…it is where he belongs….what a ^(*^T^I%9!
If Yanks can’t drive in at least 1 here, in the heart of the order, 2 on, none out it will not bode well for the rest of this game. I mean come on Abreu… at least hit it deep enough for a SF.
Jeter Damon Abreu a combine 1/18 so far in last 2 games…yeah they are making a playoff push all right.
I didn’t have a chance to read comments on the Betemit rumor. But trading a Proctor, Bruney or (PLEASE!) Farnsworth(less) for Betemit makes a LOT of sense.
1) who on the bench right now gives you pop? Nieves (ha) KT or Cairo? (love them both, but no)
2) You are NOT giving up a major prospect pitchingwise, and trading one of the three just may open something up for Edwar!
3) Forget the .225 batting average. BA is overrated. Betemit has 10 HR in 142 ab this year. Better yet, his OPS is .844—in about the same amount of at bats as Giambi. BTW, Giambi’s OPS is .816. And Betemit is a switch hitter.
4) Betemit plays different positions, esp. infield, AND IS ONLY 25! Who in AA/AAA is as young or as good. NOBODY. Not Eric Duncan, who will never make it. Not Basak. Not Andy Cannizaro. Not Gabe Lopez or Alberto (the DA) Gonzalez. Betemit is better than all of them.
5) Should A-Rod decide to leave, they have an alternative to 3b. Who are the other alternatives? Cairo? Eric Duncan? Come on. Betemit at least gives you an alternative (not that I want Alex to leave, and I hope he stays, but you have to at least prepare for the possibility). If Alex goes, and there is nothing there, how badly do you think a FA or another team would hold the Yanks up, knowing how desperate they would be for a 3b????
Ugh
Oh my god. I felt like we lost this game with that double play. =(
auuuuuuurrrrgh death to DPs!
Brower? You DO know who you are talking about here, don’t you?
He is NOT a young prospect. He is 34 year old Jim Brower, who has bounced from the Indians to the Giants, Braves, etc.
Some talk about him as if he were a prospect. ummmm….no.
The main thing about the Gammons interview wasn’t whether Joba should be called up now or whether he’s a starter or reliever. It’s what tonyb noted.
Gammons was absolutely floored by Joba.
I mean not just impressed – flabbergasted. At time he was sort of left speechless about how good Joba is and what he saw.
I’ve heard Gammons go on and on about Clay Buchholz. I’ve never heard him describe Buchholz in those kind of terms. Not even close.
Those names he threw up there – Jenks, Zumaya, Verlander. That’s the kind of special arm Joba has.
I’m still in the camp that says you don’t bring him up. Be disciplined and let him learn in the minors. Let him work on his third pitch, stamina, fundamentals. I put the Gammons stuff up there because it was interesting for the debate and he’s such a Red Sox guy.
Rick Ankiel may have been at the Mark Pryor prospect level. Tony La Russa still says Ankiel may have been ruined as a prospect because they brought him up to soon to compete in the post season.
Man on 3rd,no outs, no score. Why didn’t Jeter steal? Marcum gets a lot of ground ball outs. O.k. let’s go guys!
Time to move Abreu back down in the lineup. He was doing fine until Joe moved him back into the No. 3 hole.
well, that was very Yankee-like.
And Abreu is NOT a competent number 3 hitter.
This game has the stinky feel of a bad loss.
Move Abreu to 7th, Damon to 9th, and let Melky leadoff.
DFA Farnsworth and Myers.
Call up Duncan and Gardner.
Yeah, I know who Brower is, but he may be serviceable if the need arises. Prefer Edwar and Britton. But apparently Torre does not know who they are. Whelan finished with 5 hitless innings.
The Yankees must still hate Pettite and Clemens for leaving to Houston because they are not giving them any run support.
I’m wondering the same thing Mel. Why are they not running on him at all? It’s not like Pisano Fasano is behind the dish…
meanwhile, I think Boston just scored what seems like
15 runs against Royals.
You did see Ankiel’s OF numbers, I hope. .275-26-70. The 26 HR are 2nd in the minors.
LOL! Nice, explosive offense there, guys!
Good luck catching either Boston or Cleveland!
Bobby Abreu in the 3 spot…LOL!
Now I understand how opposing teams feel when Wang pitches for us.
“meanwhile, I think Boston just scored what seems like
15 runs against Royals”
Yep, let’s see how many the Yanks score tonight…LOL!
I know that I will be crowned KING of the obvious, but we MUST stay out of the GDP, cuz Rocket can only dodge bullets for so long…it is apparent that he does not have the good stuff tonight…We are gonna have to start putting some runs on the board NOW !!….( as another YIKES (hit),,,Toronto has scored only 1 run, but has 8 hits….talk about US on borrowed time ! )
The Yanks offense is not good enough to consistantly score enough runs to make the playoffs. And tonight’s game looks like it will be a hoot to watch!
Jeter SS
Matsui LF
Arod 3B
Posada C
Abreu RF
Duncan DH
Cano 2B
Cabrera CF
Phillips 1B
hello?offense? ….is the game over ? is YOUR game over ? did Boston win ANYTHING YET ? Go crawl back under your rock and talk to me WHEN THE SEASON is over… LOL this, buddy !!!
Today is one of those days the offese is scuffling. The pitching has to hold up until the offense manages some runs. It was good we won yesterday especially Halladay pitching.
Still, 3 out of 4 is good. Sweep will be sweet.
Boston is up 4-2 ??? with Tavarez on the mound…OH YES…that is a SUPER SAFE LEAD….just put the W on the board and call it a night…HOMER !!!
AFter 4 innings…DO THEY END THE GAME AND TOTAL UP THE RUNS ??? Dude you need to take a trip to SHUTTY TOWN !!!
“Today is one of those days the offese is scuffling.”
Heh, today is typical of the Yankee so-called offense. You’ve got Abreu as a number 3 hitter. That shows just how putrid the team is.
Gonna be a fun night! LOL to you, Alan!
Alan,
This is going to be fun! Looking foward to your commentary on this blistering Yankee offense…LOL!
I`m struggling to remain optimistic
Come on Cano we need a hit
at least we didnt hit into a DP like every other inning. Might be a sign of change
Boston’s down 5-4
At least we know we won’t lose any ground maybe we can still make some up
Please Yankees win this game and shut up these *word I probably shouldn’t post here* Red Sox trolls
Oh yes, mr. dink, it’s gonna be real fun…Yankees are down a whole ONE RUN…( totally insurmountable, right ? )..
and *LOL* BOSTON IS NOW LOSING 5-4 after their A$$Bag of a pitcher just gave up 3 in the 5th and STILL is not out of the JAM !!! *LOL ICEHOLE, LOL!!!* *Gonna be a fun night!*
hello offense please stop posting.
Why is everybody jumping on abreu? jeter and posada have been in a lot worse slumps and nobody jumped on them. guys hes human and humans slump.
and by the way boston just fell behind. you guys flip-flop more than fish struggling for air. and guess what to all you doubters timlin is warming. this game is a lil more than half over so either get on the bandwagon, drink the kool-aid or just go away because nobody wants to hear your complaints and sarcasm and negativity. were going to see you guys in ocxtober if the yanks win going I KNEW IT ALL ALONG. i love MY yankees. seriously you guys are disgraceful
We’re only down by 1 run with a good bit left to play. Boston is only down 1 run with a good bit left to play. I really wouldn’t write the games off as losses or wins so soon.
The Yankees can make any pitcher look like a Hall of Famer, even one who had an ERA over 5 last year.
Amen to that Ben
It Ain’t Over ’till Its Over
6-4 and hes putting in timlin…
WE PLAY NINE INNINGS, DUDE…..NINE FREAKIN’ INNINGS !!! Typical Boston Morons….let’s go over to the Yankees Blog and tell them that they suck….that’ll show them….Hey yankees guys…..you suck ! ha did you see that Timmy ? I told the bad guys that they are bad guys….can I have some of your candy at recess ??? *OH BY THE WAY 6-4 BOSTON IS LOSING…still in the same inning…ICEHOLE !!! *
we only need to win a game every 10 games and well be back by one… you guys are goons leave
alan calm down man he wants you to get mad
Things that are Identical : *Red Sox Fans = Red Sox Fans*
*Red Sox Fans = Red Sox Trolls = Red Sox Maroons*
god i think johnny can roll it to third faster oh well lets see if clemens can hold em once again
Thank you girlie arm Damon AWESOME
Amen Tseng. This game is still only a bit more than half over, our deficit isn’t large, anything can still happen! Let’s go Yankees!!!
eeek Johnny’s arm strikes again..if this is a close game in late innings I’m thinkin KT defensive replacement!
I’m calm…all is well….SERENITY NOW @@@@!!!!
Alan, I love your optimism as I am one of those types who always think the sky is falling. Strange how different fans emote differently even with the same passion for the team. So keep it up and simply ignore the troll. He is making you express uncharacteristically negative emotion. Depend on you for positivity (and I know how aggravating it is because i live– to borrow from another site– Deep in the Red).
The way Damon has been swinging the bat and the way he plays the field you might as well just have stuck thompson in there. Jeeze, I want Bubba back or something.
Pretty good throw, huh?
yeah I’m trying to ignore it (the troll) for that very reason ben. anything i’d have to say to it would be uber-unnice and most likely about its mom anyway, haha.
We will MOW Down Old MacDonald Had a Farm…our bats need to only awaken for a BLOOP and a BLAST…..The Mighty Royals are smokin’ the BoSox in Boston and the STREAK CONTINUES….GO YANKEES…WE ARE WITH YA ALL THE WAY !!!( How is that ?…better ??? )
It wasn’t Damon’s arm that was the prob, it was his brain – that throw goes into second.
Alan: The sign says don’t feed the trolls
The way Damon is playing makes me wish we had Bernie, but I think that Cashman really couldn’t just offer him a slot. Bernie really should have taken the tryout offer.
i dont even check this blog as much as i used to because these ppl just bring me down. i never said its all over. its never over. guys i dont want to bring up this example but i think its the only way to get a point. just because it has never happened doesnt mean that it wont. the sox xame back from 3-0 with some help from kenny lofton but who knows maybe coco will help us. its not over until the sox clinch
Much better.
Mike S,
Ankiel is a position player now only by default.
He was considered a once in a generation left handed power pitching prodigy. He was considered by many to be one of the best left handed prospects of all time.
He was high school and minor league player of the year as a pitcher.
He was rushed to the majors and LaRussa had him start game one of the playoffs at age 20 so that Ankiel could pitch multiple games of the series.
Ankiel got bombed and was never, ever the same. Completely lost the strike zone a la steve blass. After countless years and sports psychologists he requested that the cardinals move him from pitcher to the outfield because he felt that pitching was just too much for him.
Yes he’s had good power numbers but his career is in tatters and he’ll never be what they thought he’d be.
That’s the danger of bringing up a young pitcher – however talented – and thrusting them into high pressure situations. It’s not common but neither was Ankiel’s amazing talent.
Geez, its 6-4 KC. Having a hard time figuring out where our multi-named Red Sox fan is coming up with 15 runs. Maybe he was an Enron accountant.
Its 1-0 in the 6th. Game over? Please. Get a life or at least a thimble full of baseball logic, then post.
Revenge is SO Sweet….one run on 9 hits for the Blue Jays…and a Bloop and a Blast away from victory are our beloved Yankees…..meanwhile back at the Ranch…BOSOX still losing….WA-HOO ! I Love it !!!
We have to win now that we got out of two huge jams. Let’s go, Yankees!
Man,
Roger is huge. So far he’s gotten out of trouble everytime.
wow clemens is really battling to not have his good stuff and still only let up one run and go through six thats what makes him special
Clemens was horrid tonight. Only one 1-2-3 inning.[sarcasm]
guys nobody goes to fenway anymore its too crowded. alan your positivity is mind bottling (sorry i had to). oh yea btw there have been 4 yogi cliches on this blog tonight
dammit manny i hate you on too many levels
manny = the death of hustle
kay just screwed melkys chance of continuing the streak
gutsy performance by clemens. the bases were swimming with jays all night and at the end of all that only gave up a single run. i heart you roger.
I decided the past games not to get excited until the 7th or 8th inning. It appears since playing Blue Jays Yankees seem be finding a way to score and take the lead to win. Much to early in the game for me to start pounding this desk.
Hey, I got one out of the infield!
How quick was that inning? He`s at 80 pitches through 6 innings. We need to have a long 7th. Can Clemens get a break?
good job clemens hello proctor. i thought proctor was the 8 man today
Weird, the only run scored was in the first inning
Jeez whenever Roger or Andy takes the mound, the bats take the day off.
Proctor will probaly do two innings today.
“wow clemens is really battling to not have his good stuff and still only let up one run and go through six thats what makes him special”
Yep, and even ditto for Moose the other day, who is definitely not special in the same kind of way but still battled through and gave us a chance to win. The entire team has been showing a lot of heart lately which is why we can never be counted out, esp with only a one run deficit. Lets go Yankees!
yea tj normally i want the lead by the third or im sweating but now im like oh its jsut the 7th? HA HA we have 10 innings AT LEAST. im getting spoiled by them playing so well
hey Boston scored a run…but they are losing by one run…let’s see, we are losing by one run…they are losing by one run….which team is in the better position ? hmmmmm ( I would say the Yankees, as we are at Home playing the Blue Jays…and it seems that KC is a MONSTER MASH team when in Fenway…but MY Opinion may be biased ?? )
i assume they want proctor for two. well obviously they want him to. but that must be the plan. i wonder who comees in if (and he wont) be bombed
I think Andy and Roger feel they never left Houston. They got more run support there.
I just saw that Lugo is hitting over .400 this month. Somebody please tell me he’ll soon go back to having more errors than hits.
His contract was the funniest thing I’d heard this year. (Slightly edged out Drew’s…but it was close)
Minor league update for anyone interested:
High A Tampa is throwing a team no hitter through 7 innings. Kevin Whelan threw 5 no hit innings and Dave Robertson 2 hitless innings.
“but MY Opinion may be biased ??”
Alan,
You aren’t just biased. You seem incapable of realistically dealing with what’s actually going on in the game.
I’m looking forward to these last few innings!
His contract was the funniest thing I’d heard this year. (Slightly edged out Drew’s…but it was close)
Zito did it for me
Arod : “HA”
Dang it
sigh
Rios is killing us.
can we have a do over and bring back Clemens to get us out of the jam ?
pete to post an update telling us why proctor won’t be replacing farnsworth in the 8th in 3…. 2…. 1….
wow, are there any outs yet???
I hate this game I really do
The Blue Jays keep getting these opportunities and then when they blow them you think the Yankees will take advantage but they don’t. Sparky Proctor could easily blow the game right here
On the subject of funny contracts, didn’t Juan Pierre get something like 5 years and way too many million from the Dodgers?
guys. its my fault. im sorry. he’s on my fantasy team. i sat him because i dont like when ppl we are playing who are on my team are in my lineup. i truly am sorry
my oh my…was that a Pop-up that failed to advance the runner ? was that REALITY ??? *WAS IT ???*
I have bad feeling Proctor will give up a bomb this inning.
Free Edwar!
Check out the Tampa Yankees live bockscore
bbb i disagree but i am also of the opinion that ichiro deserved and does deserve his. i like speed on the paths, in the field, and running away on cops. pierre has a good glove a good average and has a crazy amount of speeds. same with ichiro. youre my boy but i think youre wrong on this
Did I already mention complete game shutout??
did the team party all night ??
just two measly hits
Clemens is getting a tough deal. It like when he held the mets to two runs, and the yanks got blanked, then they score 20 runs in the next two games.
We Want Ed-War
alan youre snapping. stop sniffing glue. haha kidding
Pierre has no ability to get on base. He was an absolutely terrible signing
When Big Hurt played for White Sox I would be in awe and intimidated whenever he batting if he was playing against our team. Now thank you he’s not as powerful and keen as he was in the old days.
Zito’s contract was good but it wasn’t Boston, that gave those the edge. He who laughs at the Red Sox laughs longest.
For sheer stupidity I’d have to give it to the Dodgers for Pierre. Although Lugo is close on that front. Esp when they could easily have brought back Loretta.
Wells has 7 LOB….Glaus has 6 LOB….Time for Mr Thomas to join the club…..Way to pitch PROCTOR…YOU are THE MAN !!!
mike i respect your opinion b ut he has a .320 obp or did as of last night. im a dodgers fan i watch the games. theyre my national league team
Speaking off bad contracts I have to brag that I predicted Zito’s bad year and said the would be a terrible signing
calling 320 absolutely horrible is a stretch by FAR
Myers coming in to give up his patented double to a lefty batter.
OK….no worries…just gotta make it interesting….”it’s not a party until something gets broken !!!”
I would hope for more than a .320 OBP for the contract Pierre got
Ben I’m a chick lol
I like Pierre too, I just think they gave him too much money…I forget how much exactly but it was alot and they should have gone for a bigger bat because lack of offense is their biggest problem.
edags Brain, Myers in
Why is our lefty specialist who can’t get out lefty’s coming in the game?
bases are loaded, and comes Myers???
CLemens has pitched better then I expected..
what is the chance our pen gets out of this?
The Yanks need only 1 thing and that is to improve the pen…
e-gads Brain, that is.
it’s MYERS TIME !!!…the law of averages is ON OUR SIDE !!!
another sterling effort by Proctor. Its why I lose zero sleep over any trade rumor involving a Yankee relief pitcher that isn’t named Ramirez, Vizcaino or Rivera.
All of them are awful, all of them are unable to throw the ball over the plate. Its just degrees of bad and hope (pray is more like it) the night they work is the night they luckily escape trouble.
There is a reason they are so awful in 1 and 2 run games this year. Bad bullpen of non-strike throwers and horrible situational hitting.
Gotta hope Myers can get lucky and get Overbay here.
Come on stay optimistic guys
If Myers blows the game then at least he`s closer to being released
Meyers is just nasty against lefties, I am so glad he is in the game right now.
On the bright side, if Myers can get Overbay out, it will have been a long time since Marcum was on the mound considering how long this inning has taken and the 7th inning stretch. Maybe the long break will get Marcum off his game. But Myers has to get this guy our first.
Who is up for us next inning? and what is marcaum pc
and what shock a ball from myers? talk about a waste of a roster spot.
The thing I love most about the Pierre deal is that Colletti will still get loads of credit for any success they have because the kids who DePodesta drafted are going to win him a ton of games. Although Ethier/ Kemp and Loney might have even more success if Gonzalez, Pierre and Nomar weren’t taking up so many at-bats.
Marcaum has like 80 pitches
Am I the only one who can’t stand listening to Suzy and John?
If anyone wants to hop over to yankeeschat on AIM, the room is up.
mike 38 sb are you kidding me that means that 38 were “doubles” and a 987 fpct seriously youre barking up the wrong tree. i didnt know that bbb but im not gunna be like hey woman i agree with you. haha illl just not right man in the future
Oh great, low pitch count.
We only need 2 runs!! we better come back!! We have to come back!! we will come back
I knew he could do it, I just knew he could
OPTIMISM!!!!!
SJ44 is right.. the are al tradeable except mariano.I prefer keeping Bruney(he is 25) but let’s be real there pen is junk..
How about Ramirez in the 8th??
No kyle or Viz today.. Try Ramirez let’s see if he can produce!!!!!!
Time to do something against Marcum.
Brian M,
That’s a very good point. De Podesta was really hated in LA and think Colletti is great.
How about the lefty specialist!
ok, hopefully Myers doing his job will energize the offense here!
Oh my god, I am so happy I’m not a Blue Jays fan.
This is a game the Yankees, by all rights, deserve to lose. But the Jays definitely do not deserve to win.
sj44, in your opinion was proctor a flash in the pan last year? have batters just figured him out? did torre burn him out? he just seemed so much better last year…
Myers picked a great time to channel his past. That was a big out. Jeter-Abreu-Arod in the 7th. Time to do some damage.
Boooooooo Jim, dont be hyping another site here man. Thats bad karma. Or Pete’ll bar you for life.
Either way, it aint cool.
OK…so let me get this straight…Toronto has 1 run on 10 hits…and we only have ZERO runs on 2 hits….are we losing by EIGHT ? or just by one ? Maybe our multi-names BoSox troll can do the REALISTIC Math for us….THIS GAME IS OURS FOLKS….YANKEES SCORE AT LEAST 2 this inning…..GO YANKEES…..We got ‘em JUST where we want ‘em !!! (wink)
CB: postion only by default, but look at the numbers. The dude can hit. Don’t count out Ankiel returning to the majors as an OF.
Career in tatters? Only as a pitcher.
Besides Ruth, check out Stan Musial and Smoky Joe Wood. They also were OF who were former pitchers.
jennifer i missed you haha and no i cant stand them i dont want to buy the 100 dollar mlbtv next year but i cant buy the radio thatd suck way too much
Jeter – groundout
Abreu – strikeout looking
Arod – deep flyout to center
no, the jays don’t deserve to win. But the Yanks couldn’t see fit to score ONE FRIGGIN RUN when they had first and third with nobody out, so that was the ballgame right then and there.
Schmidt pitched a hitless 8th for Tampa. Now it gets interesting.
Tampa is 3 outs away from something very special
when alan predicts scores THEY COME TRUE rock on alan
worst contract, hands down, Jason Schmitt. He has always been shakey, health wise, now he wouldn’t have the pitching oasis of ATT to support him. $16 mill per year for a 34 year old. It’s Darren Dreifort all over again.
what a solid pickup by the braves
good at bat by the captain.
worked 6 pitches and gets a leadoff hit
Come on Bobby
I think Proctor is what he is. I don’t buy the “Torre burned him out” nonsense.
He was an underachiever for his entire career until last year.
Even last year, he was ok, not great. Look at his numbers against Detroit, Boston and Anaheim, three big contenders. They are awful.
To me, he was always a flash in the pan. A guy you want to look just good enough to trade. I was never a guy who believed in Proctor as a long term solution to the bullpen.
I have less faith in Bruney. I hate non-strikethrowers out of the bullpen. Drives me nuts.
holy cow im happy he got hurt it opened the door for billingsly whos doing phenomonal. seriously check it out. if they picked up someone else we wouldnt have discovered chad. and its schmidt*
Huge spot for Arod…
double play again!
HOOORAH
1st and 3rd, no outs.
They HAVE TO score here.
At least the Schmidy deal was only 3 year. In the summer market it wasn’t actually too bad a deal. Overall though they spent a ton of money on a team with great young position players and a few lights out young pitchers…… and they have an average club.
I understand why they wanted Nomar back, but I’d have let him slide, I can almost understand why they’d want Gonzo but at that money I definatley let him slide. Loney and Kemp are not surprises and Ethier was great in his rookie yr (still cant quite believe Oakland gave him up for that head case Bradley)
A-Rod’s up
Give Torre a lot of credit for that hit and run, especially the way Abreu’s been going his last 15 at bats
jinx youre an idiot… and id take a double play a run scores
Tampa needs three more outs
a DP would tie the game at least
cb not just that one the one earlier too
Tampa needs 3 outs for what?
Good point formerly known as Ben
btk
the yankee class A team in tampa has a team no hitter through 8 innings.
DOUBLE STEAL
Man, I’m going to miss him next year.
A-ROD is $$$$$$$$$$$$
who the hell thought you could ever say that!
2-1 Good guys
Something That Mark Buehrle did earlier this year btk
*LOL* Troll…*LOL* !!!
YES!!!!!!
alex will say “ha!!!!”
clemens will bang his fist!
ALEX 4 PREZ!!!!!!!
YES!!!
Double by A-Rod. 92 RBIs is ridiculous, by the way.
thats right where are all the doubters. seriously thats two nights in a row. “oh the yanks wont win” well suck it
the yankee class A team in tampa has a team no hitter through 8 innings.
JINXER
A-Rod is worth 30 million
CB
thx, i was watching the Deviled Eggs and they are winning 7-1 and thought that is what you were talking about.
HA!!!
Gawd I love Alex!
It’s too bad this didn’t happen when Clemens was still pitching – it would be nice to get our starters a win once in a while when they pitch so well… but that’s nitpicking. A win is a win…
That’s why Arod will get 35 million a year from the Yankees and he would be nuts to turn it down.
There are great players and then there are great players who play for the Yankees. A BIG difference to somebody who wants a legacy in the game.
So….
Farnsworth in the 8th?
Yeah Mike fill us in. I looked and nothing is going on there.
cb is it just me or are you sick of them doubting torre too. GUYS SOXRALLY IS DEAD!. we go to the eighth
OMG – Mike Myers is in line for a win – talk about irony
now if arod would just get some clutchiness, he could be a mvp.
Pierre is terribly overrated. .656 OPS. 17 XBH out of 113. Granted he has the steals, but .320 OBA is NOT excellent. You would love .400 or better, but at least .380. An OPS+ of 100 is equal to the league average. Here are Pierre’s:
59, 89, 65, 98, 107, 84, 81 and currently 73. Only one year above the league average. Yes, I know he has a .301 career BA. BA is overrated. I go by the OPS and OPS + — a far better indicator.
A-ROD comes through!
no farnsworth tonight but who???
Blank check for Arod, NOW
We can’t let this guy walk away, even if he asks 30M/year
where is belial tonight anyway? must be focused like a laser beam on the sox game. how bad would it be for the sox to lose back-to-back series to jays and then royals?
i’d like a few more runs here. if viz and farnsworth are unavailable, who’s pitching the rest of the game? we need 6 more outs.
Yeah Mike fill us in. I looked and nothing is going on there.
Well its over now but Tampa just had a no hitter
Good game for the top 3rd of the order tonight (and by that I mean Derek/Bobby/Alex…Damon is the no 9 batter in my mind now lol)
Cmon Hideki, let’s add on!
NO HITTER AT TAMPA CLASS A….Schmidt finishes it!
“jinx youre an idiot… and id take a double play a run scores”
That was an anti-jinx, you moron from satan land!
mike s are you serious did you just use ops to describe a SINGLES HITTER WOW
bruney and then mo…
What did I tell you. It seems the Yankees start to come alive during the 7th or 8th inning. Then I start getting excited.
Bill Simmons are you worried yet?
Class A Tampa throws the team no hitter!
LMAO @ Myers being in line for the win. It’s like rain on your wedding day, a free ride when you’ve already paid..
KC got out of a jam…. still lead 6-5 in the 8th
the Yankees still hold all or most of the cards with A-Rod
no other team can or will pay him $30 mil
even the Angels
BBB, please don’t burst out singing an alanis morisette song. please.
Congrats to Tampa on the no-hitter! Who all pitched? I would look myself but I’m on b/f’s sloow laptop, can barely handle Gameday et al…
I *hope you’re all right*, but with Boras, I don’t know – he didn’t put that opt-out clause in because he likes to write…
Why i hate singles hitters.
I’d like to see Edwar get some work but knowing Joe it’ll be Bruney with a short leash then Mo.
lol sorry Cumberberg, didn’t mean to make your ears..errr eyes that is…bleed there.
Leadoff BB for KC
I remember Matty Alou….between him and Pierre…you can have them.
I would love to see how Alex performs in the playoffs this season. Whatever it takes they have to keep him.
The ironic thing about that song is that none of her lines are ironic.
Is anybody warming? How many runs must we score to see Edwar??
right now, alex is worth that 30 gazillion dollars.
pete, can you pls pls pls start calling more of those shots????
Artist formerly known as ben,
I am generally a big Torre supporter. Yes bullpen handling is a weakness but all managers have negatives.
I know people hate how Torre “trusts” people, especially when they aren’t performing. But over the course of the season I think that approach works more often than not – in a weird way Torre manages by the statistical priniciple of regression to the mean.
btk,
no problem. hope the eggs turned out ok!
Who is pitching the 8th!? Bruny, Ramirez, Rivera Inc?
And- a shout out to the folks in midtown, I saw the thing ten blocks away. Scary Stuff. Be well.
Exactly, TKinDC…therein lies the genius of it all.
It’ll be interesting though cos Boras cant officially talk to any other team unless ARod opts out of his Yankees contract first. If he opts out the Yanks drop out of the race and he looses their leverage. So how much interference will the Yanks and Bud allow from other teams in these negotiiations? If he opts out one day and goes to LA the next, there’ll be fireworks from George.
you’re right, nothing in that damn song is ironic. a bummer perhaps, but not ironic. (and yes, it’s pathetic that i know the words to that song, but at least it’s not wilson phillips.)
Evening all, went to dinner in NYC, a freaking block from the steam explosion. It was like 9/11 out there again, not good. Took forever to get to the FDR and just walked in a few minutes ago, just as Jeter was getting a hit. Guess my timing was perfect. Go Yankees!
Anybody know if Kevin Whelan has any potential as a starter?
Bruney is in the pen
Bruney in the 8th – confirmed
mike s i couldnt disagree more but i guess we both have our opinions
Whelan 5, Robertson 2, Schmidt 2.
Anybody know if Kevin Whelan has any potential as a starter?
No, he`s just been starting lately to get more work in
Wow. Good eye by Cano.
and cano draws a walk. don’t see that everyday.
Jeff are all the streets a mess? I got home and the tv was on with the massive steam coming out of the street very scary.
is grand central open?
as axl rose said ALL YOU NEED IS JUST A LIL PATIENNNNNNNNCE
Thanks Mike S.
‘I hope you’re all right, but with Boras, I don’t know – he didn’t put that opt-out clause in because he likes to write…’
With Boras it is always about maximising the dollars, but I wonder if ARod also liked the option incase Texas sucked for 6 years. How much would Tejada leave on the table now to get out of Baltimore?
My main worry about ARod having this great season isn’t that it’ll jack his price up – it is that he would never leave NY as a failure. He has too much ego to want history to judge him as someone who couldn’t handle NY. If he is MVP and hits well in the post season (if we make it) then he might feel free to leave.
North entrances to Grand Central are open. Metro North running but 456 are down last I heard.
Put it this way, would you rather have a singles hitter who NEVER walks, who hits .300-0-35 with a .650 OPS?
Or someone who hits .265, but who gives you 25 doubles, 15 HR or so, who walks twice as much, and has a .800 OPS?
I know which one I’ll take.
Horses for courses.
Ben, now THERE’S a better song to sing than Alanis. I always thought Giambi should use it as his a/b song lol.
off topic but funny scene in oakland today
Tex player hits shot down the line FAIR. The ball dude (older guy) fields it and hands it to a fan. GR 2B.
The next inning the ball dude was replaced and the cameras caught him leaving the stadium
josh who
Egg on Sterling’s face. Said it was too bad they couldn’t pinch for Philips. Philips is gold in the clutch and now Sterling is saying how great he is.
ANDY PHILLIPS!!
so happy for this guy and all he’s been through
We’re pretty fortunate that the bottom of the order is due up for the Jays.
Nevermind – - – We should start Edwar!!!!
Nice Job AP!!!
Dandy Andy!
Cashman, SAY NO TO SHEA HILLENBRAND!
Phillips is our everyday 1st baseman
wow that sucks, i think some of my co workers take one of those lines.
Since no one gave me any advise on how to obtain a video of the July 2nd game…….does that mean no one knows or is everyone IGNORING ME? I figured die hard fans who devote time to BLOG would KNOW. Give a gal a hand! My 9 yr old (who plans on taking Posata’s job in a few years) would REALLY love to have a copy of the game he actually got to go to. PLEASE HELP! THX
Man… nice catch by Reed Johnson.
Phillips for Prez once again!!! Oh wait isn’t ARod already Prez…ok PHILLIPS/RODRIGUEZ 2008!
yeeesss!!! go andy!!
Whelan was pitching terribly out of the pen in Trenton – totally lost his mechanics.
They sent him to Tampa to work with Nardi Contreras and get more regular work.
Over the last 5 games since working with Nardi this is whelan’s combined line:
24IP 6H 1ER 21K 7BB
Good for Andy Phillips. Great story.
Honestly with the “new” George, I don’t know if there’ll be any tampering charges… The Dodgers had a pretty good case against the Sox and JD “Nancy” Drew, but we all know nothing ever came of that… I’m not sure if pulling that would potentially damage any future dealings / trades between the clubs.
and people who are at the stadium are screwed if they take the 4
quick end to that inning
WE WANT EDWAR!
Mike, if the first guy walks zero times, how can the second batter walk twice as many times?
mike i just totally disagree. and yea bbb ROCK ON SISTA
Something must be done with Damon. He shouldn’t feel too comfortable with his position in the lineup. He needs a wake-up call! I know we’re up 4-1, but Damon should at least try to produce!!
Mom of Jeter fan,
I’m not sure, but maybe try e-mailing YES through their website? You might be able to buy a copy from them.
MOM of Jeter fan,
I think you could buy the game from MLB.com
go to the video page
I absolutley can’t stand listening to sterling. he is sooo negative.
Big Bad Brian Bruney is in. Let’s see if he can take this opportunity by the horns and run with it.
With a 3 run lead now it’d be a nice chance to see Edwar but that’s not how Joe rolls. That’s why the Joba as set up man makes no sense since Joe won’t use rookies.
Maybe we get Edwar in the 9th if the Yanks can expand the lead?
mom of jeter fan. i have mlbtv you can watch archived games. its pricey but if you live outside of he yes network he can watch games
why does the bullpen walk so many?
it has become ridiculous
leadoff batter is on… Bruney is sucking
Haha.. I’m watching the canadian feed on TSN and all you hear after Bruney walks Hill.. a fan yells “Are you kidding me!”
What a great game for Clemens. If the Yankees hold on here, this is the biggest case of the year for them changing the win rule. I know it will never happen, but he OBVIOUSLY did an amazing job to keep the Jays to 1 run until the offense came through and deserves the W.
Nice, walk the lead off hitter.
somewhere …out there…I have a picture in my mind….of a troll….eating crow….can’t seem to shake that image…..
*Big Bad Brian Bruney* leads the walk off batter.
That’s unacceptable…
haha too funny, that fan was saying what everyone else was thinking.
Bruney STILL can’t throw strikes.
Our biggest gaping hole is not 1st base or backup catcher, but relief pitching.
Cmon Bruney, be the Bad Ass I know you are, throw strikes and bang yr fist!
is there anyone else up in the pen? Mo? Joe Nathan? oops… sorry that was me dreaming again…
jennifer obviously can’t hear me shouting at my laptop.
Pete, nice call on A-Rod, lol
he only has warning track power!!!
thanks for creating this blog
alan i have the same picture. but coco is on third with no out so thats not good
Totally off topic- but I just cracked open a tall can of Sapporo… It’s taken over Red Stripe as my favorite Summer beer. Red Stripe, I still love you, but Sapporo is where it’s at.
Clemens pitched OK, i think the blue jays forgot how to hit with RISP. Matt Stairs shouldnt be on anyone’s active roster
Yeah, Ben that is what I like to call a bad thing
Crisp with the 2 out triple.
runner at 3rd with 2 outs in the 8th…
KC6
Boston5
Or shouting. LOL
Torre wasn’t kidding when he said the 8th inning role would be filled by committee.
i dropped the ball sorry. 2 out
Another example of why I hate Bruney in the 8th inning. They were stuck to do it tonight but, we see why Torre has no faith in him.
Leadoff walk with a 3 run lead. You just can’t do that.
That’s 54 baserunners, half with walks, in 36 innings. Just awful.
Gotta hope Villone can do the job here or we end up burning out Mo for the week. Its amazing to me how every guy in the bullpen can’t throw the ball over the plate with any consistency. Its amazing they are even this close in the race with a bullpen this poor.
here comes Mr. Villone
1 on 1 out
Matt Stairs has an .887 OPS this season. That’s about .220 higher than Damon’s.
haha bbb stop making me laugh. YANKEES FANS YANKEES FANS. JERRY IM AN IDIOT REMDAWG REMY ALMOST GOT HIT IN THE FACE WITH A BASEBALL HAHAHAHA LONG-LIVE VIN SCULLY
adam,
how can you drink any beer out of a can?
Bottled beer is where it is at my friend
Lugo flies out to end the threat
don’t worry h?o?, i’m sure lugo can get the job done for ya.
Matt Stairs needs to go back to Canada
hahaa sox blow it wait what happened to offense? punk
Wow – Lugo must be hitting lately, he is up to .218
$36M for that? Theo not = genius
Julio Lugo flies out to center!! Coco Crisp stranded at third in the 8th
KC still up 6 to 5.
Remember all those people who killed Torre for not using *Big Bad Brian Bruney* in 7th/8th Inning key situations. I wonder where all those guys are at now…
Oh I know, asking for Edwar to be the guy now.
Just stating….the never was not meant to be absolute for 0. But when you have a singles hitter who hits .300 and only walks 35 times, as opposed to a .270 hitter who has some pop and who walks 70 times.
BA is the most overrated stat. OPS is much better due to the fact it measures how often you get on and WHERE you get on. Obviously getting on 2nd is better than getting on 1st, 3b better than 2b, etc.
As for getting on 2nd, I’d rather have it be done by someone who can get me a double (thus more likely to drive in a run) than someone who has to use their legs to get there.
another WALK
cue Metallica
They now have to use Rivera ALREADY.
We have no bullpen…
Of course Villone walks his first batter too.
Who’s left?
This was horrible managing.
Ron Villone needs to go somewhere else…and he should take Matt Stairs
BoChokes waste a Crispy Man triple…going into the 9th…KC still leads……troll…..crow……
Proctor, Bruney and Villone all walked the first guy they faced. Where have you gone Ramiro Mendoza?
Man… if this game gets tied, we have Mo, Farns, and Viz left in the pen. Our long man is out. That makes me nervous.
We need a GIDP
Ron Guidry should be fired. The mechanics of these guys are so screwed up at times. During Frank thomas’ AB vs Proctor, Proctor hung onto the ball too long on four straight pitches…that’s little league stuff.
Now Villone drops his arm angle on those last fastballs…ugh.
Global Warming,
That’s a very good point. Villone just walks another. There are no good options no matter how many times they grasp for the next best reliever.
Now Mariano is forced into a five inning save.
If Mariano is burned out by September will that be Torre’s fault as well.
I disagree. A beer is a beer… cans, bottles, kegs??? it’s what’s on the inside that counts. Plus I poor it into a nice tall, Old Speckeld Hen British Pint Glass I stole from the Chip Shop in Brooklyn. mmmmm beer in a stolen pint glass- that’s class.
Another pathetic game for the bullpen. Three walks and counting in the last 2 innings.
Its unreal to watch these guys completely unable to throw the ball over the plate on a nightly basis.
Now, we have to burn Mo out to try and save this game. Just pathetic.
How bad is the bullpen ? WTF…..get some relievers
how can you kill Torre?
no ONE is doing the job in the pen except for #42
there pen is pathetis there is no other word…
Ramirez has been lost… They have Mariano and that is it…
unbelievable……..
5 out save for MO coming up here….it’s like a page from yesteryear….SWEET !!!
Tseng,
How the heck was that horrible managing?
Bruney gets the shot. Walks the leadoff batter. Villone gets a shot, walks the first batter he faces. He has no choice to go to Mo.
Don’t forget Vizcaino and the Farns have days off.
Only one left is Edwar, and I’m as high on Edwar as anybody on here but your not throwing him out there in the 8th inning of a close game.
Nice B-Day present from Villone and Bruney to Joe Torre.
Think they shopped together or separately?
IDIOTS! Throw strikes with the lead,
end of rant
Tseng – this is more an example of crappy arms in the pen than bad managing. I don’t care if it’s Casey Stengle – what do you do when you have no options?
I was never one who wanted Bruney to pitch the 8th but even tonight with a walk and a fly out to Center he still inspires more confidence in me than Farnsworth.
yeah, it’s sweet, alan…
Our bullpen has to be leading the league in walks. I would love to have Karstens in the pen. We need someone to throw strikes in the 7th and 8th innings.
Innocent question, why was Myers lifted after facing only 1 batter?
$200m should get you a setup man or two
How can anyone blame Guidry for the pen?
They are all career journeymen for a reason.
They all have good arms and no command. They’re all the same.
That’s not simply Guidry. That’s ability.
Not a fan of bringing in Mariano for 5 outs. Why is Ramirez in witness protection? This would have been a great time to use him.
Meanwhile Farnsworth is thinking “Amateurs, I could have given up a run already if you had given me 3 batters.”
hello?offense?
#49 is in NO DANGER of losing his job anytime soon
Adam,
the taste of the beer is changed in a can. pouring it into a stolen glass (although classy) doesn’t change a thing
hahahah hahaha h?o? that mad me laugh hahahah. pitchers dont listen to pitching coaches silly!!! by the time youre a pro you know what youre doing. how naive.
ahhh, lackadasical Cano strikes again!
That should have been two. If Mariano blows it I`m going to be really annoyed
Jeff, are you saying it would have been a good time to use him in the top of the eighth or right now after there were 2 on and 1 out? The latter situation is not the right situation for Edwar.
AHUT UP HO!!!! are you an idiot. that was the take out slide… it threw him off the base go away you obviously are deficient
Theo has made some good moves, but he has also signed Clement, Lugo, Drew and traded away Bronson (and his pretty small contract) for Wily Mo, then picked up Hinske and his $5m per yr contract. Not a genius.
Jeff –
That would be throwing him in awfully deep water and he just put away his floaties a few weeks ago
Can you imagine the back page if he puts in Edwar and it is HIGH, FAR, GONE! Its too tough a town.
okay here we go kc here we go BUM BUM
Cashman better suck it up and buy a reliever somewhere or promote someone…
if MO blows it?…c’mon now
END OF INNING
i love all the people who say “Where is Edwar????” and as soon as Joe puts him in a big spot they cry, “why did joe go with the rookie??”
not that im a fan of torre’s BP management but i would rather have given bruney a shot before War
MO!!!!!!!!!…
3 more outs, doh!
MO!!!
i was starting to think that we’d never get rios out.
Thank God for Rivera…
It was crappy managing, in my opinion, because Villone shouldnt have been brought in at all.
3 yr $45 mil extension for Mo.
What are we ever going to do without Mariano?
With all the money the Yankees have and spend they should really invest into Human cloning. Wouldn’t mind having a couple Mo’s running around in the pen.
Peter, what’s up? you got the fascist beer police in here tonight? Can’t a man drink his beer in peace in this country? I know it does fellas, but I don’t mind the taste and cans keep it from getting skunky.
Way to go Mo! I’m not worried as long as Mo’s throwing those bumper ball cutters.
In all seriousness, why have Edwar on the roster if you are never going to use him? Is Torre really afraid he is going to do worse than the other guys stinking up the joint?
Where would the Yankees be without the incredible MO!!
Joe said he wanted to get another look at Edwar this week before the doubleheader. So far we’ve seen nothing. With a 3 run lead to start the 8th, there was some room for error. As is, Rivera had to come in.
I won’t kill Joe for going with Bruney but it’d be nice to see Edwar pitch again at some point.
Horrible managing? Really, do you guys have any idea what you are talking about?
How is that horrible managing?
That’s the 6th time this year he has given Bruney a shot in the 8th inning. He has walked the leadoff guy ALL SIX TIMES.
What’s he supposed to do?
Its just dumb Torre bashing and nothing more.
in Boston,
Octavio Dotel in the 9th trying to close it out for the Royals perhaps auditioning for a 2nd stint in pinstripes?
i hope not
Mo soothes my soul. But the rest of the pen? Yeeesh. The beginning of the 8th tonight was a PRIME EXAMPLE of why relief pitching is our no. 1 priority before the deadline. And if the troublesome trifecta of Bruney (as much as I like him), Villone and Farns hasn’t convinced them that it’s time to give Great Britton a try I dont know what will!
one out!!! yes. octavio for once do something for the yankees
Is Boston feeling the noose tightening?
Papelbon pitched the top of the ninth down 6-5?
Finding a new Mariano is like trying to find another Michael Jordan.
When you have little options other than Mo – how many time can you bring out Mo for 6 or 9 out spurts? Bad managing nothing – when you got one good reliever in the pen, it’s not bad managing, you got no options. Period.
jennifer, I stepped out to walk the dog, but to answer your earlier question. Midtown near the steam was a mess, I didn’t get close enough to see anything but steam, fire trucks and massive traffic, but it felt terrible out there. Not sure of closings, but 1010wins has full coverage. Days like today I’m just glad I moved out of Manhattan and into the Garden State.
Back to baseball. Good job Mo! Let’s get this win and let’s hope our old farmhand Dotel closes down the Sox. By the way, Dotel and Pena would have been two players to keep from last year that would have filled the two major holes on the team.
Dotel closing for KC? Well he didn’t do much for us when he was here so he might as well start earning the millions we spent now.
YWAH MO!!! At least we still have the greatest ever at the back of the pen. Too bad he couldn’t pitch every bullpen inning. At least Joe has given some guys besides Farnsy an opportunity to step up tonight, just no one took advantage of their chance.
STOLICHNYA RUSSIAN VODKA
Um, did anyone else’s YES network go back in time to the seventh inning?
Mo’s nemesis coming up. Remember that walk off by Wells.
so what ends up being better…a team scores 4 runs and wins the game…or a team scores 5 runs and loses ??? Hmmmm….which offense ends up putting the W on the board…..hmmm ??,.,,,,,,troll…..crow…..
Pete,
Post game question for you re: Mo.
Is he throwing a new pitch? A changeup or sinker? He got Rios on what looked to be either a changeup or sinker and got Frank Thomas on that same pitch the other night.
If possible, could you ask him about it? Thanks.
i’m not a facist!
i just would like to see a man drink quality beer properly
enjoy my friend
Big Papi is up
It is Wang against McGowan (5.05 ERA) tomorrow. You’ll see Edwar then.
let’s if those hospital bills for Dotel finally pays off.
whats wrong h?o? feeling the pressure cause youre an idiot and said the yanks were done?
2 down in Fenway
Big Papi up 2-1 count
Wow, twilight zone here.
I’m saying it now, folks. A-Rod will be back next year.
Papi with the base hit.
Now Manny gets a shot
SJ – I read somewhere earlier today (probably a Toronto paper) that Thomas thought that pitch was a 96 mph sinker.
Sorry Mom of a Jeter fan I had a look around online for you but couldnt see anywhere to buy game tapes. If I see anything I’ll post it tomorrw night. Otherwise get in touch with MLB TV or YES and hopefully they’ll help you out. Good Luck. B
SJ44,
Would you try bringing up Ohlendorf and/ or Steve White and stick them in the pen?
They just can’t be any worse than what’s going on up here. Don’t know if Torre will trust them but I don’t think you’ll get anything out in the trade market either.
That’s what I think I’d try. White pitched well today and may be picking up steam after the injury.
Anyone else notice the trolls tend to come here for one game, bash the Yankees for losing. Shut up when the Yankees are winning and then disappear after the Yankees win and Boston loses? That’s the scenario I am hoping for now. Poopi on first, wonder if they put in someone who can run.
I guarentee a walk off in Fenway
Edwar should have been put in with a 3 run lead…I knew Torre would do this, not pitch this kid at all..why is he here if he is not going to pitch…its maddening…we need to see what he has in a semi-tight spot…..this winning streak is nice, but….once we start playing Detroit, Clev,and other good teams…we are going to need a bench and a better bullpen in order to win….can we get Britton, Henn, and Brower up here as well as Shelly Duncan, a righty hitter to DH, check Jon Heyman’s note on SI.com about Duncan, interesting…Cashman, wake up and do something…sit Damon or DL him, he is hurting us as a DH right now…..
Manny pops it up. Game over
Oh well Mike
pop up
SAWX lose again
hahaha sox lose
And beantown loses again.
let’s see if ho come back now.
KC 6
SOX 5
FINAL
*Woo Hoo!!
Red Sawks lose AGAIN.*
ROYALS WIN 6-5!!! YEAH BABY
Dotel threw pretty well. Fastball at 94 with a good breaking ball.
Would like fries with that crow Mike NYY?
SJ, bring in Villone was meaningless. With Viz and Farnsworth “unavailible”, all Torre would have left would be Mo and Myers. I think he should have either left Bruney in for the batter that villone walked or just gone straight to Mo.
If the Yankees tack on a few runs in the bottom of the eighth then what? Trot Rivera out there and thus make him possibly unavailible for tomorrow or use Meyers..?
I meant they would all walk off after the Red Sox lose
Mike your guarantee is wrong.
After that pathetic display by the bullpen, Farns doesn’t look like such a bad option for the 8th anymore does he?
The more I see of this bullpen, the more I realize that Torre is damned whichever way he goes. There are no good options.
That said, I think Joe has to find a way to get Edwar a shot in these games. I know you don’t want to throw the kid into the frying pan, but we’ve got to find out if he has guts. He’ll need it to survive here anyway.
The unknown is better than the known at this point.
Bless you Mo.
96 MPH sinker? That’s just nasty. That’s Wang-like.
mike so do i get my money back or something
Oops, my bad, meyers was used. I forgot. So there was only Mo left.
If the Yanks hold on:
Wild Card – 5 games down in the loss column
Division – 6 games down in the loss column
Edwar will get a chance. Joe knows every game counts right now. We are picking up games, picking up momentum, and most importantly making Boston nervous (which is worth 3 more games on its own!!) Putting in a rookie and having him give up a couple of quick hits….if it all went bad it would be a crushing loss. 3 sounds like a lot until you walk a guy then give up a single. Then Mo cant get in the game fast enough to face the tying run and we’re all holding our breath.
Take the win and be happy.
pete,
good point on Edwar
however when is a good time to use him then?
clearly, we’re going to need a LOT of innings tomorrow from young wang.
Excellent, I can’t wait to listen to Mike and Mike tomorrow morning, i wonder what Golic will say now that Cleveland and Boston both lost!
Hip hip jorge!
Besides if it is a save situation or close, its still a tough mental test for a young guy. The 9th inning is just different.
Tack-on runs rule! No Mo can downshift in the next inning.
tony b,
hopefully, farnsworth has pitched his last game as a Yankee.
if you remember, HE WAS THE 8th INNING GUY and couldn’t do the JOB!
I think with a 5-1 lead it would be fine to not use Rivera in the 9th although it goes against all the rules right? Anyone have an opinion on this?
Once Jeff Karstens finishes his rehab starts in the minor leagues, would he serve as a long reliever for the Yankees? It would sort of improve the bullpen…
i can’t stand to listen to that piece of lard. he is so annoying. crowing how the indians are in first in the wild card. blah. look in the mirror golic, images are closer than they appear.
is mo going back out for the 9th?
Wonder how many more runs the Yanks have to score before Joe considers taking mo out for the ninth and we see edwar?
OK…here’s an idea to save Mo. Bring in El Cambio (Edwar) to pitch the ninth…but pull Abreu and put Mo in right field. If El Cambio starts to fall apart….you can still put Mo back in the game.
Also, Mo is an excellent athlete and reported to be a very good outfielder. You also tell Mo no hard throws in from the outfield under any circumstances.
5 more is my guess.
hip hip CANOE!!!
6-1!
Keith problem is if who ever pitches the 9th than what? you can be in big trouble.
who is left? edwar? do you trust him. i know it is a 5 run lead.
do you get Mo out of the game now?
Please Pete…don’t ever say that Torre wants to give the players the best chance to win. Did he do that by using Weaver over Rivera in the World Series game?
NO.
save Mo and you can use him tomorrow…no ?
I would be shocked if they pulled Mo. It is still a save and they have already started to “use” him.
BJ’s will probably be deflated anyhow.
Pete…your logic makes *absolutely no sense*
On the one hand, you stated that Torre has no reliable options, but then you say you can’t trust a rookie. Well, we already know that the veterans are awful, so why can’t you trust a rookie? What’s the worst that can happen…Edwar pulls a Farnsworth?
You can’t leave Bruney in a game when he can’t throw strikes and, no, he shouldn’t have used Edwar tonight.
Anybody criticizing Torre tonight is just a perpetual whiner. From a strategic standpoint, he made all the right moves, given who was available tonight.
If you want to be upset about something, be upset at the guys who can’t throw the ball over the plate. Tough to blame the manager when guys can’t finish hitters.
CB,
Yes on Ohlendorf, no on White. Ohlendorf can pitch out of the pen. White really doesn’t have the stuff to do so, IMO.
Nice idea Kevin M. :p
Worry more about Sat then tomorrow with Wang. We have both DeSalvo and Igawa starting on the same day. Gulp!! Hope the bullpen all get a good night sleep on Friday night.
If Torre wanted to give the team its best change at winning, Kyle Farnsworth would be the “8th inning guy”.
6-1 Do you go to Edwar in the 9th saving Mo for tomorrow or do you stick with Mo?
The thing is if you bring in Edwar and he gets beat up, there is nobody behind him to bail him out.
That being said, Mo will probably stay in to get the Save stat.
Keith, tough call on using Mo in the 9th, he gets a save if he closes it, next guy wouldn’t unless two were on. Would be nice to put Mo’s pitches in the vault for the night, but I guess you have to lock down the win. With Wang pitching tomorrow a 4 game sweep is very possible, even probable.
Kevin – you either need to hit the hay or have another beer!
Mo to RF? That is the most hysterical idea on this board by a non-Troll this year!
“A” for creativity though
Mo has to finish this game. You don’t take the closer out with the heart of the order coming up in the 9th.
Both SJ and Pete both like to brown-nose Clueless Joe…LOL!
I guess they both like stinky rear-ends.
holy cow i think its seven
Kevin, I love your Mo in the field idea. Wonder if any team has ever done that?
You’re right SJ44…it’s not like one should expect Bruney to walk the lead off batter. I’m sure the fact that he has 103 walks in 136 IP is merely a coincidence. Why use that youngin’ with great numbers in the minors when you can throw out vets with fire in their bellies.
clueless,
did you watch the first two months of the season?
Farnsworth WAS the guy
he WAS the guy last night and gave the Jays the lead
how is this the best chance at winning?
SJ,
I can’t even whine at Torre for still using Damon at leadoff? Give me a break. I’m not a rabid Torre hater, but he makes mistakes and continues making them such as continuing to bat Damon leadoff.
TK….thanks for the “A”…but please explain why it wouldn’t work?
Kevin, I’d move Mo to short stop!
SJ44,
Agreed on Ohlendorf. On White – strenght is his fastball which can get to the low to mid 90’s. Secondary stuff not as strong. That’s why I think his future is in the pen. Maybe not now.
How do you feel about Horne? I hope they promote him to Scranton soon?
Too early to think about bringing Horne up? The pen does have to change but I don’t want to resort to Joba. Horne’s at least got talent.
While I’d love him to take Mo out and save him for tomorrow afternoon, we can’t let this game slip with Boston and Cleveland already losing.
Edwar will see some time tomorrow. I just hope he does well so they don’t ship him out on Saturday. At this point, we’re pretty much Mo and pray for rain.
I can’t believe what’s happening in Boston. I’ve said it all along — we get it to 5 games back and they are going to crumble to pieces in Boston. They are just about ready to start eating their own up there. For the first time this season, I really think it’s gonna happen.
Say what you want about Rocket, but he is doing the job people. I feel a helluva lot better with him vs. the Unit on the mound.
Close it out Mo!
cubs win again. Pinellia NL manager of the year ?? it would be his 3rd honor.
and we scored 6 runs in 8 inningss,,,while boston scored 5 runs in 9, right ???
Brian –
I was thinking catcher, I mean, he has a good arm right?
The Mets did it once with Roger McDowell, I believe….they shifted him to the OF and then had Jesse Orosco come in to face a lefty.
SJ – yeah – I’m pumped about Mo’s new “wang” pitch. Thomas was stunned.
Torre would’ve gotten slammed if he left Bruney in and he lost the lead. Same with Villone. Better to win wih Mo than lose and then biznitch about it later when we’re losing.
Ya gotta love Mariano. What are we gonna do when he retires?
Also, I know Torre would never do something like this…it’s just an idea…but it HAS been done in the majors before. It’s the type of move a Billy Martin used to make (though not sure if he was the one who did it)…but Torre would never consider.
Cano has been coming through and doing a good job.
btk in the city of sin …it was a typo…it should be “Farnsworth *wouldn’t* be the “8th inning guy”
Torre can’t win either way… but in my opinion, torre made the right moves at the right time given what the guys in the pen were doing (looking in vain for the strike zone)
I agree with Pete about throwing Edwar in a tight ballgame– tonight’s 8th inning was not the time to use him. Still, Torre needs to find out what this kid has. No one else in this damn bullpen can throw strikes. I’ve never seen such ineptitude before.
yay
Pete, when you quote the Yankees winning streak tomorrow, please say the Yankees have won 11 of 14 not 9 of 11.
7 back baby
Only in Yankeeland would you see so many complaints in a game they win 6-1.
In essence we are 6.5 back. We are winnning that suspended game. Certainly doable
So… Yankees win!
good job boys!
way to find a way
Wang throws a solid game tommorow
Looking at the ERAs of the bullpen guys, they all look pretty darn good -
Myers 2.84
Bruney 2.43
Proctor 3.53
With these numbers in front of Mo you’d think the pen would be the least of our worries. Funny how ERA doesn’t really tell the whole story sometimes.
God I love hearing Frank sing after games. I love the fact that to this point we are taking advantage of our soft schedule. Let’s keep it rollin baby.
Managers like Paul Richards and Alvin Dark used to do it..put a pitcher at first base, bring in a reliever for one batter and return him to pitching. But Torre shouldn’t do it here.
sad thing is – 6 months ago – I thought we’d be 7 games up at this point…
but what I’m thrilled about, is that 2 months ago – the yanks would have lost this kind of game 3 innings ago. Given up and slumped their way thru this game.
sunny615-
six is the number. six back in the lose column
hmm …. St Louis uses Wainwright last year, the Chisox use Jenks the year before. The Angels use k-rod in the 2002 postseason. But the Yanks can’t use Edwar–not even in the 9th with a 5 run lead.
BS. The ‘pen stinks but the Yanks don’t think outside the box and use Britton and Edwar.
Why Cards and White Sox won recently and Yanks haven’t.
Yanks went to Mo in 1996. His track record going into the season wasn’t so good, was it? He got a chance.
Now? Nope. No chances.
Toronto is the tough team in our schedule!! We have Tampa, KC and Baltimore up next.
By the way, Cash-Man, Octavio Dotel pitched VERY well against the Red Sox tonight. You should have made a more determined effort to re-sign him this off-season– he wasn’t healthy last year– but I forgive you you intransigent, myopic, arrogant SOB if you succed somehow in acquiring him.
If not, I want Jabba the Hut here by August 1st or your resignation on my desk.
holy cow – *EVEN BETTER*
Yeah Alan, YOU BET!!! 6 runs in 8 innings by my count is better than 5 runs in 9 innings.
We should sign Gagne as set-up man until Mo retires, then use Gagne as closer. He’s only 31, got many years left in him.
11 of the last 13 and 5 in a row.
Bullpen ERA’s don’t tell the whole story because they don’t include inherited runners. Also, it helsp to have Mo cleaning up everyone’s mess. With a mere mortal at the backend, Bruney and Villone may have given up a run.
Davey Johnson also did it in a 1986 Mets vs Reds games when several players were ejected for fighting. He alternated Roger McDowell and Jesse Orosco in the OF and pitching.
Don’t get me wrong, I am ecstatic they are closing the gap, but …
the poor guy is rotting, when all he has done this year is to deserve a shot.
Hell, even LOHUD gave Pete A. a chance.
Brian- One reason Proctors ERA is so low is because Mariano often bails him out. But ERA for Relievers is misleading. MOs ERA has been in the high 4s but has been unhittanle for months
I’m pretty amazed that the D’Rays have beaten the Angels the last 2 nights. Pretty cool even though it doesn’t directly effect us.
I don’t like Gagne’s facial hair. very distracting. plus his agent is the King Merc (boras).
SJ44,
With all due respect, your analysis is suspect. The pen is full of garbage. That doesn’t mean you don’t have options. You need to look beyond the garbage and use your precious resource more often You have tons of talent in the minors, and one sitting gathering dust in the bigz. Those are options. Many many teams bring up young players, even pitchers, its how the hierarchy in baseball works.
I will repeat my nightly prediction, the yanks win this division handily. You contend they wont make the playoffs, at least thats the gibberish I have seen you post ad nauseum. Playoffs and division wont be a problem, mostly because of how poor a team the bosox really are. They simply have a terrible outfield, no shortstop, and more relief problems than us. We don’t match up well with teams like the tigers in a short series however.
They simply don’t have the middle relief talent to hold close game leads, something that will bite us in the a.. come playoff time. If you are not going to make a move to fix this impending problem ‘in the middle of a season’ than when?!? That is tantamount to giving up on another championship in my opinion. There is sufficient evidence that nobody on the current staff can be trusted in the eighth. Either accept that reality and ultimate playoff failure or take a chance with some young talent.
The Yanks have tons of options, unfortunately they are all ‘kidz’ and unpalatable to clueless Joe.
Your comments on ‘burning out’ Mo are largely unfounded too. It has been proven statistically that you are better off bringing in your closer in a tie or close game in the eight than simply padding 9th inning save stats (If you believe in sabremetrics). You will win more games this way. Other than tonight, Torre seems to refuse to use this option. Rivera is plenty rested and throwing 15-20 pitches wont affect him one bit.
There was a day when pitchers threw every single day and there was no concept of a closer. Get over the ‘burn out’ nonsense. Its mere claptrap propagated by the same braintrusts who installed a strict 100 pitch count on modern day pitchers. A whimsical and baseless rule rooted in fantasy. The only pitcher that clueless hasn’t used enough this season is Mo.
We need to think what our playoff pen will look like, and right now we are peddling garbage. Promote the talent we have, make a trade, or give up on a championship. Those are the options. Strictly adhering to your whimsical dogma of not ‘promoting in middle season’ ‘burning out rivera’ ‘no options’ will doom us to post season failure. Heck it sounds like you have already given up. I haven’t and expect and demand more from this team this year.
BJ
now lets do this on the next road trip……..RO-AD-S…RO-AD-S
In 1996, *Mo* was some *skinny rookie* who had a *5.50 ERA* in 70 major league innings. The current Joe Torre (sans Zimmer) would have banished Mo in favor of Jim Mecir and guys like Pete would be writing that you can trust the youngster in the 8th inning. I guess no one pays attention to history, even when it’s staring them in the face.
Torii Hunter out. guess what it is.
Let’s go Twins!
clueless joe….do you mean 95?
good win, and abreu was certainly a contributor out of the three-hole today. he keeps that up, i’ll gladly change my tune.
Mo struggled early in 1995 but he was great in the pen down the stretch and in the playoffs. If Buck had trusted Mo in 95 he might never have gotten fired. Mo worked his way up the pecking order in 96 too.
stop b****ing.
we won =)
5 in a row and counting
winfield…no…I meant 1996. In 1995 he was compiling the poor record over 70 IP. There was every reason to not think he would be a useful contributor. The Torre of then didn’t go by rigid formulas…he gave Mo a shot and it paid off. Unfortunately, he hasn’t learned from his own experience.
Peter,
Yet you use Villone in the 8th inning even though he’s awful?
Torre has made the word experience an obscenity.
We are currently at the high water mark of the season at 4 games over .500.
In defense of Joe, he doesn’t have any young guys in the pen with the type of stuff that Mo had. Edwar is young, but is a bit of a soft tosser and has been in about every pro league in America over the last few years. Hardly a fact that is going to inspire a ton of confidence. If he was a stud, he would still be pitching for the Angels. I think he deserves a chance, but we needed to win, and Mo for 5 outs was the best option.
Drew…the Angels dumped Bobby Jenks and he turned out ok. Edwar’s numbers in AA were spectacular. There’s no reason to disregard them, especially when what we have is so awful. Also, there is the curious case of Chris Britton, but that one is on Cashman.
I get the feeling Edwin will be first in after Igawa on Saturday and be sent down after the game to make room for DeSalvo.
Everyone is saying that Torre can’t/shouldn’t use Edwar in close games, because if he had a bad outing — god forbid! — it might psychologically scar him and ruin his career forever.
But is the way he’s being handled now really any better? He hasn’t pitched in 13 days — which _can’t_ be good for his arm, especially when he’d been getting consistent work at Scranton.
And I’m sure his mental state can’t be much better — he’s probably feeling like if he doesn’t go out there and strike every guy out the next time, then people (read: Joe Torre) are going to give up on him. “He can’t even get the job done in a blowout — how can we trust him when it really counts?”
I’d argue that a better way to develop his confidence would be to actually trust him with the freaking ball every couple of days. If he struggles once or twice, just give him another chance. Give him some legit opportunities and see what he’s got.
God knows that Krazy Kyle and the krew have gotten second chances, third chances, fourth, fifth, tenth, and five-hundredth chances to show us just how worthless they are.
This is a pattern with Torre. He’d rather throw the same proven mediocrities out there time and time again than take a chance with guys like Edwar and Chris Britton who have nothing left to prove in the minors and might — just might — be able to give your team a boost.
This is infinitely frustrating and I just can’t see how it’s helping the team at all.
So, when do we have to see Wil Nieves again?
When the Yanks were struggling badly earlier in the season and went into Chicago for a series with the White Sox, Ozzie Guillen was asked during a press conference “what do you think about the horrible Yankee struggles?”
Remember Ozzie’s reply? “You guys ask me that same damn question every year. Then you look up in early September and they’re in first place.”
Clueless, I don’t disagree that if Edwar is on the roster, he needs to be given a shot at some point to see if he can cut it at the MLB level. I don’t think we should disregard Edwar’s minor league numbers, but I think they should be put in context with the rest of his career. Hopefully he has seen the light in the Yankees organization and can be become an asset in the bullpen once he is finally given a chance.
*HELLO?OFFENSE?* ???? Do you have anything to add to REALITY NOW ???? ( nah….I didn’t think so… )
I confess to lurking. I confess to reading idiotic responses. But we won. How can you keep bitchin, when we won? You overly critical types should learn what it is to be a fan, either that figure out what you did to the Yanks in your past life.
Drew…after being released, Edwar developed the change-up that has made him so diminant in the Yankees organization. I think that’s the context that should be considered. Also, other context should be the rest of Torre’s options. Rookie or not, I’d rather give Edwar a chance over Farnsworth particularly, but even Proctor or Bruney.
Regardless of how you all may think Torre is mishandling the bullpen, the fact remains that we’re winning again. Whatever he’s doing is working.
These bullpen guys aren’t perfect (with the exception of Mo) and they aren’t going to be Nelson/Stanton ever.
Still, we’re winning close games again. A big part of it is Mo, but he’s always been the biggest part of it in my eyes.
I agree that Torre is handling Edwar a little too cautiously, but he also is managing for his life right now. If he brings this team back from the abyss it was in, Joe Torre will be able to write his own ticket for an extension.
For once, these guys are playing with some passion and playing for their lives and I like it.
I’d rather see Proctor and Kyle get pissed off for failing because at least I know they care.
That’s all I wanted from this team this season — show me that you care as much as we do. Put up a fight.
Right now, I’m seeing it.
Edwar will get his chance. He’s not going to get released or anything. Complaining about not using him in games we’re winning is just silly.
Go check out a Red Sox blog — they’re all sitting there trying to do statistical projections that guarantee they make the playoffs….but we know there are no guarantees. They are trying to use calculators to win games up there.
The first half is over and the pennant race is on people. Saddle up. Now it’s getting interesting.
Why is everyone complaining about Torre? We just won five straight!!! I’m sure everyone would be saying fire Torre if he put Edwar in and he gave up the game winner.
Bronx Born…some people actually like to think critically instead of just staring blankly at the screen and nodding in agreement. The Yankees may have won today, but they have lost and will lose games because of Torre’s poor bullpen management. You are free to be a cheerleader, but there are other who care enough to be critical.
I’ll tell you what, more people should enjoy success instead of criticizing a 6-1 victory. Go live in Tampa or Kansas City for a while.
Secondly, you do not develop players in the 8th inning of important games. The Yankees are here to win, not develop the careers of young pitchers.
It’s amazing to me how people get stuck on prospects. It was a 3-run game against a team that is second in baseball in HRs since the end of May. By all means, let’s run a kid with a changeup out there and see what he can do.
Some thoughts for today:
1. Great day. Won a good game against a good pitcher and made ground in both Division and WC races. It can’t get better. How many new member joined the optimists club today?!?
2. Who would have thought Kansas City would be beating up on Boston. It reminds of how they swept Yankees in 2005 and then we went into a tailspin before recovering. We have to be careful when we visit them.
3. I can’t blame Joe for the bullpen moves today. We have to be realistic in our expectations. The game was very tight througout and there is no way you can throw Edwar in to that heat. It is just unforutnate that proper situations did not arise for using him. Since ASG, we have been playing very tight games and winning!
4. Edwar will be optioned to minor before the double header when roster space is required for De Salvo. He will be back with the big club after the trading deadline.
Pete …you are laughable. When your options are as bad as the Yankees, you certainly do give a young pitcher a chance. The Yankees did it with Mo and the Angels did it with Krod. By your warped logic, none of thoe success stories would have emerged. So, by all mean, keeping running reliever out there who can’t throw strikes, forcing Mariano to come in alot earlier than he should have to.
If you want to be a fan boy journalist who worships the manager he covers, go write for a KC or Tampa paper. Your lack of insight is comical.
I would love to watch Pete debate a more intelligent media member like Neyer or the guys from Baseball Prospectus (not to mention any number of posters). It would be hilarious to listen to him stammer as he tries to explain why teams trying to win are better served using bad veterans instead of developing talented rookies. It would probably sound more comical in the spoken form that it does in blog format.
Lay off Pete. He’s right. We’re winning again.
If we can’t celebrate that fact then there’s something wrong.
It’s not like we’re all drinking Kool Aid here — we realize there are flaws, but this is the team we have right now and freaking out over not using Edwar, Shelley or Joba is just silly.
We’re getting some clutch hitting, we’re making things happen and the bullpen is holding it together enough not to let the games get out of hand.
Our starters are going longer and are more effective and we’re making up ground in the division and wild card.
Cashman is going to look to be a buyer now. This team is fighting and he’s going to look to bring in some reinforcements.
We have a lot of games to look forward to right now and we have to win as many of them as we can since from August 16-August 30 we’ll be entering Thunderdome. 8 games against Detroit. 3 against Anaheim and 3 against Boston.
It’s not time to give a prospect a look-see. It’s time to nail down as many wins as we can since we let so many slip earlier in the season.
Clueless Joe:
The Yankees did it with Mo? Clueless is a good name for you. He was a starter before they made him a reliever. He had 67 innings of experience before he became a set-up man.
Francisco Rodriguez pitched in five losses in his first five games of 2002, coming in with the team trailing each time. Yes, he exploded in the playoffs but he was one of his team’s best prospects, not a two-time indy league veteran who is 26. Then in 2003, Rodriguez pitched in the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th innings most of the spring and had only two saves that year.
Sorry, try again.
What success? The Yanks are a few games above .500. If they don’t make the playoffs, the season was pointless.
And, Alan, the reality of the situation is that the Yanks still trail significantly in both the division race and wild card chase.
That is the reality of the situation. But it was a nice victory tonight.
Sure thing, Clueless, That’s why Neyer and Will Carroll link to my stuff all the time. Because I don’t know what I’m doing.
You’re 0 for 2. Keep swinging.
Pete
Since you are here on the blog, any Farnsworth trade rumors?
Hello? baby,
Be very careful what you say, O trolling one. Remember last year…all it takes is a injury to Beckett to start the spiral.
The Boston media are looking over their shoulders.. tonight’s Fox local coverage started by reminiscing about how good the Sox looked at the all star break, then on to the embarrassing series loss to the Royals. We were then treated to Yankee highlights, followed by a look at the AL East standings (which, oddly, only showed the first & second place teams).
Confirmation of renewed paranoia will be a mention of the Yankees by the local NPR host tomorrow morning.. if THEY mention it, then you know Sox fans are feeling the pressure.
So do all of the “fire Torre” advocates think changing managers right now would be a good move? Is it a good idea to smack Jeter, Posada, Rivera et al. in the face by firing Joe just when the team is starting to wake up to its potential?
It mystifies my why people who think so little of Pete Abraham would bother to comment here. Just spoiling for a fight, I guess.. our modern culture seems to teach that if you disagree with someone, the thing to do is insult that person. Sad.
Even if we didn’t make a trade, our 2nd half acquisitions look to be a potential high ceiling top starter in Hughes, a backup 1b defense plus in Minky, a DH power/on base threat in Giambi and possibly a solid long man in Karstens.
Our bench and our rotation will look a lot better soon, plus if Giambi can come back, I always like a Giambi with something to prove/chip on his shoulder. He’s going to push Damon to get his act together or Damon is going to be on the bench and Giambi will be DH’ing again. We just need one of them to start “feeling sexy” at the plate again.
Stolen from a Red Sox Message Board –
“They are playing very uninspired baseball. They are getting NO clutch hitting from anybody. It seems like nobody can get a 2 out hit with runners in scoring position to save their life. JD Drew is absolutely BRUTAL…and just think, Theo signed him to a friggin 5 yr contract! Are you kidding me?! And, is it just me, or does Varitek swing and miss at least 2 times every at bat. He looks TERRIBLE.
Wakefield has been AWFUL. Tavarez has been AWFUL. I hope Schilling comes back strong and can inject some sort of life into this team. They are just going through the motions.
I’m really starting to worry. ”
I LOVE IT!
There is absolutely no reason to be abusive or insulting to anyone on this blog and Pete in particular.
Why do people get so angry over the use of a relief pitcher? That’s a reason to start denigrating the intelligence of other people?
Jeff in MA,
Do you have any idea why the Red Sox used papelbon in the 9th inning tonight down 6-5? Does he need the work? Given his shoulder history I wouldn’t see them doing that.
Otherwise all I can think of is that their really getting desperate up there throwing the closer down 6-5?
Pete said
“I’ll tell you what, more people should enjoy success instead of criticizing a 6-1 victory. Go live in Tampa or Kansas City for a while.”
Pete you have admitted on this blog you are not a yankee fan per se. It is hard to comprehend the misery yankee fans feel by not winning a championship. It may represent a sense of entitlement and all that jazz, but it is what it is. Winning a game, or a bunch of games, or a rare comeback don’t mean squat to many of us pathologic fans unless it translates in a championship, present company included.
For me, the last 7 years have been just as miserable to me as Tampa and KC fans. We failed to accomplish a championship, the only prize in baseball as far as I’m concerned. I know it sounds and might very well be an illness, but only a Yankee fan can really appreciate this sickness. We simply cant and wont wait until next year
Thats for bosox fans. It’s a disease. You should no better than anyone having a popular Yankee blog populated with so many of the infected.
P.S. You are correct in not using k-ram in the eight tonight, but Torre has had other opportunities since the break and his relentless stubbornness in avoiding using ‘the kid’ at all cost becomes frustrating for many, especially given the backdrop of this pathetic excuse for a bullpen. What is worse is k-ram’s impending demotion to scranton. There was really very little reason to bring him up at all if Joe wont use him in any situation.
BJ
CB
If you read Bill James, it actually makes a lot of sense bringing in your dominant guy in a close game late, even down by one run, more bang for the buck. This is another so called baseball dogma along with 100 pitch counts, closers burning out after 15 pitches, batting average, and era…that the sports ‘experts’ have force fed us to believe that simply doesn’t work out statistically. But I’m a believer in sabermetrics, my personal bias.
BJ
For one I enjoy Pete’s blog. He updates what he sees and hears and at times I find he has the news before any of the other sites. This is why I come here when Yankees are playing since I work and go to school. This guy has knowledge and he gives information and his opinion. You have some owners of blogs that don’t give you updates or information about players and prospects or participate in the discussion and leave a lot of readers confused. Pete answers questions and try to run a site where everyone can enjoy and express opinions but I believe he should also be respected.
I can read ESPN or SI and still sometimes they don’t have their facts straight because they are so busy trying to get it to print before actually researching their sources and lack getting information or talking to the players or the managers
I always wonder if someone doesn’t care for the blog site or throwing out insults to the owner, why come back?
Looks to me if you have all the answers of what the Yankees plan to do then you honestly don’t need to debate with Mr. Abraham.
I’m not going to criticize Torre for not putting in Edwar in the 8th tonight — I agree that it wasn’t the ideal spot, and you can’t complain about a win either way.
But I’d really appreciate it if Joe could start looking for places to use the guy, rather than (as he seems to be doing) looking for every possible excuse to use somebody else.
Otherwise, it becomes a Catch-22. You can’t trust the guy because he only has 2 1/3 IP of Major League experience — but the reason he’s only thrown 2+ innings is because Joe doesn’t “trust” the guy.
Has there not been a single inning in the past 13 days where Edwar could have gotten a look? How about up 4 runs against Tampa on July 12th?
You can either come up with a billion reasons not to trust unproven “kids”, or you can wake up, realize that what you have now (Farnsworth & Co.) isn’t all that great either, and give someone a shot.
Just because the team is on a hot streak, it doesn’t mean that you stop looking for ways to make it better. And giving some of Krazy Kyle’s innings to Edwar (or Chris Britton) would be a good way to start.
CB – good question.
I didn’t watch the game (Yankees on MLB GameDay was more interesting!). I think they wanted the series win. He also hadn’t pitched since the Toronto series, I think, but that’s not a huge layoff.
Big J – I remember a few weeks ago I questioned not bringing in Rivera in a similar situation (I think it was a tie, though). Bringing in the closer also challenges/expresses confidence in the hitters to go get the job done in the bottom of the ninth. The Sox obviously thought they needed the win, that’s for sure.
And NPR did mention the Yankees and the shrinking lead this morning. Hee hee.
Larry:
Are you going to get your big brother Pete Gammons to beat me and SJ up?
I read the above snippets of what Gammons had to say. Nobody denies that Joba appears talented at this point in his development. But try to keep a little perspective. Gammons is a respected sports journalist who repeats what “experts” in the business tell him. Gammons doesn’t run a team or scout for one. There are more “experts” earning a living in the game than there are rats in the NYC subway system and every “expert” has an opinion. (And as for expert talent evaluators’ opinions, remember when Duncan was a “can’t miss”? How about Drew Henson?)
I’m not saying that eventually Joba isn’t the real deal. He could be. But these kids aren’t robots, Larry. He’s green and it’s a big jump from Trenton to the Bronx. As Farnsworth proves, there is a lot more to pitching effectively than mph. If Joba has some extraordinary mental toughness about him, like Hughes appears to have, that might make up for a lack of experience. But without that toughness or more experience, handing Joba the ball in an important game down the stretch is like letting a kid pilot fly an F/A18 over Iraq because he completed ground school and can fly a Cessna out of Teterboro.
This is an interesting forum. Half the people are jazzed about the 5 game streak and the high water mark over .500.
The other half keep complaining about Torre, the bullpen, Edwars lack of appearances, and Damon.
The last item first. Damon appears to be dropping his left shoulder on his swings. He is hitting weak popups or missing. Either he is in a funk, or he’s got some kind of injury. Either way he needs to sit until he gets right. He is killing the lineup. Joe probably thinks he doesn’t have a better alternative right now. Maybe that’s why they signed Durazo. Give him a few at-bats in AAA and if his swing looks good bring him up to DH. Notice that they did not sign the clubhouse cancer Hillenbrand that some here have been touting. That’s good news.
Re Ramirez; From what I’ve seen the guy has a nice changeup but is not a hard thrower. What makes so many people think he is going to be the savior of the 8th inning? I think if Joe could refrain from using Proctor so much he is the guy. However because Bruney has been inconsistent, and our situational lefty can’t get lefties out. Joe doesn’t have too many other options. That leaves Vizcaino for the 8th. I am totally dismissing Farnsworth as he has proven to be firestarter.
“While I am totally down with the idea that [Edwar Ramirez] should be getting more of a shot than he is, you don’t put a rookie with two games of experience in the 8th inning of a game like this. You just don’t. ”
WRONG. You’ve already admitted that Torre has nobody “reliable” to go to. Considering Torre is not using Edwar AT ALL as it is, why not send him out there with a short leash. Couldn’t possibly be any worse than what they are doing now. If you can’t send Ramirez out there with a 3 run lead with Bruney warming in support, then he shouldn’t be on the roster.
This season is picking up some speed, but I will thank my lucky stars when Girardi is managing next year instead of Torre.
Why would anyone think Ramirez could be an 8th inning savior ? Well, considering nobody thinks he will be a savior, but that he could be useful in maintaining a 3 run lead in just 1 inning, what might be a predictor of succcess ?
His combined numbers in AA/AAA this season – 0.62 ERA in 43 IP and a STAGGERING 16.6 K/9. His changeup isn’t “nice”, it is on par with the best changeups in all of baseball. Ridiculously good.
PS – his numbers in limited action in NY are pretty good too – 15.5 K/9. Ask the Twins how good his change is.
Dear Clueless and other “Critics”,
Being critical has nothing to do with caring. Critics care about themselves and their own opinions more than they do about the game. I come from the school of appreciating the game and the way it is played. Attitude and hustle are more important to me than even winning. But yes I like to win and I admit this year’s Yankees give me more agita than any other in a long time. But I appreciate, especially right now how tough this team has become. I appreciate Andy Phillips being a hero. Boy do I ever. So how come you do not comment on how this guy has become completely clutch? And how come you don’t comment on how the captain is so clutch (witness this game). You want to hear your own words more than you want to enjoy the game. That’s my two cents. Criticism is easy and if you think you are such hot stuff how come you are not managing?
Anyone else notice in Andy Phillips’ interview after last night’s game that he no longer looks/sounds/acts like a “green” kid who’s just “happy to be here”? I think it’s great.
Edwar’s second outing against the Angels was not all that good. Yes, his first outing, 3K’s, was fantastic. But he was amped up against the Angels, he himself said he wanted to impress them especially since they’d released him. I think his adrenaline got the better of him in that game. He wasn’t awful, but he wasn’t sharp. So, perhaps he’s not ready for pressure situations yet. The only thing I feel bad about is that since there haven’t been many, if any, opportune times to bring him into games since the AS break, he’s doing nothing. It’s almost better to be at SWB than sitting getting rusty. It’s one of those good news/bad news things (for Edwar) — it’s good that the Yankees are winning close games, but that means he is not going to get work unless there is no alternative. Maybe today they score lots of runs, Wang goes 7 and with a big lead they give Edwar the ball.
Big Johnson….
I really do feel bad for someone like you. I don’t know when it started with Yankee fans, this belief that if you don’t win it all the season is a failure. I would say its disappointing that they haven’t won since 2000, but in no way have I not enjoyed the past 7 seasons. The way the seasons ended may have bothered me for a day or two, but to say the whole season meant nothing is stupid.
2001 was a great season, in just had a really bad ending. 2002 we won over 100 games and had a brand new Giambi to marvel at. 2003 ended badly with losing to Flordia, but the constant fight with Boston was great. 2004 we had that great lineup for the first time, yet obviously the ending was terrible. 2005 we had that great comeback and 2006 we had a ton of great moments (coming back against texas, sweeping Boston). If you can easily forget all that stuff because you’ve been brainwashed to believe anything short of a winning the world series is a failure, then again I feel bad for you.
Once you get into those playoffs its all about getting the right bounces to go your way, even Torre acknowledges that. Saying you feel worse than royal fans makes Yankee fans look spoiled, which obviously many are. Newsflash for you…in the next 10 years, the yankees should consider themselves truly lucky if they win 2 World Championships.
Well said Bronx Born, thats pretty much what I was shooting at myself. Its a shame people can’t appreciate the game for what it is instead of expecting perfection all the time.
Sherard,
Thanks for providing me with some facts to back up your comments instead of just rhetoric. I honestly just don’t follow our minor league guys that much, and didn’t know he had been so dominant.
So I guess then the problem with Ramirez comes down to the fact that Torre either doesn’t trust him or doesn’t want him to fail in a pressure situation. Well, if he never gives him an opportunity we’ll never know what he can do, eh?