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Game 112: Yankees at Blue Jays

Peter Abraham
August
6

Here are the lineups:

YANKEES
Damon LF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Phillips 1B
Cabrera CF
Pettitte LHP (7-7, 3.97)

BLUE JAYS
Johnson LF
Rios RF
Wells CF
Thomas DH
Glaus 3B
Hill 2B
Thigpen C
Overbay 1B
McDonald SS
Litsch RHP (4-4, 3.47)

Pregame chatter: Soccer star David Beckham was on the field for BP and will throw out the first pitch. I suppose I should be impressed but I really wasn’t. … Jim Brower is here, Joe Torre said, because he can throw two or three days in a row and go multiple innings. Joba Chamberlain has today off. Torre said he didn’t know whether his next appearance would be for Scranton or the Yankees.

Torre said releasing Mike Myers was a tough thing but that Myers was very professional about it. … Brower was given No. 36, last worn by Myers. … Johnny Damon is 10 of 26 with eight RBI in six games in left field this season. … Toronto has won 8 straight at home. … Abreu is 14 of his last 23 with nine runs, 11 RBI and 3 HR. His batting average has gone from .267 to .286.

UPDATE, 1:29 p.m.: So it turns out today is not Wayne Gretzky Day in Toronto. An alert reader sent me this e-mail that explains why today is a day game:

The first Monday in August is a holiday all across Ontario. But the holiday is called different things in different areas.

139px-colonelsimcoe.jpgThe concept of a midsummer holiday in Toronto dates as far back as 1869. In Toronto today, the holiday is celebrated as “Simcoe Day�, but according to recent studies, only 16% of the population actually knows that. While other Ontario municipalities have chosen to honour a significant local person or organization to help focus the celebration in most municipalities the day is referred to as the “August Civic Holiday�.

In Toronto, it’s “Simcoe Day” after Major-General John Graves Simcoe, who was appointed the first Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada on September 12th, 1791. He convened the first Legislative Assembly and established York (now Toronto) as the capital of the province. One of his crowning achievements was to begin the phasing out of slavery in Upper Canada, which officially ended in 1810 – 23 years before it was abolished in the British Empire and 55 years before the Emancipation Proclamation in the United States.

So Happy Simcoe Day everybody!

UPDATE, 1:59 p.m.: That’s a 12-game hitting streak for Melky Cabrera. In those 12 games, he is 19 of 48 with 11 extra-base hits and 14 RBI.

UPDATE, 2:22 p.m.: Aaron Hill’s two at-bat songs so far have been “Party Up” by DMX and “California Love” by Tupac and Dre. I now have a new favorite Blue Jay.

UPDATE, 2:34 p.m.: Sorry about the lack of audio, there is awful wireless here and it’s not uploading.

UPDATE, 2:35 p.m.: Derek Jeter is struggling. He’s 9 of his last 38 with seven runs scored and three RBI over 11 games counting today.

UPDATE, 2:38 p.m.: I love reading the comments sometimes. They are down by one run in the fifth inning and people are complaining.

Meanwhile, those of you who think they’e going to release Damon or Giambi need a reality check. Damon has played very well in the last two weeks and Giambi is owed roughly $33 million. You just don’t release players like that.

In case you forgot, Giambi was 3 for 8 with a homer and four RBI in the two games before he went on the disabled list. He is hardly finished as a player. Adding a left-handed power hitter with great on-base ability is not a bad thing. Bases loaded, one out in the 8th inning down by a run, you want Andy Phillips, Shelley Duncan or Jason Giambi at the plate? I’ll take Giambi.

UPDATE, 3:22 p.m.: Wow, shocking, the Yankees got a bunch of hits and took the lead. Melky is now 21 of his last 50.

UPDATE, 3:54 p.m.: Jorge Posada is hitless in his last nine at-bats. Incredibly, that’s his longest such streak of the season.

Just added it up, the Yankees are the 11th organization Jim Brower has been with since he was drafted in 1994. Rangers, Indians, Reds, Expos, Giants, Braves, Orioles, Padres, Pirates, Marlins, Yankees.

UPDATE, 4:14 p.m.: We’re on record here that Nobody Beats the Viz. But he’s going to get beat if his arm falls off.

This entry was posted on Monday, August 6th, 2007 at 12:50 pm by Peter Abraham.
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610 Responses to “Game 112: Yankees at Blue Jays”

  1. mel

    What a topper. Victoria did the Dodgers game.

  2. briggs

    OKAY BLUE JAYS PLAY BALL

  3. AlbanyYankee

    Are you attributing that pre-game chatter to Jim Brower?

  4. AlbanyYankee

    Ah, whoops, page didn’t fully load the first time. My bad.

  5. briggs

    litsch eats babies

  6. mel

    briggs,

    Are you a Jays fan?

  7. Jim Clark

    Sweeney Murti on WFAN says he didn’t see Posh with him. According to Murti, Victoria is the star of the family. Which isn’t saying much because Beckham can not kick with his left foot, he can not defend, he can not head block and he doesn’t score that many goals.

  8. klem

    I feel a little strange to see someone wears No.36 right after DFA Myers…

  9. A.B.K

    By the way: happy birthday to Vizcaino who turned today 33.

  10. Justin

    “Torre is trying to explain to Beckham what a pitch is in America. And Beckham said, “No, no, that’s how it is in Europe.” Anyway…”

    “It’s because of the C and C crew… I just named them that.”

    GAAAHHH Michael Kay!

  11. annonymus

    What means IMO? please answer, thanks in advance.

  12. saucy

    “litsch eats babies”

    AND he looks just like a “blue jay”:http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/336/86tg6.jpg

  13. InsertNewSN

    Brower? Joba? Confusion. :-(

  14. jonathan

    in my opinion

  15. frits

    IMO – in my opinion.

    Jays fans, soccer fans, STFU.

    Go Yanks!

  16. Chevy

    And here I thought I was going to do some work today. Looks like thats out the window this afternoon!

  17. mel

    anonymous,

    It means ‘in my opinion’.

    Here’s a link to a list of internet slang:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L.....ng_phrases

  18. Locakes

    “Jim Brower is here, Joe Torre said, because he can throw two or three days in a row and go multiple innings.”
    This guy sounds like a good candidate for the Torre treatment. He should have added, “because I don’t want anything to do with a reliever if I can’t throw him out there day after day after day after day…”
    I know he’s on my favorite team, but I want Brower to get hammered for 5 runs so Torre doesn’t have him to use anymore.

  19. BBFan

    Absolutely, if Brower is half decent he will be the next Proctor for Torre’s treatment. I do not mind it as long as Torre does not do it to Viz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  20. JRVJ

    I don’t think the bringing up of Brower is a bad thing, provided that he’s going down to Scranton fairly soon (i.e., because any of Chamberlain, Britton or Edwar Ramirez are coming up).

  21. mel

    Nice work Johnny!

  22. frits

    I can’t do this all day, but that AB is exactly what we need from Damon – a 7-8 pitch AB capped off by getting on base. Working the count, letting the batters behind know what the guy has in his arsenal…Perfect.

  23. Jeff NJ

    Sounds like it was a compromise with Cash. “Joe I’ll give you a veteran you can burn out, if you are more careful with the new kid.” Torre has lost his two biggest go to guys now with Myers and Proctor gone. Lucky for Villone has given Joe just enough reason to doubt him that he has not yet become 2006’s Ron Villone.

  24. keithny

    RIP Jim Brower.

  25. JRVJ

    BTW – Beckham may have been an elite level athlete in his ManU days, but he hasn’t been one in a while (I’m a Barca fan, and he wasn’t exactly someone who we feared at Real Madrid).

    Right now he’s a pure marketing creature.

  26. Captain Obvious

    I have a feeling that this game is going to come down to who scores the most runs.

  27. briggs

    looks like litsch at his babies for breakfast, i mean wheaties

  28. Aram

    ‘I have a feeling that this game is going to come down to who scores the most runs.’

    Joe Morgan ?

  29. TKinDC

    Captain:

    Isn’t it more important that they have a good time while respecting each others feelings?

    Boy, you must be a capitalist pig who just focuses on the bottom line!

    :)

  30. Slurve

    It would be interesting to find out if Brower has ever had a stretch as dominant as Joba’s stint in relief so far. I bet he hasn’t. I use the word “stretch” lightly because, yeah, it’s only been 4 innings…but still I bet Brower’s never matched it in his career.

  31. frits

    Perfect game for Pettitte through 1/3 IP!

  32. Aram

    Lets Go Yankees chant in their stadium :D

  33. KAJ

    Boy that Damon guy really is on the down side of his career, huh ? When Giambi comes up, they need to sit that Bum….( sarcasm )…..Hey Damon Haters ! I am calling YOU out !,,,,When Damon continues to hit like he has of late, are you REALLY thinking it is good to go into the postseason WITHOUT his Bat and Speed at the top of the lineup ? Maybe we should trust that to Melky, Cano, Duncan, some other rookie ? I mean, playoff time, there is no added pressure,,,right ? LOL !

  34. Chevy

    I love it when we take over other people’s houses!! LETS GO YANKEES!!!!

  35. whozat

    I feel like I’ve seen a lot of yankee pitchers having problems putting guys away. Phil had this issue last time, Moose has it often, and Andy’s been doing it the second half as well. They’ll get ahead of the guy, and then get back to 2-2 or 3-2 before they get him out — if they get him at all. It bloats their pitch counts. Is it that their stuff isn’t good enough to keep guys from fouling it off? Or is it that they try to make perfect third strike pitches instead of remaining aggressive?

  36. KAJ

    dude…the Yankees are gonna light this pitcher up ! I remember this guy….Check out his picture on GameDay on mlb.com He looks like he is 12 years old…too funny….It will be another 7-10 runs today again for the Yankees….mark my words….This is gonna be another blowout !

  37. whozat

    “are you REALLY thinking it is good to go into the postseason WITHOUT his Bat and Speed at the top of the lineup ?”

    So…what’s your plan, then? Sit the guy who hits better, fields better and throws better because Johnny’s “been there before”?

    Didja see his pathetic 0-6 the other day? Everyone’s been crushing the awful pitching they’ve been seeing. Now, it’s time to find out who’s actually hot and who was just crushing hanging breaking pitches and meaty fastballs.

  38. whozat

    “dude…the Yankees are gonna light this pitcher up”

    He’s been beating other good teams, and he has a 3.40 ERA.

    Let’s not jump to conclusions.

  39. briggs

    Litsch has a 1.71 ERA in July

  40. saucy

    “Litsch has a 1.71 ERA in July”

    Litsch has a 67.50 ERA against the Yankees

  41. UkYankee

    this is my 1st experience of Toronto TV announcers. I’d heard they are a little bias and maybe not so bright….but “Hideki Matsui is a professional hitter, just like Matt Stairs”! hahahahahahahahahahahahaha LMAO! I think Jessica Biel is hot woman like Celine Dion!

  42. Viper

    _Litsch has a 67.50 ERA against the Yankees_

    That was one outing.

    Clemens got lit up by the ChiSox last week but that doesn’t mean he’s going to continue to get lit up by that team down the road.

  43. chris

    saucy, briggs, viper, why don’t we all just agree that something’s gotta give and move on to another petty argument?

  44. will

    viper, he was just making a point against the troll. i’d be surprised if anyone puts all that much stock in that era

  45. Viper

    Chris,

    If you don’t like the debate — ignore it.

    Get off your high horse.

  46. whozat

    Was that as close to a homer as it looks on gameday?

  47. Yankee Rican in FL

    Gameday made it look like Philips just missed a HR there. Anyone watching the game that can clarify?

  48. Yankee Rican in FL

    Whozat…great minds think alike…

  49. mel

    Front edge of warning track.

  50. UkYankee

    no….long easy fly, 10ft from wall

  51. S.o.S.27

    No it wasnt as close as it showed on gameday,he barely made it to the warning track.

    the good news is that no matter how good this pitcher is his pitch count is already up.Is the Jays bullpen any good?

  52. Wolf In Pinstripes

    “LMAO! I think Jessica Biel is hot woman like Celine Dion!”

    Don’t be surprised if you hear that as well, since she is Canadian. LOL! Then they’ll talk about how Triumph and April Wine were the greatest rock bands ever. :D

    OK, back to baseball…. ;)

  53. UkYankee

    troy glaus drives the ball to all fields “better than anyone in the game”

  54. Boston Yankee

    everytime i see thomas im amazed by how tall he is for some reason i forgot how truly “big” he is. toronto must be the tallest team in the majors: rios, thomas, overbay

  55. Boston Yankee

    sos they have the second best era in the game

  56. KAJ

    Damon plays in the playoffs as much or more than Melky and that will be a very good thing….IMO….OK, I am ready to be ridiculed….LOL !

  57. S.o.S.27

    If Pettite tanks it the next 2 months. Does anyone else think he wont be back next year?

  58. UkYankee

    incidentally….this is the 1st wdescreen output i’ve had on mlb.tv. you guys not have widescreen in the states?

  59. sammy

    sos – I don’t think so. I think, seeing as he held the rotation together in the first couple of months… they’ll ask him to come back.

    especially if that means that Clemens will come with him. Call me crazy – they’ll want him back next year, too.

  60. whozat

    “sos – I don’t think so. I think, seeing as he held the rotation together in the first couple of months… they’ll ask him to come back.”

    It’s not their choice. He has a player option. If he wants to come back, they can’t do anything about it. If he doesn’t…I guess he could decline the option and they could try to re-sign him.

  61. Jeff NJ

    Happy Simcoe day to you too. Everyone knows the best way to celebrate Simcoe day is with a Yankee victory. So do it for the General John!

  62. S.o.S.27

    Sammy,
    Im sure they will ask him to come back I just see him as being a proud person and not wanting to hurt the team. As far as Clemens, hes to expensive and seems to do better in the n.l. Let him add to his numbers there.

  63. KAJ

    see…that Melky guy can’t hit his way out of a paper bag !
    ( I am ready for the insults now… )

  64. Justin

    Leche….

  65. EY

    Anyone still wanted to trade Melky (”Average 4th outfielder”) for Gagne?

  66. Bloomy

    This would be a nice way to start the week. With a win.

  67. S.o.S.27

    KAJ,

    Sorry but I think Melky as earned his spot and Damon is going to have to be the fill in guy.That is if he isnt traded soon.

  68. Mike Westchester

    Only Steve Phillips would trade a starting 22 yr old CF who hits 300 with a cannon for an 8th inning guy.

  69. Tony NJ

    Is there a better 4th OF than Damon? He gives you everything you want/need. Versatile. Been there before. Defense. Speed. Can hit.

  70. sammy

    whozat – understood about the player option; sorry, I should’ve explained myself better. I think he’ll be in close communication with Cash about the option. He said when he signed it that he had the option entered in for the team’s interest as much as his own. That’s why I put in there that I think they’ll ask – or maybe I should’ve said want – him to come back.

    another opinion of mine: even with Moose, Hughes, Wang in the rotation… some more veteran help, I think, would only solidify that aspect of the team.

  71. KAJ

    Dream on…they will not trade Damon…today’s lineup looks pretty good…Damon leading off and Melky at the bottom spot…Lotsa speed….They are going to, IMO, do a lot of rotating with the DH/1B and OF positions and will keep both Melky AND Damon….

  72. whozat

    “As far as Clemens, hes to expensive and seems to do better in the n.l. Let him add to his numbers there.”

    Everyone does better in the NL. The question is, how does he do here? In my opinion, he’s been a definite boost to the rotation. Do I want him next year? Well, I think Andy will come back, which means that there are 4 spots in the rotation that are locked. I want Joba, Igawa and Kennedy to fight for the last one in ST. If it turns out that neither of them grabs it and holds on over the first few months of the season, and Roger’s considering coming back…Yeah, I’d consider the rocket come May or June. He only costs money.

  73. jon

    Anyone else completely confused about Vizcaino’s recent usage?

    He has pitched:
    8/4 – when NY was up 16-7
    8/3 – up 6-1
    8/1 – up 7-1

    He has not pitched:
    8/5 – up 8-4
    8/2 – down 11-9
    7/27 – down 3-2

    About the only time he has been used appropriately is on 7/29 when he came in with a 4-3 lead.

    So not only does Torre not use some good pitchers, and work others to death, he has absolutely no clue when he should be using some. THIS is a major reason for some losses.

    We’re down by 2, and our offense is scoring approximate 85 runs per game. It’s more appropriate to use him when we’re UP BY 9 RUNS?

    I’ve never understood the tendancy to only use your good relievers when your team is up. You should use your good ones when the game is CLOSE, regardless of who is winning. The strength of the Yankee offense should make that even more important.

  74. barnsy

    A SP better in the NL???

    What insight!

    Relax with Clemens. He had one bad start.

  75. UkYankee

    this is a rather large strikezone for this Litsch kid

  76. sammy

    sos – I would agree. I think that he has two teams that he would play for: Houston and us. And he knows that the better place to win is here.

    I suppose it’s not that cut and dried for him… but something tells me that’s approximately how it is for someone like him. He’s always been a stand-up guy, and the only way he doesn’t come back is if he doesn’t want to, and retires.

  77. KAJ

    EY
    August 6th, 2007 at 1:51 pm
    Anyone still wanted to trade Melky (“Average 4th outfielder�) for Gagne?

    Very good point…I, for one, am VERY happy that both we have Melky to use ( in ANY capacity ) AND that bum Gagne is pitching for the BoSux AND we will get our chance to smack him around too !

  78. Matty H

    The only reason it could be to use Vizcaino in a 9 run game was he already got warmed up earlier when the game was close and he may as well pitch if he got warm.

  79. Boston Yankee

    ey… youre preaching to the wrong people nobody said it was a good trade.

  80. barnsy

    “AND that bum Gagne is pitching for the BoSux AND we will get our chance to smack him around too !”

    Please be careful what you wish for.

    Gagne is a stud and the Boston pen is nasty with him in it.

  81. S.o.S.27

    KAJ,
    Dont be so sure he wont be traded.Damon doesnt look to happy and some of his statements lately have sounded like a guy willing to accept a trade. Keep in mind they were shopping him at the dead line. I cant see him being happy as a part time player.

    He would be a bargain at 8 mil a year, we eat the rest.

  82. William P

    That’s the ticket. We’re finally playing well and have a solid, deep bench but let’s trade Damon because he’s not 100% happy. Trade Giambi too while you’re at it.

  83. keep posting

    back to the game please…focus people…

  84. will

    jon, bear in mind that the games you’re using have all been blowouts. He needs to get some work in. Does he need this much? up to debate, but do you sit him until there’s a close game? then you get the rust argument.

  85. saucy

    actually, i thought i heard Simcoe Day was canadian for “hahaha, let’s screw yankee fans with jobs and play weekday baseball at 1 PM. hahahahahha!!!”

  86. sammy

    Boston Yankee – I’ll freely admit that I said we should’ve traded Melky for Gagne. I’ll man up and stick with my position then.

    I don’t know if I would change my position just because of a triple in deep right center during the #110th game of the season. We do have a somewhat logjam of outfielders, and we need the bullpen help.

    but I have nothing personal against Melky. I love watching the rapport that he and Cano have; it’s encouraging to see something less mechanical about the team every now and then. To get excited about winning.

  87. Parker

    I’m just glad Myers is gone. He was useless.

  88. jgjtiger

    My calendar actually has Civic Holiday (Can) in it. Learn something new everyday.

  89. Stuart

    Damon is a good guy and would never demand a trade during a pennant run…

    enough with the noise.. they will find plenty of time for the whole bunch after Giambi comes up and Cairo is DFA’d..

    can you guys ever be happy???

    Pettitte is walking to many guys…..

  90. Boston Yankee

    no sammy thats obviously the wrong reason for changing your mind but i for one never would have made that trade but kudos for manning up

  91. Stuart

    Melky for Gagne.. you are amoron.. yeah 23 yrs old starter for a 2 month rental, shrewd move………..

  92. sammy

    has anyone ever answered the question whether Cairo still has options to be designated? I didn’t think that he did…

  93. Stuart

    no ptions the guy is 33 yrs old and been in the majors for yrs..

  94. whozat

    “jon, bear in mind that the games you’re using have all been blowouts. He needs to get some work in.”

    The problem is that be pitched, basically, in ALL the blowouts.

    I’m more concerned about Andy. He’s STILL “not sharp” or “not comfortable” or whatever euphemism you want to use. He’s up with a lot of things, and he’s having trouble putting guys away. Again. I dunno what the deal is, but he better fix it. Before we hit this stretch of difficult teams.

  95. keep posting

    Pettite looking good…as usual…

  96. abe

    man, that has to be caught.

  97. UkYankee

    damon can’t even cover left….that was a Melky 05 effort!

  98. EY

    Johnny’s defense….*ugh*

    Can we clone Melky so he handles all our outfield defense.

  99. dontfirecash

    I’m sorry but listening to Andy Petite pitch is excruciating. He is a professional nibler, and he lives way to close to the edge.

  100. sunny615

    ugh – pettite again can’t put them away.

  101. Stuart

    Damon should have made that catch.. too bad..

    a walk came back to hurt them,, big suprise..

  102. Jim Clark

    Just got to thinking how Torre was saying in March he wasn’t going to pitch Mariano Rivera more than an inning this year. By my count Rivera has gotten more than three outs seven times this year.
    Nothing against Canada, Love Labatts, worship Joni Mitchell and Diana Krall, appreciate them smuggling Americans out of Iran during the Carter years. But I don’t wish to live in a oountry which has a holiday on my ex-wife’s birthday. Happy Simcoe Day!!

  103. briggs

    Frank beasting as usual

  104. Pepper Brooks

    Is it me or has Pettitte consistently been giving up runs after he gets a lead? What gives?

  105. Tony NJ

    We need pen help buy you still don’t trade young, cheap position players. We got enough minor league pitchers out there to trade for help.

  106. sammy

    Stuart – thanks for the information on Cairo. I didn’t think that he did.

    in regards to Melky… I don’t know how he’s going to be when he’s 25, whether he matures into something worthwhile in center field or not. If he does, then great… if not, well… there seems to be options in regards to outfielders every year. This upcoming year, there seems to be some pretty decent options particularly.

    the Red Sox pulled the move to establish they are trying to win this year. We didn’t because we wouldn’t give up options to win later. I’m not knocking the team for not doing it. For what I’ve read, it looks like they wanted Kennedy in ADDITION TO Melky… and I wouldn’t have done that. If they JUST wanted Melky, and some A prospect (or something like that), well… maybe then.

    but that’s why I’m typing on this computer right now, and I’m not Cash. I’ll fully depend on his logic at this point to make the best decisions for the team.
    :)

  107. Parker

    You cannot walk guys. They always come around to score.

  108. jon

    My biggest problem was Torre going to Farnsworth instead of him in the crazy Chicago game (where they scored 8, we scored 8, etc.). We were behind by 2 in the 8th, and Torre goes to Farnsworth over Vizcaino.

    This was 8/2. He had pitched the day before, but had 2 days of rest before that.

    If you’re not going use him then, how can you possibly use him when you’re up by 9 runs? That was on 8/4. He had pitched the day before, and only had 1 day of rest before that.

    Basically it seems as though Torre is saying “I am going to pitch him in any game we have a lead in, no matter how big, as long as it’s not 3 days in a row.”

    Really – he’s been our best reliever outside of Mo, and we saw what happened in May when he was overworked (but that was out of necessity). Now he’s coming in for his 3rd game in 4 days when we’re up by nine runs? It’s inexcusable.

    I’ve always been a huge Torre supporter, but I’m quickly losing all respect for him as a tactical manager.

  109. Vinny 5743

    That was a tough ball to catch but it was catchable. I blame Pettitte more for getting the ball up than Damon not making the catch.

  110. sunny615

    what’s the hold up?

  111. Bloomy

    When you’re team gives you a lead you’re supposed to go out there and give a shutdown inning.

    Not give up 2 runs.

  112. Chris in MI

    2-1. We have only ourselves to blame. That’s what happens when we don’t focus our collective telekenetic energy on the game at hand.

  113. SJ44

    Walks have killed this pitching staff all season. The walk to Johnson started the rally. today, That’s 6 walks in the last 6 innings (over two games) with 4 of them scoring.

    Its killed the bullpen and all the walks and bad counts have caused this two month slide from Pettitte.

    Can’t throw strikes, can’t beat good teams. That’s why they are remaking the bullpen. Lack of strikethrowers.

    Poor job by Pettitte in the shut down inning. Once again, a Yankee starter gives up runs the half inning after they score.

    Its why the only way this team is making the playoffs is if they mash the rest of the season. Not enough strikethrowers on this pitching staff to hold up over the long haul, IMO. Just gotta keep hitting.

  114. whozat

    “Is it me or has Pettitte consistently been giving up runs after he gets a lead? What gives?”

    It’s not injury…Is he trying to be too perfect? Did he get Moose disease? Maybe he got burned SO MANY TIMES early on by weak offense and poor bullpen that he’s afraid to give up any runs at all…so he nibbles and gets into bad counts?

  115. jon

    And I’ll make it even simpler: pitching him in 2 consecutive blowouts is inexcusable.

  116. sunny615

    cmon arod – even up the score

  117. kasey

    not a great play by damon in left. luckily, they’ve probably just got him out there to prepare him for splitting time at DH with giambi, right stuart?

    pettitte hasn’t looked “good” in almost two months. he’s been fine, but he’s putting way too many men on base. i don’t know what happened, but he needs to get it straightened out yesterday.

  118. Lance

    Would you prople chill? Everyone immediately starts bashing pettitte because he gives up 2 runs in the third inning. News flash…he is not going to pitch a shutout everytime out there. He seems to be a little wild today, but just relax

  119. Captain Obvious

    I have a bad case of Simcoe Fever

  120. kasey

    “Can’t throw strikes, can’t beat good teams.”

    not exactly a recipe for a postseason run.

  121. S.o.S.27

    Good piece of hitting from a-rod.

    Is it just me or does Matsui get a bad strike call everytime he bats?

  122. Ben

    Anyone else having problems with Gameday/other feeds?

  123. YanksSox

    ‘Would you prople chill? Everyone immediately starts bashing pettitte because he gives up 2 runs in the third inning. News flash…he is not going to pitch a shutout everytime out there. He seems to be a little wild today, but just relax’

    Since June 24th 5.77 era, not including todays game. Its much more than just 2 runs in the third inning.

  124. sammy

    Ben – had trouble with ESPN.com’s feed. They’ve disabled it now, and you can’t access it.

    Gameday has just been slow for me… haven’t noticed anything else…

  125. White Plains Mike

    i do not like the feel of this game…we need to start pounding this pitcher…he is not very good

  126. whozat

    “He seems to be a little wild today, but just relax”

    If it was just today, we wouldn’t worry. But it’s been a two month long pattern. He says he feels good, that his elbow doesn’t hurt…and there haven’t been whispers that he’s hiding anything. So, he’s not hurt, he’s not losing velocity…he’s just been missing the zone consistently for two months. He often grinds it out and does OK, but we need him to have a dominant outing every now and again.

    And, also, we need to score more than one run.

  127. Trade Damon ASAP!!!

    Damon has to go. He definitely should be benched in favor of Giambi at DH and put on waivers. If they can’t get rid of him this year, they need to trade him and a huge chunk of the $26M remaining on his contract. I’d say Damon and $16-20M is fair cuz he’d cost whoever takes him only $3-5M/yr. (the Yanks clear that amount, $8-10M total).

    The Yankees need Torii Hunter in CF next year so there’s no question that Melky is the RF and Abreu and Damon are goners. Matsui/ Hunter/ Cabrera has a nice ring. Also by getting Hunter, Phillips doesn’t have to produce with the bat right away, just play the solid defense he’s been playing this year. I’d be thrilled if he posted .260 w/ 15 HR & 70 RBI & his backup posted 5 HR & 20 RBI for 20 HR & 90 RBI total from the 1B which is wayyy more than what the Yanks have received from their TEN 1B this year.

  128. whozat

    “we need to start pounding this pitcher…he is not very good”

    Um…his 3.4 ERA disagrees with you.

    Though, he’s clearly been missing the zone a lot today, and they REALLY should be taking more advantage of that.

  129. sammy

    it is only the 4th inning, right?
    and this is the team that’s scored 6 billion runs in the last two games or so?

    Pettitte might not be dealing, but it’s still a one-run game.

    (yes, I understand that everything I just said is stupid.)
    go Yanks.

  130. Lance

    “Since June 24th 5.77 era, not including todays game. Its much more than just 2 runs in the third inning.”

    He got absolutely lit up in 3 out of his 4 starts between June 20 and July 6. Since then, 4 out of his 5 starts were quality starts and the other one would’ve been had he got one more out. 3 of those starts were 7 innings, 3 runs or less.

  131. Lanny

    We are letting this Litsch kid off the hook.

    With our bad bullpen we aren’t exactly a come from behind team

  132. Viper

    No to Torii Hunter.

  133. whozat

    “The Yankees need Torii Hunter in CF next year ”

    Why? He’s going to get a big 5 year deal. That’s a horrible, horrible idea. He’ll be another unmoveable veteran in two years. Keep Bobby. It won’t cost much more than signing Torii, and it’s a one year commitment.

    In other news, WHY is Andy so afraid of this rookie catcher?

  134. S.o.S.27

    Yes to Rowand.

  135. Lanny

    YankSox:

    How’s Schilling been since June?

  136. SJ44

    Andy hasn’t pitched well in awhile. Its not just one inning. Look at his work the last two months.

    This pitching staff is simple to figure out. They strikeout the fewest guys in the league and walk the most. They have one guy (Wang) who can go deep into games. Not inspiring.

    The walks killed the bullpen, which is why its being retooled, and its rendered 4 of the 5 starters as 5 inning, high ERA-type guys.

    Its a problem. Nobody talks about it when they are mashing against bad teams. However, for the next 3 weeks, they are playing better teams. Those mistakes (walks, giving up runs the half inning after they score, hitting into 2-4 DP’s per game, etc) come back to bite you.

    When your #2 starter has an ERA approaching 6, and is constantly pitching in bad counts for two months, its an issue.

    They are 9-28 in 1 and 2 run games for a reason. That has to change if they want to make the playoffs.

  137. sammy

    I say yes to Carl Crawford.
    but that’s if I had a say.

  138. briggs

    Litsch had the 4th best ERA in in the Majors for July and poeple here still think he “sucks”. Amusing.

  139. sammy

    I know it’s a rather apparent stat, but way to throw it out there, SJ44.

    I didn’t know that their record was THAT bad in tight games.
    … huh.

  140. Cooper

    Walks are this staff’s curse.

  141. Viper

    _Yes to Rowand._

    Agreed. I’ll take a younger guy like Rowand who won’t command as many years or as much of a comittment.

  142. Mark Z

    Thanks SJ44 for that “astute” analysis of how bad walks are.

    What’s next on your lesson plan? We should score more runs than the other team?

  143. Stuart

    that was ball 4 to Jorge beofre the DP.. this ump is givng up the outside pitch.

    they need to pick it up on the road…

  144. kasey

    “They are 9-28 in 1 and 2 run games for a reason. That has to change if they want to make the playoffs.”

    it won’t. they won’t. watching them beat up on AAAA teams for a month was fun, but it didn’t change any of the problems with this team. the offense just started hitting.

  145. Denver Kevin

    It’s funny to watch people here overreact down a run after 4 innings.

  146. KAJ

    the sky is falling…we are all doomed….we will never make it….( hmmm who does THAT sound like ? )

  147. YanksSox

    ‘3 of those starts were 7 innings, 3 runs or less’

    Against Tor 8th in runs scored, Balt 12th, and CWS 13th.

  148. S.o.S.27

    I dont care how good this guys e.r.a. is. He is not on today and we need to capitilize on that.

  149. Joeysdadjoe

    Did Michael Kay just say that Torre said Jason wont play very much?

  150. Stuart

    Kasey doing his thing. if they did not make roster moves I would actually agree with you but since they are making roster moves I will take a wait and see approach..

    they need to run some..

    jeter having a bad game so far.. when he gets out early in the count it hurts even more..

  151. YanksSox

    ‘How’s Schilling been since June?’

    Obviously I am guessing you already know this but he was hurt and has taken time off and is now hopefully coming back strong. This is not someone you want to compare Pettite to because then you would be saying that Pettite has pitched bad because he is hurt.

  152. Mike Westchester

    “watching them beat up on AAAA teams for a month was fun, but it didn’t change any of the problems with this team. the offense just started hitting.”

    Would people that say that be the first ones complaining if they went 8-19 against those bad teams?

    You play whoever is on your schedule. Every team plays the same teams.

  153. TKinDC

    Glad to see kasey is back to his optimistic self!

    The way the lineup has come together we are going to be ticketed for the playoffs. The only question is whether or not the pitching will let them down – and we won’t know that for sure until the bullpen gets settled.

    There are too many unknowns between now and then to either be overconfident or jumping of the ledge. JMHO

  154. sunny615

    jeezus – talk about choking

  155. chris

    ouch…really bad songs, even by hip hop standards.

  156. SJ44

    Sometimes the truth hurts.

    Some of you guys think they are going to score 10 runs a game the rest of the season.

    They are now playing a team that has pitched better than anybody in the AL since July 1. Its not surprising the bats are quiet.

    The Yankees pitching staff hasn’t been good all season. They have one starter above .500 and their runner up in wins is a relief pitcher. That tells me the other 4 spots in the rotation are guys, regardless of their names, that have underperformed. Not very impressive to me.

    Now, they are scrambling to find anybody who can throw the ball over the plate out of the bullpen for the stretch drive.

    It doesn’t take any “deep” analysis. Just stating the facts.

    We can all get caught up in offense. But, if this team can’t pitch better, they are a sideshow and nothing more.

    Hopefully, it changes.

  157. sunny615

    11 left on base. ouch.

  158. Lanny

    Schill has been great. Even before he got hurt he was firing off gems, right?

    How could I compare him to Pettite? At least Pettite pitches every 5th day and doesn’t mouth off to the press about topics he knows nothing about.

  159. KAJ

    JMHO…I think Jeter needs to take a pitch with 2 outs and runner(s) in scoring position. I don’t have the stat, but I would imagine that him swinging at THAT first pitch has not resulted in good things very many times this year…that’s just me though…I could be wrong…

  160. YanksSox

    ‘Would people that say that be the first ones complaining if they went 8-19 against those bad teams?

    You play whoever is on your schedule. Every team plays the same teams.’

    This is a great point, the Yankees yes have gotten an easy schedule and these ‘easy’ games depend on if you will make the playoffs or not. They did exactly what they needed to do and absolutely mopped the floor with these teams and put them in a very good spot for this point forward.

    But they do need to continue against the ‘good’ teams to ensure they are a real contender. Will they? We will see.

  161. briggs

    “Some of you guys think they are going to score 10 runs a game the rest of the season.”

    Not Vs. the baby eater Litsch.

  162. sunny615

    they’re getting the hits, they’re just not able to get them across the plate.

  163. mel

    Team LOB is only 4.

  164. sunny615

    so much for the 1 run deficit.

  165. Matty H

    You know you’re in the middle of losing a game when Kasey and SJ44 are out and about with proclamations about impending doom.

  166. mel

    briggs,

    I’m intrigued. What is a “baby eater”?

  167. sunny615

    yeah mel – I was talking individually. Jeter 3, Abreu 1, Matsui 2, etc.

  168. Jeff NJ

    Off topic, I just read this article about Barry Bonds’s arm gear. Turns out it is more than just a protector of his arm, it is effectively a hitting machine as it keeps his mechanics constant, at least according to this article. It’s a good read: http://www.editorandpublisher......1003621797

  169. briggs

    Litsch eats babies for breakfast, instead of wheaties.

  170. Bouncy Balls

    I guess Andy likes walking people. He’s very good at it.

  171. Ray (resident red sox troll, lol)

    Sorry my good Yankee friends but I’m feeling some Blue Jay runs in this inning.

  172. sunny615

    once again, pettitte pays close attention

  173. Pepper Brooks

    4-1 after this pitch… Not looking good.

  174. sunny615

    need a whiff

  175. Munsons Cap

    Anyone else notice only during losses do the Sox trolls come out to play?

  176. passer by

    John McDonald
    Jay Gibbons
    Ramon Hernandez
    Tadahito Iguchi
    Gerald Laird
    Garret Anderson

    These guys do $hit against the rest of the league but kill the yankees. They are on my hit list.

  177. Tom

    So this game is already a loss to you Munsons Cap? We still got 4 innings, why so little faith?

  178. Mark Z

    I count the Negative Nancy’s along with the Sox trolls.

  179. SJ44

    Another brain dead moment for Pettitte on the mound in Toronto, missing the sign for the steal. His poor performances of the last two months continues.

    May be time for a Jim Brower sighting. Thomas owns Pettitte and it may be time for Brower to eat some innings.

  180. Munsons Cap

    You misunderstood, Tom. They only come out during games in which we are losing.

  181. Ray (resident red sox troll, lol)

    Munsons Cap…even as a Sox fan I know full well that this game is far from over. I know the Yankees are capable of scoring a bunch of runs in a short amount of time.

  182. Eric

    Give it a rest SJ.

    We get it. You hate ANdy. Yadda, Yadda, Blah Blah.

  183. Tom

    Okay but your previous post said “they only come out during losses.” At least that’s what I saw, maybe my eyes aren’t what they used to be.

  184. kasey

    andy’s been mediocre-to-bad for two months now.

    how many playoff defeats will it take to teach people that good pitching beats good hitting? the yankees haven’t faced a good pitching team in a month, and – surprise! – the offense got fat on weak pitching.

    now they’re going to face teams with decent pitching, which means A) the offense is going to have to work harder to get runs and B) the pitching staff is going to have to keep the yankees in games.

    ain’t happening.

  185. Kj

    Why is it so hard for this team to win or even score on the road?

  186. E-ROC

    Pettite is falling behind too many hitters right now.

  187. keithny

    passer by,

    how could you forget the immortal Ross Gload

  188. Jeff NJ

    There we go Andy! Keep battling, 3 runs is not winning this game!

  189. kidjock

    Keep writing Pettite off. Pay attention boys and girls, this is how a pitcher pitches out of trouble.

  190. Viper

    Agreed, Eric.

    Very short-sighted to rip Petitte the way he has gutted it out this season.

    He always keeps his team in the game — even when he’s not pitching well — and that’s what a good starting pitcher is supposed to do.

  191. Eric

    Now they are being written off by the Negative Posse.

    After 5 innings.

    That’s comedy.

    Does it bring you “Yank Fans” joy to be losing? I guess it does since it proves you right with all your BS moaning.

  192. sunny615

    90+ pitches after 5 innings… time to see what brower can do.

  193. Amanda

    I am not so sure I would choose Giambi right now over Duncan. Yeah sure Giambi is known already around the league… but it seems like whenever Duncan makes contact, he is hitting the ball really well.

  194. Viper

    Kasey decided to come back here on Pete’s blog because he wore out his welcome on Mark’s blog.

  195. kasey

    “Keep writing Pettite off. Pay attention boys and girls, this is how a pitcher pitches out of trouble.”

    by giving up 3 unanswered runs after his team scored for him?

  196. S.o.S.27

    If Pettite can get out of with only allowing a run we will catch them 6th.Best offense in all of baseball. They are due to break out today.

  197. Tommy Guns

    Writing Pettitte off???

    It’s like they haven’t watched him pitch since 1995.

    What a joke some of you are. You know who you are and everyone else does to.

  198. passer by

    You right Kieth. Gload hits like 1.000 against the yankees. And he is good for nothing against everybody else.

  199. Jeff NJ

    Glaus down on k’s. Nice work limiting the damage Andy. Now let’s get some runs offense. Andy is through the tough part of lineup, I leave him in until Rios or Wells come up again.

  200. Cumberberg

    OK Yanks, let’s get Andy some runs!

  201. Jonah

    Kasey was basically booted off Mark’s blog. And good riddance to him. I feel bad he is now ruining this great blog.

  202. grafxkid

    Andry grindin it out…2 strike outs. I like it!!

  203. KAJ

    time to wake up the bats !!!

  204. Trade Damon ASAP!!!

    Keep Bobby Abreu who’s older than Hunter and a joke of a RF for the minimum 3 years he’ll want, after what he did most of this year? No thanks. Keep dreaming if you think Abreu will take a make-good one-year deal for nowhere close to the $15M he’s stealing this year. If he accepts a 2-year deal, I can’t see him accepting

  205. Tony NJ

    I don’t know how some people write off someone with the guts of Andy P. Disgraceful really.

  206. Ray (resident red sox troll, lol)

    Pettite looked okay in getting out of that with minimum damage.

  207. Angel

    That’s not true, Viper. Kasey has always been welcome on Mark’s blog – and still is. He chose not to post here. There is a difference.

  208. KAJ

    Mark Z
    August 6th, 2007 at 2:46 pm
    I count the Negative Nancy’s along with the Sox trolls.

    Mark Z….I can’t even hear them…they are like an annoying buzzing sound that I just ignore…

  209. Gerald

    2 runs is insurmountable apparently to people like kasey.

    I guess it gives people like kasey pleasure to lose. They root for it.

  210. Jeff NJ

    The Yankees have a one year option on Abreu that they control for $16M. I think he’s worth keeping for that then part ways (probably) after 2008.

  211. KAJ

    Ray (resident red sox troll, lol)
    August 6th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
    Pettite looked okay in getting out of that with minimum damage.

    Come on Ray,..he looked like Superman ! Good afternoon, friend !

  212. E-ROC

    At least it’s only a two run lead. Now, the lineup needs to wake up from their coma.

    Jeter needs a day off….

  213. Bouncy Balls

    Angel you’re way off. kasey was basically run off of Mark’s blog for being a horses rump.

  214. sunny615

    c’mon arod – it due time for 501

  215. keithny

    You guys are right, GUTS>STRIKES

  216. Mike Westchester

    I’d rather have a lobotomy than read the comments during a game. Especially game in which we are losing. And especially from people like kasey. I hate day games and ESPN not being up.

  217. ansky

    How does one give up with this team right now?

    It’s beyond me

  218. sunny615

    whether or not abreu stays depends on two things: 1 – his performance the rest of the year, and 2 – who’s on the market and for how much. If Hunter is looking for a 5 year $18 mil per on the downside of his career (see, Damon, Johnny), you can bet Cash will stick with Abreu.

  219. Angel

    I post on Mark’s blog, regularly – so I think I’d know, BB. He’s posted there pretty regularly all year. If he’s not posting there now, its by choice, not because anyone has ever run him off.

  220. Jeff NJ

    How deep was A Rod’s shot?

  221. SJ44

    Don’t hate Andy in the least Eric. Just not providing non-cheerleading commentary is all.

  222. Ray (resident red sox troll, lol)

    Good Afternoon KAJ! I don’t think he reached the Superman level but he certainly did look good. Almost as good as Schilling will look later today! Just kidding!!!!! To be honest I am not a big Schilling fan but I hope Pettite does well, just not against the Red Sox. LOL

  223. SJ44

    Correction. I meant to say I am not providing cheerleading commentary.

    Don’t hate Pettitte in the least. Unfortunately, he has struggled for the last two months and that’s not disputable.

    Still would rather have him over Randy Johnson.

  224. E-ROC

    Hopefully, this is the inning that we explode for a couple of runs.

  225. Sherard

    Wow. I guess brain farts involving bullpen usage aren’t limited to Joe Torre. The Blue Jays broadcast (MLB.tv) showed a graphic showing Litch with the 4th or 5th best ERA in baseball since July 3rd. I think if I were Gibbons, I’d take my chances with that guy, rather than go to the bullpen so early.

  226. E-ROC

    Double steal anyone??!!

  227. Kill Schill-(ing)

    Where did the Blue Jays get all this good to very good young pitching: Marcum, McGowan, and Litsch?

    The Yankees are fortunate the Jays suffered all those injuries at the beginning of the year or they’d be nipping at our heels.

    Their bullpen too is very impressive. Always sorry to a player suffer a serious injury but could you imagine if the Jays bullpen had Downs, Janssen, Accardo AND Ryan.

    Why can’t the Yankees find these guys?

  228. dontfirecash

    MATSUI!!!!

  229. E-ROC

    RBI single for Matsui (ridiculously scorching right now).

  230. Kill Schill-(ing)

    The Jays acquired Accardo from the Giants for Hillenbrand after they’d already diminished their bargaining power by designating him for assignment.

  231. Ryan

    The Jays have been building up this pitching the past few years. If they keep their offense strong, they could be a force in the next few years.

  232. sunny615

    no question about that sj44, but ever since he called out his teammates, he seems to have struggled himself. I can’t help but wonder if there’s some sort of imjury (dead arm) that he’s not vocalizing.

  233. Jeff NJ

    Look, we all know that all of our starting pitchers besides Wang are capable of providing duds on any given day. It is not a perfect staff, however expierence counts, so I’ll take my chances with this rotation over any other in the majors right now.

    In the future it’s possible we’ll have very reliable options in Phil, Joba and Ian to join Chien but that is just not the case today. Bitching about it doesn’t get us any where or provide an new insight.

  234. J. V. - Yonkers

    Yes to Aaron Rowand. Every blade of grass in center field respects the guy. Nice righty bat also.

  235. TKinDC

    Kill Schill -

    Hopefully we already have these guys and a couple of them will be on display in the home stretch of the season. Phil and Joba.

    I agree that the total failure up until a few years ago to develop talent was a fiasco. Now that Cashman has the controls we are going to try to get younger, cheaper and homegrown.

  236. Captain Obvious

    Why are some fans so afraid of being a “cheerleader”??? Isn’t that the point of being a fan? We should be cheering our players who are performing well and supporting those who aren’t. I can’t wait to see what some of you will say about Posada when his average starts to fall back to earth or about Mo when he hits another rough stretch at some point or about Cabrera when he misplays a ball. If it was up to some of you, Viz would have been DFA’d in April, Cano would have been sent back to AAA in May, Abreu would have been traded for Dye, Phelps would be our full-time first baseman, and A-Rod would have been traded for two crappy prospects. We have a playoff caliber team and we are going to be in the playoffs. We should all be enjoying the ride instead of crying every time makes an out or walks someone.

  237. dontfirecash

    ROOBBBIIEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  238. Viper

    Amazing how people look for reasons to bury this team.

  239. kasey

    ” If he’s not posting there now, its by choice, not because anyone has ever run him off.”

    thanks, angel.

    i still post on mark’s blog, but not as frequently. this one updates more quickly and i enjoy SJ44’s stuff. but i’m still at mark’s blog, as well.

  240. Global Warming

    Remember all that “Cano is expendable” talk earlier in the season? Yeah, some bloggers here should be eating healthy doses of crow.

  241. barnsy

    Come on people. Or should I say real fans.

    These are the same negative people/trolls who said it was over last week down 8-0 in the 2nd inning

    They underestimate this teams heart

  242. Pepper Brooks

    Cano is just sick!!!!!

  243. E-ROC

    Nice double by Cano!!!

  244. kasey

    if torre’s smart, the leash on pettitte will be very short in the jays’ half of the 6th. i love pettitte, but the second he walks a guy, it might be time to go get brower.

  245. sunny615

    Pete:

    You can’t call out readers who complain about losing by one or two runs, when you yourself have posted numerous times how the yankees record are a poor 6-20 (or something close) in one run games throughout the year. I’m not saying that they’re justified in complaining – and should show some more backbone and support – but the past 100+ games have shown that the yankees have a poor history in such games and I think we as fans, have some right to be a tad nervous about that record, and couple that with Pettitte’s recent performances as well as the bullpen issues – those issues alone would make any fan nervous I would think.

  246. Kevin

    Man, 3-for-8? That PROVES Giambi’s a great hitter.

    I’m just kidding Pete, but SAMPLE SIZE warnings need to be given any time you’re doing that.

    Anyway, as long as Cairo and Farnsworth are not on this team in September, I feel real good about it. I’d like Damon to be the 4th OF with Duncan, Betemit and Molina joining him on the bench. That’s a deep lineup.

  247. Pepper Brooks

    One of the greatest sports happenings is all the “LET’S GO YANKEES” chants that happen when the Yankees are on the road, especially in places like Toronto.

  248. sunny615

    Personally, I have nothing against kasey. He’s entitled to his opinion, and I’m cool with that. If I disagree with his opinions, I skip his post (which is more often than not) but he shouldn’t be dumped on just because he doesn’t agree with your opinion. If it were that easy, Bush wouldn’t be president for the past 5+ years.

  249. Khoa

    YES! That is how its done!

  250. Ryan

    “You can’t call out readers who complain about losing by one or two runs”

    He’s calling those people out (and there are a lot of them) that have conceded victory down by 1 halfway through the game and act like the sky is falling.

  251. Ray (resident red sox troll, lol)

    I admit it…that was clutch hitting by Cano!

  252. dontfirecash

    I love it…the Melkman delivers

  253. JRVJ

    Pete,

    I agree with you.

    Look, the Yankees either will win or the won’t. Being negative about it 24/7 is not going to achieve much one way or the other…..

  254. S.o.S.27

    MELKY THE FUTURE ALL-STAR!!!!

  255. kidjock

    Wonder what this team is going to do! There is no way we can overcome a 3-1 deficit!

  256. Jeff NJ

    The Melk man delivers! Gotta love the Cano-Cabrera connection!

  257. TKinDC

    Kasey –

    The bullpen is warming. I think they’ll give him what they gave Moose the other day. A man gets on and you’re done.

    After a bunch of tough losses at the start of the year and some rocky starts for a month plus, it would be nice to get Andy a cheap win.

  258. Pepper Brooks

    Ahhhhhhh Pepper needs new shorts!!!!!!!!!!!!

  259. Ryan

    Blue Jays announcers at beginning of inning;

    “Scott Downs is nearly unhittable.”

    O RLY?

  260. dontfirecash

    Anyone else notice how many mistakes Sterling has made today? Just said the Yanks scored 3 runs in the inning, not 4, he had the count wrong a few times, and he referred to the Yanks AAA affiliate as Columbus. I think I could do a better job than John.

  261. Jeff NJ

    By the way, what do we care about our record in one run games? Most of that has to do with past bullpen failures including from Mo. Well Mo has straightened himself and Viz out and the offense is mashing. I don’t care if we don’t win another 1 run game this year, as long as we win. Sometimes we are blinded by statistics.

  262. SJ44

    Sunny,

    Gibbons is brutal with his bullpen. Worse than Joe. I have friends who live in Toronto and go to a lot of games and that hate his use of the bullpen.

    A lot of people up there believe he blew out BJ Ryan’s elbow from overuse.

    He can run through a bullpen with the best of them.

    Now, we need a shutdown inning from Andy. A 1-2-3 6th would be nice. Then, it would be up to the bullpen to make this lead hold up.

  263. lauren

    how do you not love Melky Cabrera? sorry, but he is truly the most exciting player in the lineup.

    you expect it from ARod and Jeter, but this kid continues to make magic for a second season. so glad cash held onto him.

  264. Khoa

    Pete, but what about your post the other day on August 5?

    “I’d say we’re getting pretty close to the point of Giambi having to get called up. Veteran players making $21 million can only sit in the minors for so long. What happens then is anybody’s guess”

    the key words are “HAVING TO GET CALLED UP” Sounds a little reluctant. Team chemistry’s such an important part of winning in baseball that it would be a shame to screw up the way we’re rolling lately. Wished we could keep going with what we got for now.

  265. J-Dawg

    Melky strikes again!!! Wonder what Steve Phillips thinks about him now?!?

  266. KAJ

    my oh my do these Yankees stink…there is no way that they can make the playoffs…they can’t hit,,,they can’t pitch,,,they can’t please the ( fill in the blank here )….LOL !…Go Yankees…It is gonna be a very fun week !

  267. Matty H

    Global,

    Don’t forget the Vizcaino DFA, trade Melky, Trade Abreu, Trade A-Rod, etc in addition to the demote Cano stuff.

  268. Global Warming

    Chemistry is overrated in baseball. This is Giambi we talking about, he’s been with the team since 2002, he’s not going to hurt anything.

  269. Boston Yankee

    lol kaj i love the positivity guys would you lay off andy its getting so old

  270. sunny615

    SJ:

    I think that’s the only reason at the moment, that my stomach is not occupying the same space as my tonsils. Hopefully, we can get thru them faster than they can get through ours. I’m still very hopeful that Pettitte can have a 1-2-3 6th and then see brower (if only for a few batters) to see if he can sit them down in order as well. The only question is if Torre will not use Brower because of his weak trust of the vets.

  271. S.o.S.27

    Like I said the offense was due to break out. This is a special team. They are going to make some noise this year.

  272. Jeff NJ

    J Dawg, I agree. I can’t wait until the next time Steve Phillips is on the Michael Kay show. Either that or next time he and Orel Hershiser get together so Orel can call him out again for who he really is, a Yankee basher.

  273. Adam

    It still think Melky isn’t a future All-Star or superstar, but he’s a damn good player. If he can keep developing more power he’s going to be a very valuable, cheap player.

  274. passer by

    a catcher stealing base on Andy is ridiculous

  275. Khoa

    I just think Phillips and Duncan have been swinging the bat real well at seemingly all the right moments. I love the Giambino, but all I seem to remember from the guy were all those K’s in the same kinda situations back in the Spring.

  276. kd

    now let’s all hope that anaheim beat boston this week. anyone know what the pitching matchups are?

  277. Matthew

    Melky has been a favorite of mine since he was called up but the last few weeks he seems possessed. My theory is that he hates Steve Phillips as much as I do and is making him looking like even more of a moron.

    If you watch this team daily and cannot see that this guy is just a winning player, then you do not know baseball.

  278. EY

    C&C scored more than half our runs today.

    Where’s the people who wanted us to trade Robbie and Melky for some hired hands a couple months ago?

  279. sunny615

    does anyone know what pettite’s numbers are on allowing runners to steal on him? They seem to be pretty high lately…?

  280. Boston Yankee

    im hating these toronto fans sitting next to the mike

  281. Adam

    Anyone who thinks team chemistry is important is baseball must not be watching The Bronx is Burning.

  282. Khoa

    By the way, anyone know if Arod got that ball back? If so, what’s the payday look like for the lucky guy who caught it?

  283. KAJ

    Andy is getting SQUEEZED !..come on, BLUE !

  284. dontfirecash

    wow, Petite what are you doing? Walking John Mcdonal on four pitches?

  285. Khoa

    Adam, LOL.

  286. TKinDC

    How can Andy walk that schlub? :(

  287. *Hughes Your Daddy?*

    Seriously, how can people listen to Steve Philips as an “expert” baseball analyst. He masterminded Victor Zambrano for Scott Kazmir…I can’t stand watching or listening to him. That should discredit his opinions when it comes to evaluating teams and baseball talent.

  288. E-ROC

    JIM BROWER IS IN!!!

  289. Stuart

    walking the 9th hitter on 4 pitches is bad………….

    Melky can play regardless of what he does the rest of the game and season. the guy is 23, switch hitter, for the Yanks..A little pressure maybe, he is oblivious to the pressure and just plays hard day in and day out.

    I am not saying he is the 2nd coming of mickey but he is good for now and cheap and young……..

  290. Bry Guy

    Actually he was fired by then.. he had nothing to do with Kazmir good try

  291. Boston Yankee

    J. Saunders vs. T. Wakefield
    D. Moseley vs. J. Lester

  292. sunny615

    not yet. There’s a good article on it in the “NY Daily News”:http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2007/08/06/2007-08-06_i_dont_wanna_be_arobbed-1.html

    Ok Brower – time for a whiff.

  293. Miguel

    OK, CAST YOUR VOTE NOW. Bringing in Brower in this spot…the right move, yes or no? Let’s eliminate the second-guessing by casting a first guess.

    I say yes.

  294. Global Warming

    Jim Brower? Are you kidding me? 4.7 Career ERA and he was from the NL.

    Brower may get out of this inning safe but I’d trust Andy with 100+ pitches in this situation over Jim Brower.

    Edward Ramirez should have been called up. Britton too if he’s healthy.

  295. SJ44

    I was really hoping Andy could get through the 6th clean. Unfortunately, losing Thigpen, another brain cramp on the mound, allowing him to steal second, and walking the #9 hitter, killed that hope.

    Gutsy effort, but not a good start. He has to be better than that down the stretch. Now, we get to see what Brower brings to the party. Hopefully, he can get Johnson because you hate to give back runs the half inning after you take the lead.

  296. Chevy

    Let the Brower beating begin….via Torre!!

  297. Kill Schill-(ing)

    who is this guy Brower?

  298. KAJ

    Sweet….go BROWER !!!

  299. Boston Yankee

    miguel: yes

  300. sunny615

    _Khoa
    August 6th, 2007 at 3:23 pm
    By the way, anyone know if Arod got that ball back? If so, what’s the payday look like for the lucky guy who caught it?_

    not yet. There’s a good article on it in the “NY Daily News”:http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2007/08/06/2007-08-06_i_dont_wanna_be_arobbed-1.html

    Ok Brower – time for a whiff.

  301. Kill Schill-(ing)

    This is a questionable move.

  302. kd

    melky just started doing arod’s workout and has really come on as of late. maybe alex’s work ethic is starting to rub off on him. he might not hit 40 home runs a year, but he’s a huge upgrade over damon defensively. i think he’s an all star next year

  303. Ray (resident red sox troll, lol)

    KD
    Don’t know about the rest of the week but tonight it is Schilling against Weaver.

  304. whozat

    “wow, Petite what are you doing? Walking John Mcdonald on four pitches?”

    And this is the kind of thing that’s been worrying me about Andy. 110 pitches through 5 2/3 against an offense that is not performing that well this season. Lots of walks to guys he should be attacking, and giving up hits to guys he’s ahead of in the count. I don’t know what it is, but he and gator need to figure it out, and soon. It’s been 2 months.

  305. Khoa

    Thanks Sunny.

  306. KAJ

    good job kid….let’s get some more runs !!!

  307. dontfirecash

    thank god..inning over

  308. keithny

    ahahahah brower…

    couldn’t find a way to use britton or edwar but of course this guy gets in the first day here. Experienced Veteran®

  309. dadofjft

    At least Brower’s getting his feet wet in a non-pressure situation.

  310. Yank in VA

    An At-em bomb to A-Rod!
    Way to go Brower!

  311. Boston Yankee

    kd that is bold id say the year after next. and i posted the matchups up there

  312. Kill Schill-(ing)

    this guy got the out, I give him that. Still, his stuff didn’t look all that impressive. Does he get the 7th?

  313. *Hughes Your Daddy?*

    BryGuy

    You’re absolutely correct. I do apologize, I often mix up him and duquette. I thought it was Duquette who signed Mo Vaughn to the huge contract, i realize it was the other way around. Sorry about the mix up.

  314. Jeff NJ

    Gamecenter is frozen, I think they are trying to figure out why number 36 isn’t throwing lefthanded. Apparently they bought into Jim Johnson’s message that Joba IS coming up.

  315. SJ44

    Too late but, I would have voted for Brower. Andy didn’t pitch well today, he already walked Johnson twice, and its time to see what Brower brings to the table.

    He got the job done, and showed some good movement on his pitches. Big moment in the game and he passed his first team.

  316. sunny615

    wonder if brower is out for the 7th

  317. Miguel

    Swwet. All of us who said yes would be great managers.

  318. Chevy

    WOW!!!! Arod!!! Nice snag!! Saved Brower!

  319. whozat

    “this guy got the out, I give him that.”

    Did he luck out, or was it one of those humpback-liners?

  320. UkYankee

    i think cash removed everyone else from the pen so he couldn’t make the usual clueless decision

  321. Stuart

    Brower is 34, he has been around the block..

  322. Loren

    Everyone who got on Andy should be ashamed of themselves for doubting him. Even when he is off he will still gut out a game and grind it out. Something most pitchers do not do. He doesnt give in.

    He is a Yankee.

  323. dadofjft

    We need a lot of runs this inning so Kyle can give back a few.

  324. Gayle

    Depending on what happens top of the 7th will determine who gets the bottom.

    As I said the other day and even agree more after reading the daily news article on t5he guy who has the arod ball. Ask for 2 life time season tickets and call it a day. The guys spent almost all his money on his seats this year and 2 tickets for arod for life is nothing especially as I believe they get a certain amount of tickets per game anyway.

  325. S.o.S.27

    MORE RUNS TO COME!!!

  326. Boston Yankee

    whozat i think it would have been bases loaded i dont think a run would have scored

  327. whozat

    Also…Jeter needs to sit for a few days. He’s clearly hurting. Do the jays have a righty on the mound tomorrow? It’d be a good day for Betemit to get a start…

  328. Global Warming

    Hey guys, I think we might see the Farns in the 7th or 8th inning today!

    Yippppe!

  329. Miguel

    Is Kyle warming up? Is anybody warming up?

  330. Kevin

    I’m sure this has been said, but…Edwar Ramirez can’t get into half-a-dozen blowouts over 2 weeks because he’s inexperienced and not a proven pitcher, but Generic E.P. McPitcher (the E.P. is for “Experienced And Proven”) gets called up and is put into a high-leverage situation in his first game.

    Ah. That makes sense.

    At least they got out of that inning unscathed, let’s pray they get it to VizMo.

  331. He's Coming!!

    check it out:

    jabachamberlain.com

  332. D Bone

    Jeter is due.

  333. Global Warming

    Whozat,

    Towers is pitching tomorrow so yes they got a righty going.

  334. E-ROC

    LOL, some of u are just waiting for Brower to screw up because Britton or Edwar wasn’t promoted. That’s just sad. He got the job done. Just leave it at that.

  335. whozat

    “Everyone who got on Andy should be ashamed of themselves for doubting him. Even when he is off he will still gut out a game and grind it out. Something most pitchers do not do. He doesnt give in.”

    He’s been grinding out every start for two months. That’s just not good enough. He’s the #2 guy. We need more length from him. 5 2/3, 3ER and 110+ pitches just isn’t ok.

  336. frits

    Anyone see that out Brower got? How hard was the ball hit?

  337. Adam

    John Sterling really needs to stop all these nicknames and catch phrases. They’re fun for about an inning, but quickly become the most annoying thing ever.

    “The Baby Bomber Buddies”? Give me a break.

  338. Khoa

    I agree Gayle. Season tix for life would be AMAZING.

  339. Kelly

    Jeter needs to rest???

    Have yo watched Yankee games for the past 11 seasons?

    What makes you think Jeter would EVER take a day off unless his leg was broken???

    He is a gamer and unless he is on deaths door he will be out there.

  340. Khoa

    My favorite is the Giambino…probably because it’s so bad its good.

  341. kd

    what’s up wit the captain? maybe the shoulder is worse than he’s letting on? is it the one that he hurt a few years ago?

  342. whozat

    “He got the job done. Just leave it at that.”

    Sort of. A liner that should’ve been a hit isn’t really getting the job done.

  343. Miguel

    God Sterling, that’s awful. Doesn’t he realize that most Yankee fans don’t want their guys referred to in Care Bear Teletubby terms?

  344. JoJo

    He also got hit on the hand or wrist yesterday

  345. Kevin

    E-Roc,

    You kind of missed the point. When you’re first-guessing someone, you’re doing it based on the probability that Some Guy is going to blow it. In this case, it’s a much bigger probability than someone like Britton or Edwarrior.

    He gave up a hard line drive that was caught. The next time he pitches, he’s going to give up more line drives that will fall in for doubles. Just because the latter hasn’t happened yet doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to throw this guy out there in a big situation.

  346. Chevy

    Please no Farnsworth! We are only up two runs here.

  347. Patrick

    I think I’ve finally had it with Sterling. On Saturday, after the A-Rod foul, oh wait, it’s number 500 call, he made everything hit anywhere past the infield sound like a home run. My father was driving and we were listening to the game on my way back from Brooklyn, when Bobby Abreu hit the home run. At least 2 times after that it must have sounded like someone was going yard. Maybe he needs a little more Vin Scully and a little less Chris Berman.

  348. whozat

    “What makes you think Jeter would EVER take a day off unless his leg was broken???”

    Because it’d be better for the team if he did. He’s slumping because, apparently, his should still hurts and his knees are aching. “Being a gamer” is stupid when your lack of performance is bad for the team. You’re not getting better AND you’re not contributing that much. He takes a day or two off and HEALS, that’s better for the team because he can return to his normal, productive self.

  349. Jeff NJ

    Peter said yesterday Jeter is hurting, also Kim Jones asked him about something postgame. I think we’ll see Betemit starting at short tomorrow.

  350. LathamJoe

    Brower getting his audition early.
    I still think Bruney is the next one “down” to Scranton.

  351. frits

    How is he looking? I know nothing about Brower – velocity, pitch selection?

  352. Kill Schill-(ing)

    wonderful. Another great reliever.

  353. sunny615

    This will be the real test – to see what Brower can do with the top / middle of the Jays lineup

  354. E-ROC

    whozat–Did you want a routine grounder?? Strikeout?? An out is an out. The hitter didn’t hit it where they ain’t. Is it Brower’s fault? He hit it hard….right at somebody. I’d take that any day. Oh yeah, he didn’t walk anybody! Thank the Lord.

  355. Jeff NJ

    Patrick, I thought it was really awful how badly Sterling missed the A Rod 500 HR call. Ironically it was High, Far and Gone yet he didn’t do his shtick. And is replayed everywhere. I will go out on a limb right now and say John Sterling does not make the call on A Rod’s 600th HR.

  356. Joe L

    Some of you guys are really obtuse. I think you would do better to just stick your head out a window and scream “DFA DFA DFA”! You don’t even read what other people, including Pete, write here. You’re just venting sans logic.

    Giambi is a team guy and plays with his heart on his sleeve. Whoever he replaces on the bench, he is a clear upgrade over and that includes Shelley Duncan who is being carefully spotted into lineups he’d fare well against.

    Why do you alarmists thin Torre is all of a sudden going to make Damon the everyday CF just because Giambi is coming back? If you’ve been watching the games, Torre has been quite comfortable benching Damon while Giambi has been gone. Just because Giambi walks in the door, Torre all of a sudden is going to shout “Damon is my CF”? He plays the guy in CF once every 2 weeks.

    Giambi is good in the clubhouse. He wants to win. He’s not coming back to stake his claim in the club and ruin things. He’s coming back to be part of the winning. I think he’s probably going to play 5-6 innings most day at 1b and then yield to Phillips on the days Torre doesn’t use him as a DH. Is Shelley going to lose at bats? Sure, but Shelley isn’t an every day player yet that we count on. He’s part of a deep bench that, if you haven’t noticed, gets deeper by the day.

    Just take a deep breath and realize that Giambi is an upgrade over Cairo or Duncan, unless you have deleted from your memory some of the clutch homers Giambi has hit in Fenway the past few years.

    As for today’s game, Pettite sure looked chapped when Torre pulled him, but Brower got the out. That said, I don’t see stuff from Brower that looks lights out by any imagination. He looks to be a very hittable fastball with a slider he can’t throw for strikes pitcher. Kind of like Farnsworth, without the velocity.

    Looks like Torre is pulling Brower now. I hope this doesn’t mean Farnsworth in the 8th. Gulp.

  357. Adam

    Torre showing a lot of trust in Brower. I think that’s the last we’ve seen of him.

  358. Miguel

    Well at least this shows that Joe is losing faith in Farnsworth.

  359. Global Warming

    Good move by Torre. Get this guy out of here and bring on the Viz!

    Assuming the Viz does the job here you got to assume theres a very good chance that the FARNS pitches 8th. Hooray?

  360. dontfirecash

    this is why we need JOBA NOW!

  361. Sherard

    As if on cue, apparently Torre does NOT want to have his bullpen incompetence challenged. One baserunner ? ONE ? That’s all it takes to burn up Jim Brower and put the onus on Vizcaino and Rivera to pitch 3 innings ?

    Ugh.

  362. Casual

    And thats all for Brower, 2 batters, 2 hard hit balls, 1 single, here comes Viz

  363. Kelly

    Better for the team if Cairo is in there instead of Jeter????

    Please. Lay off the crack pipe.

  364. UkYankee

    what is the point….one hit and he’s take out….poor dude! the infield all seemed to console hime as clueless ambled over

  365. Jeff NJ

    Am I reading this right? He is going to Viz here in the 7th? I guess it is the tough part of the lineup, but still that could mean Farny in the 8th, something no fan should have to watch again.

  366. Miguel

    For the record…I like the move. Use Viz now to face the biggest threat the Blue Jays will mount. If he gets out of it, the 8th inning should be easier for Villone or whoever, and then Mo.

  367. Stuart

    this blog is made up of critics. you guys critcize everything. sterlings call. do you know from where he is sitting if the arod 500 looked foul??

    you guys are not easily satisfied..

    the yanks as i have said a hundred times need multiple arms in the pen.. multiple…..

  368. YankeeJosh

    Scary thought of the moment: Does Torre bring in Krazy Kyle for the 8th?

  369. Global Warming

    Sherard are you kidding me? You would rather him leave Jim Brower(4.7 career ERA in the NL) in the game to blow it?

    Ok buddy.

  370. Bouncy Balls

    Sterling has been doing games on the radio since the 1980’s. They obviously love him up high in Yankee land. What makes you think they would even think about making a change???

    He’ll call A-Rod’s 800th homer.

  371. TKinDC

    Does Brower get a letter for his varsity jacket?

  372. whozat

    “An out is an out. The hitter didn’t hit it where they ain’t. Is it Brower’s fault?”

    Yes, it is. How is giving up a line drive anyone’s fault but the pitcher’s? An easy fly ball, a pop up, a grounder, any of those would be fine. Even if it’s some dinky grounder that sneaks through for a hit…the pitcher still did his job. If the batter hits it hard somewhere, that is CLEARLY the pitcher’s fault.

  373. Puddy

    You bring in your best to face their best.

    This is a great move here by Torre.

  374. Adam

    I agree with Miguel. You have to use your best relievers in high leverage situations. The inning should not play a role in these decisions.

  375. Casual

    Can Viz fot any more necklaces around his neck? Its ridiculous

  376. Miguel

    TK…no, but if he hangs around a couple of weeks he’ll get a WS ring.

  377. Jeff NJ

    Stuart, I just think with the 500 HR call, Sterling should have erred on the side of making the great HR call but it doesn’t matter much I guess. Point taken.

  378. Kevin

    E-Roc, that’s called “luck.” It doesn’t bode well for the future that both batters hit the ball hard off him. Line drives are most often hits, so a guy giving up line drives (whether they be all hits or all outs or in between) is eventually going to get crushed.

    This guy appears to be a line drive magnet, therefore he is going to get crushed when put in big situations. A guy like Edwar struck out the side in his first appearnce, meaning he’s less likely to get crushed.

    Let’s go, Nobody Beats The Viz!

  379. Miguel

    VIZ! One down.

  380. whozat

    “Better for the team if Cairo is in there instead of Jeter????

    Please. Lay off the crack pipe.”

    First of all, it’d be Betemit, who can hit well lefty. Second, would you rather have injured, slumping Jeter for the rest of the season, or two days of Betemit and then a healthy Jeter back for the stretch run?

  381. Kill Schill-(ing)

    Nice Job Viz.

  382. JRVJ

    Kevin,

    Small sample size, dude.

  383. Brian C

    Ok Brower has nothing…nibbles and then gave up 2 line drives (1 for an out). Doesn’t look like he has the stuff to get major leaguers out…(and his career era in the bigs in 5.00)

  384. dontfirecash

    Viz for the 8th, only threw 7 pitches

  385. Kevin

    How many pitches did Vizcaino throw there? He’s gotta be coming back for the 8th unless we score 4 or 5 here, no?

  386. Paolo

    Yes, Luis my man!!!

  387. Ryan

    Gotta stay with viz.

  388. JRVJ

    Good job, Viz (who is now comfortable under 4.00 ERA, with Mariano also being comfortably under 3.00. Who’d have thunk it?).

  389. Paolo

    Viz threw 7 pitches…

  390. Miguel

    RJ for Viz alone is a steal. If Ohlendorf gives us anything, that trade alone shows why Cashman should stay. He’s undoing Tampa’s mess.

  391. Chag

    Only 7 pitches, he should be given the green light on the 8th.

  392. Global Warming

    Speaking of, brining Farns into the 8th should be considered Taboo.

  393. Kill Schill-(ing)

    I hope Joe replaces Viz with Farnsworth for the 8th inning. LOL.

  394. Yankee Rican in FL

    Nice, Viz.

    2007 Graduate of the Univerity of Rivera School of Relieving.

  395. S.o.S.27

    I think we should have a player coach on this team. And his name is Rivera. Amazing how he has changed Viz to a legit 7th-8th inning guy.

  396. whozat

    “Small sample size, dude.”

    Look at the guy’s career MLB numbers. There is no real reason to think that he won’t be the mediocre pitcher he’s always been.

  397. Gayle

    can someone please tell me what all the neck things aroundf Viz are, they seem to have multiplied in numbers

  398. sunny615

    who’s picthing the 8th now?

  399. KAJ

    If Farns pitches ONE MORE TIME for the Yankees, I’m gonna throw up !

  400. JRVJ

    “Look at the guy’s career MLB numbers. There is no real reason to think that he won’t be the mediocre pitcher he’s always been.”

    He made a very definitive based on the first inning of MLB ball by Edwar Ramirez.

    THAT’s a small sample size.

  401. Matthew

    Who gets the 8th inning

  402. Boston Yankee

    gayle its an energy thing i think they have titanium or silver or something in them

  403. sunny615

    rats

  404. Miguel

    Do we play any more games in Chicago this year? Maybe we can get some crazy father/son combination to come on the field and beat Farnsworth down.

  405. sunny615

    that answers that question. I’m guessing Mo for a 4 out save.

  406. Chag

    The Viz is back for one more inning.

  407. Paolo

    Yes, it is Viz again in the 8th…

  408. Boston Yankee

    kyle farnsworht’s RECENT inaffectiveness….? WHAT

  409. Khoa

    Gayle, according to UrbanDictionary.com:

    Chain-
    A rapper’s source of power. The sunlight to his birdman. Without a chain of platinum/gold/diamonds/bo nes, a rapper sloses his ability to drop tight flows over phat beats. The is an absolute necessity, and its importance should not be taken lightly.

    Ludacris once said, “Some people ask why there’s a skull on my chain, it’s ’cause I LOVE gettin’ head.”

  410. nettles

    Here’s The Viz.

    “Please, dear God, let him get three quick outs!”

  411. Chevy

    Thank goodness. No Farns!!

  412. nettles

    There’s one!

  413. saucy

    Viz stole the whole pen’s energy necklaces? that explains it.

  414. whozat

    “He made a very definitive based on the first inning of MLB ball by Edwar Ramirez.

    THAT’s a small sample size.”

    True. But, Ramirez is a young guy who taught himself a new pitch since last he was in MLB and DOMINATED AAA. There is ample reason to believe that he could contribute. A veteran with a lengthy track record of MLB mediocrity is likely to continue that mediocrity, unless he’s somehow reinvented himself or learned a new pitch or something. I’ve not heard that Brower has done that.

  415. Paolo

    Viz could be wearing one of those BioFir necklace…

    http://www.biofirnecklace.com/

  416. Boston Yankee

    uh oh not a 5 out save

  417. nettles

    $#!t

  418. whozat

    oooh…a homer for Aaron Hill. Not good, Luis. Not good.

  419. sunny615

    kee-rap

  420. frits

    ooh homer. ouch. damn it.

  421. Miguel

    baseball’s funny. Viz mows down Wells, Thomas and Glaus, gives up HR to Aaron Hill.

  422. SJ44

    The problem with playing one pitcher short. Its the right move Keeping Viz in but, its hard to ask guys to pitch 2 shutout innings in the late going.

    Its why it has to be fish or cut bait time with Farnsworth. At this point of the season, you need everybody. If they he can’t do it, get somebody in here who can.

    Tough to play a guy short in the ‘pen down the stretch.

  423. Chag

    Crap.

  424. sunny615

    uh-oh

  425. Kevin

    JRVD,

    The point I was trying to make was that Ramirez at least deserved another look over the two weeks where he sat watching baseball in centerfield, whereas this guy who has been so utterly mediocre in every way gets to pitch with the tying run on base in his first game.

    I never said Ramirez would be automatic, I just said that having struck out the side (and, more implied, having gaudy strikeout numbers in AAA) he appears to be less likely to get crushed than Brower.

  426. Mr. Vegas

    Viz’s ERA now 4.01.

  427. Captain Obvious

    Viz needs to keep his pimp hand strong.

  428. nettles

    OK, now we have two. Let’s get Overbay here and turn it over to Mo in the ninth.

  429. whozat

    “Its why it has to be fish or cut bait time with Farnsworth.”

    And, why you don’t bring up Brower. Karstens is supposed to be the long guy. If they don’t trust him, fine…send him down and bring up Brower in that spot. That’s why Joe said they took Brower…experience (of course) and the flexibility to go multiple innings. But you have to bring up SOMEONE who might be able to be the alternate setup guy.

  430. KAJ

    yikes….is he really the Viz ????

  431. Miguel

    SJ…it makes no sense, especially when there are options who we need to use to see what they can do. We know what Kyle can, or better yet, can’t do. He is the biggest albatross on the team right now.

  432. KAJ

    squeezed !!!!!!!!!! DANG !

  433. Yankee Rican in FL

    Enter Sandman. Now, please.

  434. KAJ

    four out save time….where is MO ?

  435. SJ44

    As of right now, Brower got the biggest out of this game. Why all the hate?

    There isn’t any evidence Ramirez would do the same. Brower did his job. Now, its up to Viz and Mo to finish this game.

  436. FARNSWORTH THE BRAWLER

    your call joe… im ready!

  437. PAT M.....

    Don’t miss inside to Stairs….

  438. Kill Schill-(ing)

    Curious that Joe hasn’t brought Rivera in for a four-out save.

  439. frits

    KAJ – what does squeezed mean?

  440. Miguel

    safe to say this is Viz’s last batter?

  441. Yankee Rican in FL

    Are they squeezing Viz as much as it appears on Gameday?

  442. Kevin

    Allow me to hit the panic button that summons Mo.

  443. KAJ

    HOOK ! where is the freakin HOOK ??????????????????

  444. E-ROC

    Rivera, please…

  445. Miguel

    BOOOOO

  446. Adam

    SJ,

    He let a hard hit and it happened to go to A-Rod. He did his job, but he certainly didn’t look good doing it. And considering most pitchers in baseball can’t control their BABIP, I wouldn’t count on him to do it again.

  447. Khoa

    God thats funny Captain Obvious

  448. nettles

    Ugh.

  449. SJ44

    Ugh. The worst bullpen in baseball in the 7th and 8th innings rears its ugly head again.

    Two more baserunners on without the benefit of a hit. Rough.

  450. Kill Schill-(ing)

    Why isn’t Mo up in the bullpen, joe?

  451. KAJ

    squeezed…strike zone is shrinking, pitcher NOT getting the calls on pitches that are borderline and/or nipping the plate….SQUEEZED !!!

  452. Boston Yankee

    oh god

  453. whozat

    “As of right now, Brower got the biggest out of this game. Why all the hate?”

    Because he got it by luck. A liner is NOT a ball in play that gives the team a good chance to get an out.

  454. KAJ

    dude…if the Viz gives up the lead…%%*&^%*&*&@!!!!!

  455. jonathan

    i cant take vizcaino

  456. Kevin

    Whew. Thank you, Viz. We got it to Mo. It’d be nice to tack on a run or 2 here, though.

  457. Don Mattingly's Mustache (in the 80s)

    Vizzy gettin’ bizzy

  458. KAJ

    huge sigh !!! yes !

  459. Yankee Rican in FL

    Thank you, Jeebus!!!

  460. sunny615

    if viz is available tomorrow – there’s something seriously wrong here

  461. frits

    phew…

  462. Boston Yankee

    i think thats why a lot of you guys dontlike torre his style is that he wants people to work out their probelms so he puts in guys who sturggle and leave them in while struggling so they can work it out themselves

  463. Chag

    Right on Viz!

  464. Khoa

    phew

  465. Jeff NJ

    ok he held. Now let’s get those insurance runs and take away Mo’s save opportunity.

  466. Eastside Dave

    Come on Viz…get out this pirate looking dude

  467. Adam

    Did Suzyn really just say that people thought in Spring Training that the strongest asset on this team was the bullpen? Did she just make that up off the top of her head? Because I can’t remember that ever being the case.

  468. kidjock

    Whew, nice of Viz to make it interesting.

  469. KAJ

    2 PLUS runs comin’ up RIGHT NOW,.,,,as ordered, Kevin !

  470. Captain Obvious

    Nobody beats the Viz!

  471. PAT M.....

    Great slider…..Wiggled off the hook…..

  472. Carmine

    Vizcaino just threw 30 pitches. He definitely should not be available tomorrow. I know a lot of people did not love him, but it’s close games like these that make me miss Scott Proctor, at least effective Scott Proctor. Our bullpen’s really thin.

  473. InsertNewSN

    It’s insane how easily people are swayed. Talks of “nobody beats the Viz!” turn to “BOOO! YOU’RE MEDIOCRE! I CANT STAND YOU!”

    He’s been the most consistent reliever we’ve had all season. He worked his way into and out of trouble.

    Seriously. Calm down.

  474. SJ44

    The ball Johnson hit to Arod wasn’t that hard hit. He hit it off his front foot.

    Geez, now we are gauging how hard balls are hit to determine effectiveness?

    Bottom line, he got the out. Hell, in Ramirez’s last outing, there wasn’t one ball that wasn’t scorched and people want him back for more.

    The guy did his job. That’s what we want from guys in the ‘pen.

    Who knows, if Joe didn’t panic and get him out of there after one hit, maybe he wouldn’t have had to burn Vizcaino for 35 pitches and 2 innings today.

  475. Vince Lara

    Bellyful of guts!!
    Torre must be in love with the Viz now.

  476. JRVJ

    Peter,

    I don’t know if this is the type of question you ask, but if you can, please ask JT if he will give tomorrow off to Vizcaino after throwing 34 pitches today (or if he’s going to be trading Vizcaino’s arm to the Dodgers so they can plug it on Proctor).

  477. Carmine

    “Did Suzyn really just say that people thought in Spring Training that the strongest asset on this team was the bullpen? Did she just make that up off the top of her head? Because I can’t remember that ever being the case.”

    Well, Roger Clemens is in George’s box.

  478. StandingO'Neill

    “i think thats why a lot of you guys dontlike torre his style is that he wants people to work out their probelms so he puts in guys who sturggle and leave them in while struggling so they can work it out themselves”

    Im sorry what? Since when has Viz been struggling? And if there is one knock on Torre it’s that he doesn’t leave guys in to clean up their own mess, that he pulls people too soon.

  479. Ben

    I assume Mo is available to close this out? The heart of the Jays batting order is up in the 9th. We need some insurance.

  480. Wouter

    OK, he got it done… Soft ground out nonetheless, seems that is what we all want (cfr Brower… I have the tendency to refer to him as “Bowers” though, courtesy of some movie ;o)).

    Of course, the walks were not good, but we’re still in the lead, so let’s finish this…

  481. Angel

    Some people might also call that what it takes to be a professional athlete though, Boston Yankee. Depends on perspective, I guess. You gotta work out of trouble sometimes. Maybe it just says he had enough faith in Vizcaino to get out of it – which he did … eventually, lol. *puts Tums away*

    I’d be scared to see him tomorrow though.

  482. whozat

    “t least effective Scott Proctor. Our bullpen’s really thin.”

    Well, it doesn’t help that they need another setup guy and bring up an experienced reliever that they feel can give them multiple innings.

    Also, in case you hadn’t noticed, effective Scott Proctor hasn’t shown himself in a while. And, after working 150+ innings in the last season and 2/3…he’s probably going to wear out soon.

  483. Stuart

    there pen was suppose to be a strenght going into this season.. everyone has underachieved.. so susan is not crazy on this one…

    Man I cannot believe Mariano was not warming up!!!!!

    over 30 pitches for the VIz today..

  484. Miguel

    Well I like Viz and I still think he alone makes the RJ trade a great one, but he would look better as a really good 7th inning guy rather than an OK 8th inning guy. Granted he’s the only guy on the team right now who you can even utter the terms OK and 8th inning in the same sentence, so if he has to do that so be it, but I’m hoping for a miracle from Scranton.

  485. Boston Yankee

    struggling… ie farns or myers or bruney or henn. and it looks like he just left in viz to me

  486. SJ44

    Scott Proctor isn’t the answer. His Post-All Star Break numbers were awful.

    The solution is in Scranton (Chamberlain), they just have to get him up here quicker.

  487. Kevin

    Insert,

    I still trust Viz completely. He’s been outstanding. Everyone has rough games, but he and Mo have had very few since May. Nobody Beats him.

    Carmine,

    OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS! OF ALL THE THRILLING THINGS I’VE EVER SEEN!

  488. Carmine

    Yeah, I meant like last season/early this season for effective Proctor.

  489. Angel

    A lot of people did say that Carmine. In the first month of the season, the bullpen WAS good. But by necessity of the starting pitching troubles, they were also overused.

  490. Boston Yankee

    ‘whozat August 6th, 2007 at 4:15 pm

    “t least effective Scott Proctor. Our bullpen’s really thin.�

    Well, it doesn’t help that they need another setup guy and bring up an experienced reliever that they feel can give them multiple innings.

    Also, in case you hadn’t noticed, effective Scott Proctor hasn’t shown himself in a while. And, after working 150+ innings in the last season and 2/3…he’s probably going to wear out soon.’

    proctor had two perfect innings against the diamondbacks last night and hasbeen lights out so far for them

  491. Chris in MI

    Remember that walk-off by Wells off Mo?

  492. whozat

    “Geez, now we are gauging how hard balls are hit to determine effectiveness?”

    YES!!!! That’s EXACTLY how you gauge effectiveness. The batters will tell you. It doesn’t _really_ matter how hard a guy throws or what his pedigree is…if no one’s taking good swings on him, you have an effective pitcher. If people are hitting balls hard off him, you don’t.

  493. Jeff NJ

    ok now let’s see if we can add to one of those “wins in one run games”. If not, then it’s on Mo.

  494. Miguel

    “proctor had two perfect innings against the diamondbacks last night and hasbeen lights out so far for them”

    Ah, to pitch in the NL.

  495. SJ44

    Now its time to get the job done. One run lead, Mo on the mound, in the 9th.

    If you want to make the playoffs, and be successful in them, these are the games you have to win.

    Let’s go Mo! This would be a GREAT start to the roadtrip.

  496. Sherard

    My original point was based on exactly what has happened – three innings to be split between Viz and Mo. Certainly some reliever somewhere should be able to go two innings on occasion without giving up a run, but now Vizcaino is unavailable for AT LEAST one day, and if not, then his effectiveness will suffer. All because Torre wouldn’t allow Brower more than one baserunner.

    One more. He gives up another hit and I can agree with taking him out, but at least give him one more hitter.

  497. Boston Yankee

    yea angel thats why i like torre most of the time he lets them do their job they know how. sometimes his moves make me wonder though. but tis only the bullpen other than that i cant find fault

  498. Miguel

    “YES!!!! That’s EXACTLY how you gauge effectiveness.”

    LOL. I can’t believe you had to say that.

  499. Khoa

    Speaking of callups, I wonder if J Brent Cox will be of any service late next year. The dude was a stud at the Univ of Texas.

  500. Chag

    Bottom of 9th, 2nd-4th batters, get it done Mo.

  501. frits

    We GOTTA close this mo-fo out!

  502. Carmine

    You know, I saw someone picking apart Gagne’s performance the other night where he gave up 3 hits and a run to the Mariners before working out of it and someone on a blog(I think this one) commented that at least Gagne was able to work out of it. And that’s what separates the Red Sox bullpen from everyone in ours except Mo in that Rivera seems always to have to come in to get the big out. And I realized how true that was, so it was nice to see Vizcaino work himself out of trouble just there.

  503. BX 12 Fordham Road

    Now that they are done playing the summer tee ball league this is back to MLB baseball….close games that good teams win

  504. Boston Yankee

    miguel they arent equal but in any mlb game two perfect innings for a reliever cant be lauged at even if its against the marlins

  505. Cumberberg

    Okay, so this is one of those fabled one-run games we keep talking about… No one I’d rather have on the mound right now than Mo.

  506. Providence

    With all his early struggles, how ’bout the fact that Mariano has still walked only 5 all year? Remarkable.

  507. Mr. Vegas

    Going into the bottom of the 9th, the Yankees have a 79% chance of winning according to fan graphs.

  508. whozat

    “One more. He gives up another hit and I can agree with taking him out, but at least give him one more hitter.”

    He came in and gave up two well-hit balls. That doesn’t make me want to leave him in for another batter.

  509. saucy

    take that, rios!

  510. frits

    K!

  511. Mr. Vegas

    One out: now it’s 88%.

  512. Khoa

    Really??? nice stat Providence. had no idea.

  513. sunny615

    somebody ought to figure out how to clone Rivera

  514. PAT M.....

    SJ, Tomorrow is not soon enough for Young Master Chamberlain

  515. Miguel

    BX 12, the Yankees have won 6 of their last 7 series against teams with winning records. For the last 2 months they’ve been beating everybiody with the exception of the Orioles and that disastrous trip to Colorado and SF.

  516. KAJ

    predicted post….only beat them by one run…Yankees should have pummelled them…coming from the same idiots that post…can’t win one run games, that’s why Yankees won’t make the playoffs….NICE GAME TODAY, ya MAROONS !

  517. PBL

    yeah, now that brower has given up a hit it will probably be another week before torre is willing to put him a game.

  518. Providence

    Is Gameday always a few seconds ahead of the MLB.com live feed? Annoying.

  519. Jeff NJ

    k2

  520. saucy

    take that, wells!

  521. Kevin

    2 down for Sandman! He’s dealing right now, I like it.

  522. Sherard

    Mo with GAS today. Whoa nellie.

  523. Khoa

    K!

  524. Mr. Vegas

    95%, baby!

  525. frits

    that’s 2!

  526. BX 12 Fordham Road

    Miggy-

    All I am saying is that the schedule gets tough and they need to win these types of games now….

  527. myrtlebeachfan

    jesus! look at that swing by Thomas, haha. looked foolish

  528. PAT M.....

    Mo looks unhittable in the daylight….

  529. CB

    Hopefully they’ll pull this off.

    Great job by Viz to work out of trouble. Unfortunately, he may be tiring again. Seemed like his command was very shaky which it hasn’t been for a few months now.

    The work may be getting to him (along with Torre’s use).

    Unfortunately this isn’t the best situation for Joba to step into. It’s a recipe for him being overworked – Farns, Bruney are right now just not usable and Villone is limited as is Karstens.

  530. dontfirecash

    Terrible call!

  531. Miguel

    Absolutely dominant=2 days, 2 saves, 2.1 innings, 27 pitches total.

  532. Paolo

    Three Ks!!! Thanks, Mo…

  533. jason22

    Wow… that 2-2 pitch was a perfect pitch

  534. KAJ

    this is baloney…even squeezin Mo ?

  535. frits

    omg…struck out the side!

  536. Captain Obvious

    Boom goes the Dynamite!!!

    Good game. Smell ya’ll later!

  537. Chag

    Yankees WIN!

  538. saucy

    take that, Thomas!

  539. sunny615

    i say again: somebody ought to figure out how to clone Rivera

  540. YanksFanLV

    We are so spoiled by Rivera. Love it!

  541. Mike

    Toronto got Mo’d. 3 Ks.

  542. E-ROC

    Looks like we won a one-run game!!!

  543. Adam

    Good win.

  544. KAJ

    OK that makes up for it….THEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Yankees Win….Super Sweet…Great game, ALL !

  545. nettles

    Three strikeout save! Vintage Mo! Whoo Hoo!

  546. Boston Yankee

    k the side. GO YANKEEES

  547. dontfirecash

    Doesn’t matter! Yanks Win! WOHOOOOOOO!!!

  548. PAT M.....

    THOMAS GOT A BREAK ON THE 2-2 PITCH, THAT WAS A K….

  549. EY

    Great job by Mo.
    So is this one of those one-run games that Boston trolls keep bragging about?

  550. Sherard

    Yup, I thought so. Ump squeezed Mo bigtime on the 2-2 pitch that WAS a strike, and then called Thomas out on a pitch on 3-2 that was probably NOT a strike.

  551. Kill Schill-(ing)

    Mariano was throwing gas today. My God, if he pitches like that the rest of the year. No one, NO ONE will touch him. He was throwing 96-97 mph all over the plate, inside, outside, up, down. WOW!!!!

  552. John Graves Simcoe

    Thank you all for celebrating my special day! Farewell and go in peace.

  553. Ray (resident red sox troll, lol)

    I give credit where credit is due. Gutsy win by the Yankees and Mo was impressive today.

  554. Khoa

    Wow. Mo was nuts.

  555. passer by

    Tied for WC. Now lets get the division.

  556. Carmine

    I hate when Kim Jones interviews Cano. She asks the stupidest questions as it is and Cano seems like he only has a minimal grasp on English, so I always feel bad for him. I just want to be like “Don’t worry, I don’t understand her either”

  557. Jeff NJ

    WE ARE TIED FOR THE WILD CARD LEAD!

  558. Kevin

    YES! K THE SIDE FOR MO! Seeing SV: Rivera in the box score never gets old.

    Great win today, Brower-complaining aside! It doesn’t seem like they’ve won too many of these types of games this year, but these are the types of games they will have to pull out if they want to keep this stretch drive going.

    Plus, it’s well past time to start evening out a few records, namely 20-22 in the division and 25-29 on the road (both including today).

    The Tigers are now the wild card leader by .001 over the good guys.

  559. J-Dawg

    There’s still nobody better than Mo!!!!

  560. CB

    Hard to believe people were wondering if Mo was “washed up” or “losing something” at the beginning of the season.

  561. Global Warming

    Pending a loss by Detroit, we could be in first alone at the WC.

    Good times.

  562. Miguel

    BX…all I’m saying is that they will.

    BTW, I used to ride the 22 every day when I lived in NYC.

  563. SJ44

    That’s a great win. Best win of the Post-AS Break run. Toronto is a good team, that plays great at home, and they really grinded this game out.

    These are the kind of games you have to win in order to make, and be a factor, in the playoffs.

    Solid work. Hopefully, they can pound Towers tomorrow (they usually hit him well) so Mo and Viz can get a break.

    Nice win and a great start to the roadtrip.

  564. Stuart

    Mariano was surgeon today.. WOW… He threw every pitch exactly where he wanted to..

    if papelbum dies this for about 10 more yrs. then talk to me about his accomplishments..

    Mariano was phenomenal today, wow……

    they did win a 1 run game today wipeee.. the problem is Viz is shot for Tuesday so who do they go to after clemens pitches 6???? Anyone have some big guy from husker nations phone #?????

    It is all about the pen.. this team with a middle of the road pen can go FAR…………..

  565. dontfirecash

    I’m a loss column guy so I still consider the Yanks a game back…hopefully Detroit loses tonight.

  566. Casual

    Classic Mo, located his pitches well and made Toronto look foolish. Not sure if i believe the radar gun thoug, haven’t seen numbers that high in a while

  567. Carmine

    I actually gained a lot of respect for Papelbon when he said he admires Mariano so much for being able to do what he does for so long. He respects Mo.

  568. passer by

    I am loss column guy too, dontfire cash. But I was speaking technically.

  569. Carmine

    I should’ve clarified a little more that he picked him as the best for being able to stick around so long. I respect that he understood how difficult longevity is as a closer.

  570. sunny615

    Chad Qualls (Astros) is on waivers… wonder if the Yanks can pick him up…

    another tidbit- if the Tigers lose today, the yanks are in the top spot for the WC overtaking the Tigers by 1/2 game as the Mariners stand pat today.

  571. Chris in MI

    good win today. But who will pitch the 4 2/3 innings after Clemens tomorrow.

  572. NJ

    wouldnt surprise me to see Joba tomorrow since Vizcaino and Rivera will most likely be unavailable.

  573. Vince Lara

    what a great win. If Detroit or Cleveland loses, we’re at least tied for the Wild Card lead. Amazing.

  574. KAJ

    Chris in MI
    August 6th, 2007 at 4:36 pm
    good win today. But who will pitch the 4 2/3 innings after Clemens tomorrow.

    Hardee har har har !! yer funny dude ! perty funny !

  575. Miguel

    I would think Rivera would be available if need be for a one inning save. Hopefuly we win by 7 runs or so but if not, he only threw 16 pitches today and 11 yesterday, use him if you’ve got a chance to win and then absolutely no way do you use him on Weds., and with thursday being an off day he gets two days to recover from three days in a row of light use. I would think he can stll handle that…could be wrong though.

  576. Big Johnson

    Thoughts on the game:

    Overall this was a tremendous victory for us. Perhaps one of the nicest in a long while. I know that seems strange to say given our record since the break, but we did things today I haven’t seen a lot of this year.

    Pitching: Petitte was very good overall, getting himself out of some precarious situations. But he made the big pitch when it counted. He had good control and 7 strikeouts. Would like to see fewer walks, but the results speak for themselves. Damon should have made the play early that would have saved two runs for petitte too.

    Relief: Absolutely terrific game for our pen. The best in recent memory. Brower comes in and gets the out (hit hard though) in a huge game defining spot. I am not used to this at all this season, and hope it is a harbinger of things to come. Viz made it interesting with the solo shot, but was overall effective. Lets just hope Torre doesn’t blow out his arm.

    Rivera: Yes he gets his own paragraph. The gun seemed to be lying as I cant remember him throwing this hard in a long time. He simply paralyzed their best hitters, striking out the side. He has never looked sharper. Does anyone else appreciate this rare treat of watching the greatest closer ever the way I do?

    Torre: Made a huge managerial statement today by using Brower when he did. Getting that kind of success in a first outing in the bigz this year may prove to be huge down the run. I also believe he appropriately managed the pen, although I was thinking about the 4 out save. Finally, Farnsworthless was not given the opportunity to sabotage this game. I don’t even think he warmed in the pen at any point. Perhaps Joe really has finally given up on that dud.

    Bottom line: This game told me a lot more about what we are capable of doing than the preceding blowouts. We won on Good pitching, great relief, and solid situational hitting. The managerial blunders were not a factor.

    Joba should be coming up tomorrow from what I can tell, helping us mold the pen back into respectability.

    BJ

  577. Stuart

    and they play a night game Tuesday so Mo will be fine.. Viz is anothe story…

    We need Joba now not next week……….

    that was a real win not a slow pitch softball win. the Yanks have won very few of these games this yr…

  578. PAT M.....

    Today’s win illustrates how far this team has come since the Twins series in early June….They were losing these kind of games….I believe that the Twins & Angel series prior to the break was the turning point of the season…..

  579. Matthew

    Ladies and Gents, boys and girls, we are facing the immortal Josh Towers tomorrow. We shouldn’t have to worry who pitches the 8th and 9th, although Torre did use Viz in that tight 16-7 ballgame the other day, so what do I know.

  580. Paolo

    Maybe we should let Wang pitch tomorrow to rest the pen…

  581. JRVJ

    Melky, who was probably the player of the day for the Yanks, is slowly but surely closing in on .800 OPS, which is not bad at all.

    For tomorrow, I’d sit Posada, and then Jeter on Wednesday (since Jeter is very banged up and can use the rest).

    On the pitching front, somehow I think that Jim Brower is going back to the Keystone state, and the Yanks will be getting a rotund, partially Native-American pitcher in his place (and no, I don’t Chris Britton is Native American).

  582. Yank in VA

    Jaba has to be in uniform tomorrow. The pen is still shaky–even with the great Mariano Rivera

  583. JRVJ

    BJ,

    I very much get the same thrill. It’s been a joy to watch Mariano these last 10+ years.

  584. ND Yank

    Clemens is good for at least 6 tomorrow. Went 8 twice so far this year. No worries.

  585. Mike S.

    What a job by Mo. Rios, Wells and the Big Hurt.
    Mo gave up 9 runs from April 15-April 27. Since then, six.

    Melky 3 hits and a .298 average now.

  586. Drive 4-5

    Who goes when Joba comes up? Karstens? If Karstens can’t pitch back to back days he’s be better off in Scranton.

  587. SJ44

    They aren’t sitting anybody tomorrow. Not with Halliday pitching on Wednesday.

    Its about winning series, not resting people.

    Posada and Jeter will be fine.

    Everybody plays these next two games. They have a day off on Thursday to rest.

  588. Miguel

    only guy who should rest tomorrow is Viz

  589. DCJim

    The Yankees didn’t score 6 or more runs and still won the game. This is what I would call a great win on the road. Thank you Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera, Melky Cabrera and Robinson Cano.

  590. Rich Myers

    So SJ44 Did your guy “most important out in the game” Brower get the W? Oh? it was that chump AP who got no credit in your game summary for grinding it out for 5 and 2/3. But we all know it takes a man to do that, or admit he’s wrong.

  591. CB

    Great win but they just can’t keep expecting to get this out of Viz every time out if he has to pitch with this frequency. He’s going to lose his effectiveness.

    They need to make at least two moves, perhaps three in the bullpen. Farns, Bruney and Brower are just not arms that can be trusted. There’s a reason why Brower has been on a string of teams over his career.

    They need to go for the jugular tomorrow to win the series before facing Halliday. Unfortunately, Viz won’t be available.

    Verlander faces Tampa tonight so that’s one the tigers should take.

    Tomorrow will be a big game again.

  592. Larry

    Ya, talk about some production from the youngsters. Cano and Melky looked sharp.

    Then you get the reliable golden oldies of Andy and Mo.

    Viz should not be overused. Then again, its a tough decision when every game matters. If only Krazy Kyle wasn’t so Krazy.

  593. gargoyle

    Isn’t the real problem here the fact that they have exactly one starter capable of going more than 6 innings?

    Every bullpen in the league will suck if asked to get at least 9 outs every night.

    Why is the Red Sox bullpen so good? Because they’ve thrown less innings than any other ‘pen.

  594. *Hughes Your Daddy?*

    Someone above mentioned the turning point in the season being the two series prior to the all-star break…i think i’d go back further and say it was A-Rod taking Papelbon deep in the 9th in Boston on a Sunday night to essentially win that game for us that really did it. Granted they did have that tough little stretch in Colorado and San Fran, but I think that’s where it started.

  595. SJ44

    Pettitte got the win. He got some big outs and didn’t pitch well today. Yes, he grinded it out. I am sure he will say he didn’t pitch well today so, what’s your point?

    You don’t think Brower didn’t get a big out today? He got the biggest out of the game in his first game as a Yankee.

    Lighten up, they won the game. There is nothing “wrong” about discussing baseball. Relax.

  596. Miguel

    Hughes, if it wasn’t HA!, it was that.

  597. hmmm

    Hughes is right, that was a huge game for them.

  598. Miguel

    I think the third out of the 8th was the biggest out of the game

  599. Larry

    I think Mariano Rivera hosing Frank Thomas and eating alive the heart of the Toronto lineup in the 9th was the biggest out :)

  600. Larry

    On a serious note, I agree with Miguel. That out by Viz with 2 on and 2 out was big time. Set the table for the monster otherwise known as the Sandman.

  601. Miguel

    The biggest out of the game was Mo coming OUT of the bullpen (ducks the tomatoes)

  602. Chris in MI

    on Tyler Kepner’s blog:

    On Friday, it was Jon Bon Jovi at Yankee Stadium. Today, David Beckham. Tomorrow, who knows? Kyle Farnsworth once told me about meeting Shania Twain when he played for the Cubs. She was so small, he said, he picked her up sideways and held her in front of him, like a lunch tray or something. How’s that for imagery?

  603. Kj

    Viz was the reason they won this game. He was left out to dry in the 8th after he had already done a great job in the 7th. Im not knocking Torre for leaving him in to pitch the 8th in was the right move it was the only move. But that said he got 6 HUGE outs he battled and showed me alot. Bottom line is he got the ball to Mo with the lead.

  604. hmmm

    “proctor had two perfect innings against the diamondbacks last night and hasbeen lights out so far for them”

    and Eric Gagne has given up 5 hits and 2 runs in his first 2 innings with the Red Sox.

    as long as we’re making judgements based on 2 inning stretches…

  605. KAJ

    Miguel …………LOL !

  606. Big Johnson

    “Pettitte got the win. He got some big outs and didn’t pitch well today. Yes, he grinded it out. I am sure he will say he didn’t pitch well today so, what’s your point?”

    Sj, I know you are responding to another poster, but I am gonna take you task on this statement.

    All pitchers who give up any runs will tell you they did poorly. You don’t use this kind of statement as a meter of success. The stats help, but watching them pitch is the most telling.

    The other night you said Hughes pitched well giving up 6 runs yet petitte wasn’t good giving up 3 (2 of which should not have scored with a good catch by Damon)?? BTW, I was one of few who agreed he was good but ran out of gas.

    Petitte worked in and out of trouble admittedly. He was good today my friend. Cleaning up after yourself defines a good game. His location was solid from where I sat, recording a 7 strikeouts.

    This was almost as good an outing as any this season. Not stellar or lights out, but effective and solid. I would take this kind of performance from any of our pitchers any day of the week.

    BJ

  607. Big Johnson

    “So SJ44 Did your guy “most important out in the gameâ€? Brower get the W? Oh? it was that chump AP who got no credit in your game summary for grinding it out for 5 and 2/3. But we all know it takes a man to do that, or admit he’s wrong.”

    SJ happens to have extremely high standards for his starters. I cant really blame him for that. I do think Andy pitched very well today and would take this kind of outing any day of the week from anyone.

    But I also think the Moose has been largely effective too.

    You can succeed in the playoffs with this kind of effort, something I have seen very little of lately.

    A nice catch by Damon would have kept this game to one run.

    BJ

  608. whozat

    “His location was solid from where I sat, recording a 7 strikeouts.”

    Then you weren’t watching. His strike:ball ratio was near 1:1. That’s not good, and is a sign of trouble. Did he grind out a decent outing? Yeah. But 5 2/3, 3 ER and 110 pitches is less than I expect from Andy. If it was an isolated incident, I wouldn’t be worrying. But he’s been doing this same dance for two months now. Sometimes the hitters help him out and he squeezes six or seven innings out of his 110 pitches. But he was better than that in the early going, and they need him to figure out how to be that guy again if they want to get deep into the postseason. Also, they need a more reliable relief corps, and I don’t think that Brower really helps them there.

  609. mel

    Sooo…what’s new? Had to leave after Andy worked out of the jam in the 5th. I come back, the Yankees won, Andy got the win, there’s 600+ posts, and people are still arguing. Haven’t read through the posts, but it’ll be interesting to see what briggs had to say as the game went on. Only a Detroit loss away from the Wild Card lead. Go Tampa Bay!

  610. Rockin' Rich

    Aha! so it was Canadian Simchas Torah!

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New York Yankees baseball fans cheer during a ticker-tape parade along Broadway celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York.   (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams) New York Yankees baseball player  Mariano Rivera, bottom, waves during a ticker-tape parade along Broadway celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York.  (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) Floats carrying the New York Yankees baseball team make their way along Broadway during a ticker-tape parade celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York.  (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) New York Yankees baseball players Alex Rodriguez, second from left,  Francisco Cervelli, third from right, and entertainer Jay-Z, left, celebrate on a float  during a ticker-tape parade along Broadway celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York.   (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams) New York Yankees baseball player Alex Rodriguez, right, and entertainer Jay-Z celebrate on a float during a ticker-tape parade along Broadway celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York.   (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams) Floats carrying the New York Yankees baseball team make their way along Broadway during a ticker-tape parade celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York.  (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow) New York Yankees' Hideki Matsui, the World Series MVP, celebrates from a float during a ticker-tape parade along Broadway celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York. (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams) Baseball fans cheers as the New York Yankees were honored along Broadway in New York on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009, with a ticker-tape parade celebrating their 27th World Series championship. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
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Thoughts and discussion on the 27-time World Champion Yankees.

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About the authors
Chad JenningsChad Jennings joined the The Journal News in October 2009, having spent the better part of seven years covering baseball in Scranton, PA. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri and an award-winning beat reporter and features writer. E-mail me at cjennings@lohud.com
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Sam BordenSam Borden is an award-winning journalist who joined The Journal News and LoHud.com in January 2008. He covered the Yankees for the New York Daily News from 2004-06, and has also worked as a columnist for the Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville. E-mail me at sborden@lohud.com
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Sam BordenJosh Thomson has done some of everything since joining The Journal News in March 2003. He began working for the Gannett weeklies during the winter of 2002 as a freelance writer. He joined the daily staff soon after and has since covered various high school and pro sports. E-mail me at jthomson@lohud.com
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