Game 5: Rays at Yankees
-
- April
- 5
YANKEES
Damon CF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Giambi DH
Cano 2B
Posada C
Matsui LF
Duncan 1B
Pettitte LHP
RAYS
Iwamura 2B
Crawford LF
Pena 1B
Upton CF
Gomes RF
Aybar 3B
Bartlett SS
Riggans C
Johnson DH
Jackson RHP
Notes: Joe Girardi (illness) will be a game-time decision but it looks like he will be on the bench. … The Yankees have yet to drop a player to make room for Pettitte but it appears Jon Albaladejo will be optioned out. … Dionner Navarro cut his hand on the dugout railing yesterday and needed 12 stitches. He’s on the 15-day DL and Mike DiFelice is with the Rays as the backup to Riggan.
Yankees vs. Jackson: Abreu 0-8, Cano 2-8, Jeter 4-8, Matsui 3-9, Cabrera 3-7, Damon 0-7, Rodriguez 2-7, Betemit 0-4, Ensberg 0-2, Giambi 0-3, Molina 0-3, Posada 1-2, Duncan 0-2.
UPDATE, 12:51 p.m.: Joe Girardi is too sick to manage again, so Rob Thomson will be the main voice on the bench. Girardi is still in his office, we’re told. If he’s that sick, shouldn’t be home in bed?
Meanwhile, the Yankees have optioned Jonathan Albaladejo to Triple-A Scranton.
UPDATE, 1:00 p.m.: There’s a little wind but it’s a bee-yoo-tiful day here at the ballpark. Sunny, not a cloud in the sky, green grass, the whole deal.
UPDATE, 1:06 p.m.: There were loud cheers for Andy Pettitte as he jogged out to the mound. He’s limited to around 80 pitches and the bullpen got knocked around a little bit today, so the Yankees could have some issues unless he goes five or six innings.
And we’re undway. Enjoy the game.
UPDATE, 1:11 p.m.: If you’re interested, and I can’t see how, famed Daily News writer Anthony McCarron will be doing a little live-blogging himself over at Blogging The Bombers. A-Mac is filling in for that lazy Mark Feinsand, who is supposedly spending the weekend with his wife and young son.
11 pitches for Pettitte in the first inning. … Meanwhile, Carlos Pena has nine HRs in his 13 games against the Yankees. … That is the infamous Elliot Johnson DH’ing for Tampa Bay.
UPDATE, 1:24 p.m.: A-Rod just hit a rocket to the base of the wall in left and Damon scored from first standing up. As Dom Amore of the Courant just noted, with Damon and Abreu running well, A-Rod could drive in 10 extra runs.
UPDATE, 1:32 p.m.: Check it out, the famed Yankees Chick was the subject of a piece in the Buffalo News. The YC often comments here. Why the Buffalo News would be interested in the California cutie, we have no idea. But good for her.
Meanwhile, Eliot Johnson came to the plate and nobody booed. Bad job.
UPDATE, 1:57 p.m.: The Yankees are up 1-0 and are playing terribly. They loaded the bases with one out in the second and didn’t score and Duncan just threw a ball into left field. Tampa has the bases loaded and no outs in the third inning and Pettitte already has thrown 35 pitches.
UPDATE, 2:00 p.m.: Wow, did James Hoye just blow a call at second on a force play. Break for the Yankees as they get an out while a run scores.
UPDATE, 2:03 p.m.: You can’t let the runner go to third on that sacrifice fly. That’s terrible baseball by the Yankees. This game has not exactly been a clinic on fundamentals.
UPDATE, 2:19 p.m.: The Yankees are 1 for 5 with runners in scoring position today and 3 for 28 this season.
UPDATE, 2:44 p.m.: This will likely be the last inning for Pettitte, and that assumes he gets through it. He’s at 76 pitches.
UPDATE, 2:46 p.m.: Well, Andy Pettitte was doing just fine until Jonny Gomes took him deep. Now it’s 5-1 and with the Yankees lifeless on offense again, they’re in trouble.
UPDATE, 2:50 p.m.: It’s only 4.5 games but the Yankees have been outscored 27-13 so far this season.
Pettitte: 5 8 5 3 2 3. One home run, two hit batters. I have him for 86 pitches, 55 strikes. He wasn’t that bad but the 2-2 pitch to Gomes cost him a good outing.
UPDATE, 2:55 p.m.: Betemit hitting for Giambi. So apparently The Big G is injured. That didn’t take long. No word yet on what ails him but my guess would be something to do with his legs.
This is pretty grim.
UPDATE, 3:18 p.m.: Six up and six down by Brian Bruney, four by K’s. But Jackson has retired nine straight. Still 5-1.
UPDATE, 3:25 p.m.: Giambi has a sore left groin and is listed as day-to-day. Meanwhile, the Yankees won’t have Shelley Duncan on Sunday and Monday as he sits out his suspension. So that leaves them when either Betmit or Ensberg at first and a two-player bench.
But the important thing is that Duncan defended the honor of Francisco Cervelli in a spring training game.
UPDATE, 3:29 p.m.: Willy Aybar, whoever he is, just crushed one off Ross Ohlendorf. 6-1 Rays and the Yankees haven’t had a hit since the fourth inning.
UPDATE, 3:42 p.m.: The patient is alive. Three singles have loaded the bases with no outs against Trevor Miller in the 8th.
UPDATE, 4:04 p.m.: Bottom of the ninth, down 6-3. The Yankees will be facing Troy Percival.
Back later with some updates from the clubhouse.
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Yankees vs. Jackson: Abreu 0-8, Cano 2-8, Jeter 4-8, Matsui 3-9, Cabrera 3-7, Damon 0-7, Rodriguez 2-7, Betemit 0-4, Ensberg 0-2, Giambi 0-3, Molina 0-3, Posada 1-2, Duncan 0-2.
WTF. this makes absolutely no sense. This is like a team having stats like this against Farnswacker. How could a guy that can’t locate the plate or consistently throw strikes do this well against the Yankees? It’s mind-blowing. Please use the Danny Cabrera method with Jackson and let him implode. Robby, Melky and JD. please don’t swing at the first pitch today.
Good luck to Pettitte today. Good to see you make your season debut.
-fn
It should’ve been Duncan in LF, Giambi at 1B and Matsui as DH. Matsui is just brutal in outfield.
Cano will come around…it’s only been four games.
Matsui has had better luck with him, shouldn’t he be higher up in the lineup?
Maybe Duncan should have sat out his suspension first.
We are missing Melky in CF and based on the above stats, it might have been nice to have his bat today.
Damn straight Cano will come around, too many nervous nellies here. The Yanks will be fine.
Whether Duncan sat first or Melky is irrelevant…he’s miss 2 games regardless.
It will be interesting to see what kind of reaction that Jonny Gomes receives today. Say what you will about Shelley’s slide, but Gomes’s decision to charge toward Shelley didn’t exactly help matters. And it’s a stretch to say that the Yankees struggle against Jackson. No Yankee has even had 10 career at-bats against him. Those stats are a very small sample size, probably too small. Let’s just see what happens. Hopefully they can get it going today.
We always have problems with pitchers we haven’t seen much. IIRC, Jackson’s hamstrung us and he’s bombed against us. Hoping for the latter.
Andy’s record in games after losses is great. I don’t know what it is, but I’m sure Kay will mention it! That record is part of the reason Andy was a number 2 in the postseason. Either to go up 2-0 or to pull even in a series.
Let’s go Yankees, let’s go. clap-clap…
Uh oh is that a lawsuit!? Thanks to the railing, we likely lost the game. The guy who came in place of Navarro gave the big blow.
One thing I have to say in LaTroy Hawkins favor—and I mean this all seriousness: he genuinely impressed me last night off the mound, if not on the mound.
He conducted his post-game interview with self-deprecating humor, graciousness, remarkable candor and affability.
It’s really impossible not to like the guy. Let’s hope he follows Viz’s trajectory last year, who also was dreadful early in the season.
BTW, is it my imagination or has Farnsworth’s velocity plummeted. Even his four-seam fastball registered in the low 90’s. Isn’t he supposed to throw that pitch in the high 90’s to be effective?
I like Duncan in there tonight and i hope they show a close up if Gomes gets on first. Who is the rays first base coach…think he could break up big country and thuggy?
Morning all
Kill Schill—I’m with you, Hawkins seems to be an utterly amazing guy. If only he could pitch as his personality deserves!
Let’s hope the Yanks’ get that offensive burst they really need. And I can’t wait to see the reaction for Andy.
Hey gang!
I guess you gotta post here for quite a while before you’re recognized as an official “voice of reason”. Allow me to introduce myself. I’m the one who said from the first day that the Yankees would take it all. I’m the one who continues to say that I don’t break a sweat, and I don’t. I’m the one who can find any positive there is to find and always remembers that the Yankees are a powerhouse so will find their way. I would like to nominate myself as one of the forum “voices of reason” so that when people show up and said they’ve read the posts and can’t believe all the SKY IS FALLING IN posts, they’ll start to say “I read through the posts and was thankful to see _, , trisha, _, and blah blah blah were there as voices of reason.
Thank you, thank you!
Kill-Schill, great post. If the ingrate Yankee fans give Hawkins a chance, maybe he’ll come through. Cripes, baseball greats such as Arod and (gulp, but he was effective even if it was behind steroids) Clemens stunk up the joint for a while when they came to the Yankees. Imagine someone named LaTroy Hawkins who was booed before he even threw a pitch?
GROW UP Yankee fans. Or I hope someone you care about is treated as badly in life so you can see that everyone has someone who cares about them and hurts for people when they’re treated like crap.
The players try their best. Nobody makes the olympics every time out.
That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
Trisha,
Not enough content in your posts. It seems that its important for you to be an authority in here.
I realize you are a fan, and appreciate that and do enjoy your enthusiasm from time to time. But when I skim through the posts, I look for insight on what I don’t all ready know.
“BTW, is it my imagination or has Farnsworth’s velocity plummeted. Even his four-seam fastball registered in the low 90’s. Isn’t he supposed to throw that pitch in the high 90’s to be effective?”
I would imagine that Farnsworth isn’t %100 yet. He couldn’t work out at all for 3 months in January due to a staph infection in his leg. Eventually he should regain his fastball velocity.
Trisha (voice of reason) – It was wrong of the fans to boo Hawkins just for wearing the #21. He had a good reason for choosing to wear that number. It had nothing to do with O’Neill. You have to give the guy a chance.
And even the fans who boo ARod. He is one of the best players in baseball today. Fans should appreciate what they are witnessing.
“I like Duncan in there tonight and i hope they show a close up if Gomes gets on first. Who is the rays first base coach…think he could break up big country and thuggy?”
Break up what? They’ll exchange smiles and have a quick chat like all base runners do with the infielders.
DL Hawkins, promote Patterson now.
Nominating yourself as the voice of reason is like nominating yourself for Miss Congeniality.
Its an award others should give you not one you give yourself.
thank you, Trisha and k-shilling.
go, Hawkins.
Repost from late in the last thread:
Jesse April 5th, 2008 at 10:50 am
If Matsui can’t play an adequate left field here, why would the Giants or any other NL team want to pick him up. Seems like he would be better suited to an AL club (Oakland??) as a DH and an occasional left fielder.
New post:
I thought I would never say this but…if it’s all about winning, there is a certain former LF of the Giants who is looking for work and would make a killer addition to the lineup. That would give fans something to really boo about, of course till he crushed a few HR’s.
Bullpen has allowed 8 runs, all charged to Hawkins and Farnsworth. Let’s go Patterson and Melancon!
Hmmm that didn’t take long 2 games….....
TRADE FARNSWORTH
Why is Ross Ohlendorf better then Jon Albaladejo who pitched great yesterday.Jon Albaladejo is the new Chris Britton.He has better stuff then Ross and Bruney but they like to keep the good players in the minors.
i think Hawkins is useless not because of one horrible game, or because he’s wearing #21, but because he looks exactly as he did when he was on the Orioles in 2006 – straight fastball, not very overpowering. basically, i’d actually distrust Farnsworth less.
well, i hope he proves me wrong.
Jason – Re: Cano
“He gets himself in terrible counts all the time… and he’ll just hack at the 1st pitch and be like “Oh well no big dealâ€. Anybody feel the same way about his approach?
Here are Cano’s ‘Hacking’ stats, swinging on first pitches.
3YRs: .381 .380 .587 0.967
2007: .423 .420 .730 1.150
So, basically, when Cano swings at the first pitch, he is ARod+
Whaddayathink Jason?
From NYT blog
Kennedy mentioned a start in the Hawaiian Winter League, where he pitched before the breakout 2007 season that vaulted him from Class A Tampa to the majors. In that game, he said, he gave up 8 earned runs in one and a third innings.
A few questions later, as the group interview was breaking up, Kennedy signaled that he wanted to get back to that previous bad game.
“By the way,†he said, which reporters will tell you is always followed by something interesting, “the next time I faced that team, after I gave up eight in an inning and a third in Hawaii? I faced them again and I only gave up two hits.â€
It was established before the season’s 1st pitch that the Yankees would not go 162-0 so ragging on Hawkins, Farnsworth, or any other Yankee that fail to perform up to perfection is pointless.
Being a game of peaks and valleys is clear indication that there will be other games seeing fans less than happy but when all is said and done the ultimate goal remains at championship number 27 in storied Yankee history.
Watching YESterdays I think it is way too early to have Joba on a show like that. He’s getting a lot of fame very early and fast. Almost too much imo for a guy who’s only pitched 26 innings in the majors.
Hopefully he remains humble and not let all of this go to his head.
Not to bring this up again, but did anyone complain about this?
http://cache.boston.com/images/bostondirtdogs//BDD_DM_oakland_4.1.08_wires.jpg
Duncan gets his debut. Good to see him!
Whoever said thos numbers against Jackson are bad, really? Most guys have fewer than 5 AB’s, and 4 of the guys hit him very well in limited AB’s.
This is the game where the offense goes craaaaaaaazy!
OMG! Why isnt this game on MLB Extra innings! I need an alternate way to watch! Help!
Oh, and hopefully Joe Girardi gets healthy!
To trade Farnsworth is one thing, who would take him is another…
Hope so! It is actually comfortable outside! Hope they will break out today. they will break out one of these days, and watch out!! I’d hate to be that pitcher!
Girardi out again today. Rob Thomson in the dugout.
Damn it must be killing him to miss games already!
Manimal-
Fox has exclusive rights for the afternoon games on Saturdays. It sux. Try MLB.TV
So is this game blacked out on mlb.tv?
If so, here’s a link for video: http://www2.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=9360&part=sports
Is that the real mel?
Not sure. I know it wasn’t last night.
Yankees haven’t officially announced the roster move, I wonder if they are thinking of doing something else?
It’s going to be a bumpy ride this seaon with all the kids pitching. We need Andy and Moose to right the ship after days like yesterday.
Hopefully Girardi is feeling better.
Let’s get a win today. Good luck to Andy.
Yes, Buddy! It’s me.
Who’s taking the 2 final spots in the West? Did you ever see anything so wild?
jennifer-
How do you like being commish in the fantasy league?
It’s a tough job, imagine if there were money involved.
mel-
It is pretty wild, keeps everyone on their toes. The Warriors may squeak in.
As long as FOX is scheduled to show a 3:55 game on Saturday afternoon (which is now every week this season), no game that starts between 1 and 7pm (eastern) can be shown on MLB EI.
Buddy- I’ve learned the hard way that cbssportline doesn’t actually have a commish. The rules are set up by cbs, so there are things that were automatically set up that no one likes. Like no dl spot, or you can’t change the teams daily.
BTW. I guess Buchholz won’t start the season in the minors. He’s on today against the Jays. Meanwhile, Colon’s in the minors. He needs to sign a major league contract soon or will be free agent per contract.
myp2p still has last nights game… wierd.
I could see Denver & Golden State beating out Dallas for the playoffs. Mark Cuban would not be a happy camper.
YEAH JOE!! GO HOME AND SLEEP!! No one will begrudge you!!
jennifer-
Since it was a free league, maybe the commish doesn’t have as many options as other pay leagues. It’s still fun though & I appreciate you setting it up.
Thanks
AH!!! Myp2p works! Thanks Mel!
Man, I feel bad for Joe Girardi. Tea really does help, and if he doesn’t like green tea he should try chamomille or peppermint.
Whats up with Flaherty’s hair?
Buddy,
All 3 teams scare the bejeezus out of me. Stupid Dirk played out of his mind last night. I can’t believe he has a sprained knee. I would love to see Dallas miss the playoffs. Just to see the crybaby go crazy. #2 payroll and miss the playoffs. The last time that happened? Red Sox ‘06.
OK so I guess the Saturday blackouts start when Fox starts their broadcasts.
Wow, it’s Saturday and MLB.tv didn’t black me out? That’s a first
Rocco, don’t know it is much darker, so either he’s dyed it or it was always bleached by the sun.
Hopefully some of the bats will come alive today in the nice weather.
My prediction for andy is 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 BB, 2 K.
Manimal,
Is it in English? Also, no blackouts today on mlb.tv.
I can’t believe I’m not blacked out on MLB.tv. Not complaining!
Its the YES feed through ESPN Hongkong(supposedly) even though the commercials sound Brittish or Australian.
In short, Im watching yes without Guisseppe’s stupid hair commercials.
The unthinkable will happen – The Rays sweep the Yankees in this series. Write that on your collective forehead.
there probably is a 2-5 second delay though.
Good to see Pettitte working quickly. 2 quick outs.
Andy looks GOOD so far.
Steph: I think they only black out games that are actually on Fox.
Watch for the pickoff. It’s not a Pettitte start without a pickoff.
Wow, nvm HUGE delay. 30-45 seconds since Crawford JUST Grounded out but its better than nothing.
Nah, most all of the games are blacked out for me on Saturdays because I’m in California. Only ones after 4:05 PM ET are available.
Time for the bats to wake up.
Nice job by Andy
I was voted Voice of Reason in the prestigious Bayonne, New Jersey “Voice of Reason” contest of 1981, so if anyone is going to be called the “Voice of Reason” here, of course it should be me. Or at least I should get paid a dollar for anyone else who uses the phrase, as I patented it in 1985, along with “three-peat” (which I later, to my regret, sold to Pat Riley while chatting with him at a Springsteen concert).
Carry on.
Good first inning for Andy, and that first one is always good to get out of the way. It’s an encouraging sign that he is getting some ground balls.
Nah, most of the time, Yankee games are blacked out on Saturdays for me beacuse I’m in California.
Manimal,
No Guiseppe? I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not.
Nice inning for Andy.
Geez, none of my comments are going through.
I don’t think I ever get to see Yankee games on Saturdays because of my area code. Since I’m in California, I usually get blacked out unless the game is after 4:05 PM ET.
Richard Gere was the original forehead writer in American Gigolo. Do you look anything like him?
Gameday is faster than my feed LOL.
Atleast Johnny didnt swing at the first pitch
Wow that was a filthy pitch to K Jeter.
Ill screen capture if you want.
“Here are Cano’s ‘Hacking’ stats, swinging on first pitches.
3YRs: .381 .380 .587 0.967
2007: .423 .420 .730 1.150
So, basically, when Cano swings at the first pitch, he is ARod+”
this is deceptive because the stats on an 0-0 count mean what he hits when he puts the ball in play on that first pitch. if he swings at a pitch way out of the zone and fouls it off or misses it,he now goes to an 0-1 count. he still hits well when he puts the ball in play in that count. but if he swings again at say another out of zone pitch and doesn’t put the ball in play and now has an 0-2 count, then like most hitters he’s not so good- .543 ops
i think it’s safe to say when he’s not behind in the count he’s a better hitter. but if a first pitch is a strike, why not swing. if it’s a ball probably no a good idea. it’s just not as simple as what he hits when he puts the ball in play in a certain count.
yeah jeter got owned.
‘atta boy A-Rod. 1-0.
A-Rod absolutely smoked that! 1-0 Yankees
Poor Navarro.
Yay Alex.
1-0 Yanks
THANKYOU alex. Jumpstart this offense PLEASE.
Way to go Alex.
I hope someone told him he needs to think linedrives instead of HR’s again because last year that helped him alot.
Kevin Long is a great hitting coach.
At least they got a run across.
Haha, that sucks for Gomes, but it’s great for the Yankees!
hahaha nvm, some commercials are in asian…
HA HA love it. Gomes you fool!!
Gomes just owned himself!
For some reason I’m blacked out on mlb.tv—is anyone else? Any suggestions for how to get in (that will work on a Mac)?
I’m surprised to be able to see the game on mlb.tv. I couldn’t do that the previous 2 years due to saturday games being blacked out. Did that change?
I applaud those fans for not touching it. They flinched away from it!
Not nice Jennifer, not nice at all
Steve,
I may not be correct because I heard it from someone else, but apparently because of FOX’s rights to Saturday afternoon games, games from noon to 6 are all blacked out.
That’s odd. I’m in California, so I figured I’d be blacked out on MLB.tv, but I’m not. I’m using a Mac as well…what system are you using? Safari?
Jon Albaladejo off the roster….after last night ?...what a BONEHEAD move !
You ever wonder if the way you view things are the same as people from around the country? No? Well, too bad. I do, so I’ll pretend some of you do too.
I live in the Washington DC area. I don’t hate the Yankees, but I’m not a die hard far either. I am a huge Scott Patterson fan and former INDY teamate. I’ll now fill you in on some views that me and most former teamates and friends agree on. Might not be correct, and might disagree with what the NY bubble think, but here goes.
Most people don’t actually hate Jeter, deep down people appreciate how he plays the game. But most also agree he is an overrated defender, though people are starting to see this.
Paul O’Neill is loved in NY which puzzles us. Most people I have come across saw a chronic whiner who threw little kid tantrums.
We ARE jealous that our team doesn’t have owners like George.
We always wonder why there is always talk about the Yankees not cutting a guy because of his big contract and we always ask the same thing…if you pay 200 million to win it all, why think twice about eating 5 million to replace a guy not performing (Hawkins, Farnsworth, etc). We always hear winning is the only consideration, right?
We ALL wanted Arod to leave NY. Outside NY and Boston, Arod is seen as the best hitter in the game, better than Jeter as a SS and a player anyone would love to have. To watch Yankee fans MURDER him for who-knows-why over the past few years really made me feel like you didn’t deserve him. I think this sentiment has changed for sure, which is good to see. A credit goes to Arod for taking it all and WANTING to stay. He should get a pass from fans for LIFE.
Hughes is VERY good. Command and stuff…very impressive.
IPK is VERY overrated (so far). We keep hearing about his incredible command. 13 bbs’ in 21 MLB innings and 50 walks in 149 innings in his minor league career with roughly the same rate in college does NOT point to a guy with great command. If you want to compare him to Mussina, check Mussinas walk totals early in his career as well as overall. Not even close. Lack of stuff plus fringe average command equals lots more outings like the one the other night. Great changeup, though.
Why is Jeter rated so highly as a contact hitter? Triple digits in k’s can NEVER equal a great contact hitter.
Cano is going to be a STUD.
What the HELL is Joba doing in the bullpen if he isn’t closing…especially when your starting 5 aren’t that great.
Are you really his ex-Indy teammate?
Alby was cut because of the number of pitches that he threw last night.
come on Andy
I hate this. Challenge the #9 hitter, dont go 3-1. Challenge him.
Not exactly sure why you took all that time to say something no one would care about?
In case you didn’t know Mo is our closer, Joba is going to be a future ace. He is only in the pen to help get his innings totals up.
I’m trying both Firefox and Safari but can’t get in
is anyone else having a problem with the blog timing out?
4seamed, that’s a great insight. Mind letting us know which team you were with?
Joba will be in the rotation eventually but right now we really need the help in the bullpen, especially the back end.
Hm…are you in the Tri-State area?
It is being awkwardly slow but not timing out.
Thanks 4 seamed.
Getting an outside perspective every once in awhile is nice.
” Alby was cut because of the number of pitches that he threw last night.”............please explain, thanks…
Same with me. The Blog has been slow, but not timing out
Steph, No, I’m not in the tri-state area. I’m in Massachusetts (unfortunately!). I wonder
if it’s a Red Sox thing, which REALLY would piss me off.
First inning: Alan Horne’s Triple-A debut. First pitch flyout, strikeout, strikeout. Eleven pitches, seven strikes. The guy can pitch.
http://emedia.thetimes-tribune.com/Blogs/SWBYankees/tabid/552/Default.aspx
Thomson knew that Alby would be cut after the game, so he sent him out after he took Kennedy. He let him work a few innings, and since Alby is not a starter or a long reliever, that was a lot of pitches for him. He was out there to eat innings and keep the pen fresh while he was here. The Yanks wouldn’t cut Farnsworth or Hawkins, so it was pretty obvious they’d cut Alby. He’ll probably be first in line for a call-up after that performance should a reliever be sent down or one gets injured.
jennifer-
jennifer…im pretty sure you have posted on this blog over 8 million times so i guess im not sure why you are concerned about what im doing with MY time. thats like brian bruney asking me why I didn’t just have a side salad instead of french fries.
and that is my point with joba…why is he being wasted in a set up role? if you want to move him to closer, theres more value there, even if it is less than if he were starting.
gamechannel on yanks, gameday on Scranton. I hate saturday games not being shown on extra innings. Horne 2 K’s through 1 so far.
Hm…that’s really odd. I’d call MLB.tv customer service and ask. I don’t get why you wouldn’t be getting it since I’m further away than you and getting it.
Ha Ha Gomes stinks.
To be honest, I don’t think he lost that ball at all. It seemed like it was just carrying and maybe the wind moved it a little bit.
Horne looking good so far
Haha, maybe Gomes’ suspension should have been two games.
Poor Gomes. Almost feel sorry for him. But I want a Yankee win, so yes! Matsui gets away with a deep fly!
Nice hit Shelley. Come on Damon.
Duncan singles and the bases are juiced for Johnny!
You don’t get it do you? We have a closer! Joba can only have 140 or so innings. If he starts, he would be way over that. they are starting him in the pen and than will move him to the starting rotation.
Get it now?
Ugh Johnny. It’s up to Jeter now.
I’m getting it in California as well. I had made plans assuming it was blacked out but those have been canceled.
For whatever reason, Duncan has a confidence about him. He had it from the first of his spring training at bats. I hope he maintains it and produces because of the Yankees lack of RH power other than A-Rod. (Ensberg TBD).
Ugh, a pop out to short. Hopefully Jeter takes advantage of the opportunity.
come on Jeets.
Damon fails to come up with a big hit again, what else is new?
Enough talk about Matsui being a “spare part”, Damon is the one who is expendable.
Big waste by the Yanks. Jeter K’s
well that was a wasted opportunity
Global Warming, “a big hit”???
The 2nd inning of the 5th game of the season against the Rays. Typical Yankee fan panic nonsense.
With fans like these its no wonder the Yankees never have had patience to stick with young players.
A real missed opportunity there. Offensive funk or not, you have to find a way to get at least one run with a bases-loaded, one out situation. Let’s hope that it doesn’t come back to haunt the Yankees.
Can’t like the average’s with RISP so far eh?
John where you have been the past year and half?
People talk about trading Matsui all the time when it’s Damon who has been below Par.
Get glasses.
“IPK is VERY overrated (so far).”
Baseball America ranked Kennedy as the 16 th best pitching prospect in all of baseball (45th best overall prospect overall).
Baseball Prospectus ranked Kennedy as the 12th best pitching prospect in all of baseball (34th best overall prospect).
Those are two outside perspectives that people give quite a lot of credence to.
To make things worse, Horne is getting tagged a bit in Scranton right now.
jennifer
where are you getting that I’m not aware that you have a closer? I also know that you have an average at best rotation and a guy like joba being wasted in a setup role. 140 innings…great, so make them count. you would get more use out of the guy having him skip a turn in the rotation ever 3 starts or so to keep his innings down while getting something from him. what would you rather have…20-25 starts from a potentialy dominant starter in a rotation that is average or infrequent work as a setup guy only to be sent down to the minors only to start in the second half of the year. winnings games in the first half is as important as winning games in the second half.
i think there is more of an injury issue going from a short inning reliever to the minors to starting in the second half as well.
make the 140 innings count at least.
It seems like every starter the Yankees have faced has a 95mph fastball and a nasty offspeed pitch.
Oh God!
Ouch, Duncan throws the ball away.
damon and matsui are expendable if Brett Gardner and Shelley duncan can prove them selves in the majors.
I still pick shelly over duncan
Rays have lost a catcher and Gomes has been humbled and now Shelly.
lets get this over with please
yikes
Very ugly playing by the yankees, make all the excuses you want.
4seamed – You don’t know what you’re talking about. If you want Joba’s 140 innings to count, YOU PUT HIM IN THE BULLPEN!!!
How do his innings count in a game he starts against the Royals where the Yankees score 10 runs in the 3rd inning???
If he’s the 8th inning guy, HE ONLY COMES IN WITH THE GAME ON THE LINE… Think about it!
you are right, Kennedy is not overrated as a prospect. his uncanny command is what i was really trying to stress is overrated right now. his strikout numbers and hits per 9 numbers are awesome. but with his stuff, he is going to struggle in MLB if he doesn’t start showing the commnand we hear about so often that he has never actually shown.
Damon’s success with bases loaded was with the Red Sox. Since he came here, he’s been an almost automatic pop-up/strikeout/GIDP… usually after we have to see the 2004 highlight, which makes it feel worse.
Total disagreement with you, John. Damon is the proof that we should be pushing younger players. I’d rather see a Melky or an A-Jax or a Gardner fail in spots like that (we can call it growing pains) than a player who had great success with another team but who has generally been a disappointment for us.
the offense is terrible because of the cold weather right sj44?
I wish Melky wasn’t suspended.
Ach. No fun. Melky in center, Crawford would be out.
Yankees, come on, let’s actually do this offense thing next inning, okay?
damon needs to retire
2-1 Rays on the fly…I can’t wait until Melky is back
Huh, a sac fly, who would have thought. Damon, you should really watch a tape of that.
Here is an idea, why don’t you guys just ignore 4seamed?
Kennedy has made 4 major league starts. Only 1 was bad and that was last night. His other 3 starts he had shown good command he is known for.
Greetings Yankees Fans…. got to see the Rockies get thumped yesterday, very gratifying.
On a different note, Pete brought this up with some points on the site. The Yankees have become one of the worst fundamentally hitting teams in the majors. The plate discipline seems to evaporate when runners are in scoring position. Sure they work the count but when faced with RISP, what happens.
Hopefully this is an early season – working out the kinks – but if not, teams like the Devil Rays are going to beat them consistently.
thats just not true, he will pitch in games that arent on the line, i promise. just like closers arent always saving games with 1 run leads, joba will pitch in plenty of games that are not that close. also…keep underrating the royals or ANYONE else, and youll end up like detroit just did.
when you start, the game IS on the line every time you start the first inning. giving an offense like the yankees 5 or 6 great innings to start is going to add more value, I THINK, than pitching in the 8th INFREQUENTLY. especially when its a rotation that could really use a quality starter. although it would scare me to have three guys that young starting.
Jax…until last night, kennedy had 9 walks in 19 innings. 3 good outings, but not great command.
Posada saves the inning
this is gonna be long game
Joba pitching the 8th and Mariano in the 9th makes the other team have to try to beat us in 7 innings.
DJ… So you’re one of those posters who like to make up stats cuz you think i wont look it up???
Damon 2006 w/ bases loaded – AVG .478
Damon 2007 w/ bases loaded – AVG .333
So, you can take that “only with the Sox” nonsense and put it to rest.
So Ajax should be playing in the majors? Hell, why have a minor league system at all. They don’t need to learn in the minors? Draft ‘em and throw them in the lineup.
Everyone knows the Yanks “will get it going”. But you have to admit, if we dig ourselves a hole like last year, we may be out of the playoffs with how strong the Central can be. That’s why people get pissed, only if it is 4 games into a season. All the W’s and all the L’s count the same wether it’s April, or September.
Joba in the bullpen also takes some pressure off the other young starters with their innings limits. If you have Hughes or Kennedy pitching a great game, and it’s 3-2 or 2-1 or 2-0 going into the 8th, you don’t have to squeeze that extra inning out of them because the idea of Farnsworth pitching in a close game terrifies you.
“his uncanny command is what i was really trying to stress is overrated right now.”
The people at BA and BP are pretty good at looking at BB/9 ratios. It’s not really that difficult to find out and Baseball Prospectus is pretty good with that statistics thing.
So clearly the people evaluating him know what his walk rates have been in the minors.
Despite that scouts regard him highly and they regard his command highly.
Is Kennedy an elite level talent? No. Is there a very good chance he’ll be a good to very good major league pitcher as long as he stays healthy? Yes.
And what you’re not seeing is how Kennedy fits in with the yankees future staff.
Wang, Hughes and Chamberlain are going to the front 3 of the staff. So at best in the future Kennedy will be their #4 starter (this year he’s penciled in as their #5).
So they need him to be #4 at best. I’ve never read or seen anything where people don’t think he’ll be at least a very good #4. Never.
And then consider this – there is a good chance the yankees sign CC Sabbathia this off season. Alternatively Pettite has already said he wants to come back next year.
So Kennedy will likely be their #5 starter next year.
And the only reason Chamberlain is in the pen is because of his innings limit (which is only 140-150). They are treating him like the Dodgers did with Broxton last year.
who do you guys think is better, AJaxGardner.
This game has been really frustrating and it’s still early.
Well I guess they were going to get us back for the break we got with the call at second.
That wasn’t a swing…and A-Rod K’s.
Thoughts from all, is it me or do most of the Yankees seem to be over swinging or just not picking up pitches? This offense is very disorganized in their approach.
these umps have been terrible this season, not just against the yankees, but against both teams
Yay Cano gets his 2nd hit of the year.
That could have scored A-Rod. Oh well. Cano singles and Giambi goes to second.
Nice to see Robbie break through with a single. Hopefully that will calm him down and get him into a rhythm.
Not even close Jackson is a better prospect then Gardner.
There is no comparison between Jackson and Gardner.
Jackson is on an entirely different level of prospect.
Jackson is a legitimate 4 tool player (he may never be a great hit for average guy).
Gardner has one outstanding tool – speed.
If you’re a one tool prospect that tool had better be your bat like a Billy Butler or a Matt LaPorta otherwise your future is dicey.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the Yankee offense. I think they’ve faced some good quality pitching so far.
But Yankee fans like to panic, so go ahead and freak out.
I mean look at this guy Jackson… He’s throwing 96mph with a NASTY slider! I don’t care if he isn’t a household name. He’s going to be tough today.
Like Sonnastine was yesterday if you take away that one inning? Dude, you don’t think it has at least a little with the Yankee offense struggling, than you are high!
Well, we made Jackson throw over 65 through 3, so we’re at least working the count.
And A-Rod should have walked.
Be good Andy
Edwin Jackson was once considered the best pitching prospect in all of baseball.
At the time Scott Kazmir was considered the second best pitching prospect in baseball.
Jackson has a great arm and is only 24. He’s shown no signs of putting it together but he has very good stuff. He shows flashes of being very good and then falls apart.
A Jackson is too far away still to expect anything out of him.
Ruben Rivera was twice as talented, 10 times more hype. A ton more minor league production. Was supposed to be the next Mickey Mantle but never made it.
Until a guy rakes in AA, don’t expect anything.
Dang, I definitely didn’t want Johnson to get his first hit against the Yankees.
Rebecca’s right, the pitch count is at a high rate for Jackson. That tells me that even though the Yankees aren’t scoring much, guys are working counts, drawing walks, and seeing the ball well. When you are seeing the ball well, that means that an offensive outburst isn’t far away. Give it time, this offense will bust loose and start absolutely raking.
CB,
I love that you bring up LaPorta. The kid is a player. I remember when he hit a 500 foot HR in the college world series a few years ago. He hit a GS the other day in his first at bat in AA for the Brewers. I’d love to see us go out and make a trade for him since he already has Prince Fielder infront of him.
Nobody’s panicking, John. There are actually viewpoints that fall between “Everything is OK!” and panicking. Stop looking at everything in black & white and don’t be such an ass toward people who express a viewpoint.
Nice pick off Andy!
Please see my comment at 1.12 PM.
Haha, and Johnson gets picked off. Good.
Good job Andy
Can’t get P2P to stay buffered…any suggestions?
Just heard Pettitte pick off Johnson…wish I could see it.
Rebecca, you get a smiley face for today! Good call!!
NJ in Tampa: Who would you give up for him?
Good to see Andy get it together this inning, I was a little worried starting right from the wannabe-hr Gomes hit.
3-28 with RISP….pitiful
SDJohn, Sonnanstine isnt bad… he’s erratic. he happened to be “on” yesterday. He’s probably “on” one out of 5 starts and the Yanks caught that start and still scored 4 off him.
Hey, last year when the Yanks were smashing the ball all over the place he pitched 8 innings of 2 hit ball allowing no earned runs! It happens!
I thought being an a$$ is what internet message boards are for???
NJ in Tampa,
No way they are moving LaPorta. If only….
You have to give the Brewers so much credit for drafting him at #7 last year. After they made that pick everyone was just scratching their heads.
But as usual the Brewers know what they’re doing in the rule 4 draft. What a pick. He really does seem like a more athletic Billy Butler (not that that’s a high bar… but good enough to play the field).
I saw what LaPorta did that first AA game as well. He’s just got a special bat. What he did last year in A ball was jaw dropping.
I don’t know if you saw this but the Brewers have LaPorta playing right field now in AA to see if he can hack it there.
How about those corner outfielders- LaPorta and Braun.
The Brewers are still discussing what to do with Fielder. If they aren’t able to sign him to a long term deal they may wind up trading him.
steve r – The voice of reason post was a joke
fran – Thanks for getting the joke!
Just got in and I can’t get YES. Might break down and pay for mlb.tv. DAMN!
Toronto just took the lead. 4-2. Only “good” thing about being in the Sux market.
If you want Toronto updates let me know. Otherwise I’ll just listen to Sterling and Waldman til I decide about MLB tv and watch Toronto on television.
wow!!!! That’s all I’m saying
No doubt it happens. But you can’t have it both ways. Burnett, Halladay, McGowan. All legit pitchers. but don’t forget we did face people out of the pen, in all of these games. NOT EVERY pitcher we have faced has had there A number 1 stuff, it’s impossible for that to happen for 4 games straight. All relievers, and starters. We are in a funk offensively. If you don’t see that, you are not watching the same games. And, I really have to disagree, Sonnanstine is bad. We had 1 good offensive inning in 4 games. Don’t think I’m ready to jump off the roof or anything, we will come out of it, I just hope it’s not like last year and too late to come back and win the division. We’ve been down this road before.
Nice call on the pick off Rebecca. As alway on top of things…
Since you have the mojo today how about predicting something good for the bats?
Matt LaPorta may be the best pure hitter in the minor leagues. They aren’t going to trade him unless we send back Chamberlain or Hughes.
Rebecca,
To get a talent like LaPorta you’d have to give quite a bit of talent back. I’d guess you’d have to look at what the Brewers weaknesses are and offer talent to them at those positions so its hard to say. LaPorta rakes though, and he’s a good kid off the field which is just as important.
“Matt LaPorta wasted no time making a splash in his Double-A debut Thursday, drilling a grand slam that powered the Huntsville Stars to an 8-2 victory over the Mississippi Braves.
LaPorta singled in the third inning, then broke the game open by capping a five-run fourth. The 23-year-old outfielder made his professional debut last season with Rookie-level Helena, where he hit .259 in seven games. He dominated after a promotion to Class A West Virginia, batting .318 with 10 home runs and 27 RBIs in only 23 games. ”
Ack, nobody can even move Matsui over. Now Jeter’s up with 2 out.
suit up for another year of holding your breath.
What’s wrong with the Yankee’s bats? Oh, it’s early.. right. Same thing they have been doing for four years. They cannot hit.
They hit in spurts.. and miss in bigger spurts.
Our pitching is phenomenal as well. I am so glad to have Cashman at the helm making decisions..
It’s not just a season that is at stake, it is the Yankee’s legacy.
Yea they moved him to the outfield but I don’t know if he’s good enough of a fielder to stay there. He was naturally a catcher but when he was at Florida they moved him to first base. Obviously with Fielder at 1st they moved him to the OF so we’ll see how that goes. There is no question the kid can rake though.
They look awful today…
I understand that it was hard to put up runs in the first three games because of the three quality pitchers. But against Jackson?
This is not a HR hitting team anymore, the steroid era is over and age matters.
Arod is our big bat and that is it. This team can be successful, but they need to do what they did the other night.. small ball!! That is why I wanted Brett Gardner up.. he’d inspire the small ball.
What an embarrassment that a team like the Rays is owning the Yankees… heh
Agree with SDJohn… not in a panic or freaking out, it is more that these are not good swings and they are not solid hits. Now, yes, you will say, there have been those that have hit is hard. And without a doubt you are correct. But, there is too much of letting the ball get on top of the plate, flailing at sliders that are out of the zone.
Now if they are drawing walks, that tells me they are able to distinguish a ball that is out of the zone, but what about those borderline pitches, those are the ones they are not able to judge and are popping them up, lazy fly balls, weak grounders… In the past four games, they have had many chances to get a run or two, RISP with less than 2 outs and they are just not getting it done.
The problem is that this is a consistent thing. Sure they score lots of runs but over the course of the year, even last year, how many game did the lose because they could not get the tieing run or get the extra run or two to change how the other team has to manage.
Pettite trying to keep them in the game.
I sure hope it warms up soon. The failure to move runners over is alarming. Nothing factual to back it up, but I seem to recall plenty of time the leadoff man gets on and then stands on the base as the following three hitters all fail to move him over or manufacture any offense.
SDJohn, you’re right. Its pretty unlikely that everyone would be “on”. But I’ve watched the games too. Every opposing pitcher is throwing NASTY strikes.
Everyone of those bullpen guys in Toronto was great. Throwing hard on the corners. What are the Yanks supposed to do? You can’t wait them out b/c they’re throwing strikes, but if you swing your swinging at tough pitches.
You run into these stretches every once in a while and it just happened to start off the year this year.
If Toronto pitches like that they are going to win the AL East. Its doubtful they will keep it up though.
3 for 28 this season?
Same as last postseason.
Kyle: not just terrible today, but everyday. The BP looked good except for Hawkings, Farns, Kennedy…
and they didn’t look bad, they looked horendous.
However, our bats are just as dead as they were in the post season.. heh
Well that was a waste of $20! I am blacked out of MLB TV also.
Last year they moved LaPorta to Left field. Which was understandable give they’re in the NL and have fielder. Left field is the second easiest defensive position to play.
He did OK in left.
But then in the off season they moved Braun off third to left. That really created problems for them.
Right field is much harder to play and that’s a real question as to whether he can play there at all.
If he can’t stick in right I could see them trading Fielder – they’re concerned about his price and his weight.
Fleas,
Owning is a pretty strong word bro. And just to give you a heads up, Gardner himself, would not be able to “inspire” small ball. Sorry.
Time for a DP from Pettitte
Trisha,
Fox owns all game rights before 7pm on Saturday’s. That means that if they’re not playing it, you can’t watch it anywhere else. It really sucks.
Anyone else really missing Melky in center field?
I just bought the MLB package for TV yesterday and the game is not on there either.
Sucks “watching” gameday.
Anyone got a pitch count on andy?
Crap.
Wow.. YES just showed the goof by Gomes from matsui… what has happened to matsui.. he is really pulling off the ball and looks uncomfortable with his swing
Ok, Matsui should not be playing in the outfield. Period.
Gomes gets his homer. 5-1 Rays
Matsui couldn’t get that?
And that is why you never laugh at the other team when they mess up. Always comes back to bite ya.
still dont want santana?
MLB.com 119 hi def 119 per year. good deal
the weather is not that bad today. High 50’s..close to 60
This offense is just asleep.
Yikes. Oh Andy.
5-1 now jeez
He’s nearing 80 pitches
Well, this is simply bad luck.
Upton’s ball bloops in and now Gomes hits it out by about 2 inches… Ugh.
anti-Mussina – can Santana hit the ball?
Hey Jennifer
Is Gomes still a fool?
19 runs over two games by the Devil Rays. Ouch!
5 runs off of 7 hits… Yanks 1 run off of 5 hits…
81 pitches for Andy so far
Still don’t want Santana for what it would’ve cost.
Fleas, what are you talking about? Yankees legacy???
santana can pitch more than 5 innings
Yankees looking OLD and uninspired…God, I’m in FLA and have to listen to the idiot TB announcers…can we all agree the Damon signing was terrbile? It’s like he got ancient overnight…so far in ‘08 without A-Rod we’d have a non-existent offense.
What does the order of the bullpen look like today?
Four more innings after yesterday’s game – we are going to start taxing arms.
Pete brought up the possibility of trading matsui before the break. I think he just needs to be DFA’d… he just looks old…. really old…
John. I appreciate your optimistic view and all, but baseball is a game of inches. Not simply bad luck, we are not playing well.
sdjohn
Well here’s some content for you that I brought out before yesterday’s game but it didn’t get much play. A generic comment: Tampa Bay has really good starting pitching and has found a way to own the Yankees. It’s foolhardly to underestimate this team. I’ll stay with that comment.
Content about the Yankees? I don’t see the need to make individual proclamations when I’ve seen all of 4 games. I’m not a pitch-by-pitch or AB-by-AB commentator.
Looks like being blacked out isn’t always a bad thing.
We have too many old outfielders. Other then Melky, everyone else is south of thirty.
So can Hughes. And he can do it for the next 15 years.