Game 38: Yankees at Tigers
YANKEES
Damon LF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Matsui DH
Giambi 1B
Cabrera CF
Cano 2B
Betemit 3B
Moeller C
Rasner RHP
Darrell Rasner against the Detroit hitters.
Jeremy Bonderman vs. the New York hitters.
Notes: Brooks Betemit, back at third. … Cano is 7 of 19 and Giambi 4 of 10. … The Yankees have lost 3 of 4 and are 0-4 against the Tigers this season.
Back later with updates.
UPDATE, 2:40 p.m.: A-Rod and Posada worked out again today in Tampa. Jeff Karstens tossed 42 pitches in a simulated game and is just about ready to start his rehab assignment. … “The plan” remains to start Kei Igawa in Tampa.
Shelley Duncan will be introducing the lineup on Fox. I watched him record it, he was very funny and did it in one take. I won’t spoil it for you.
UPDATE, 2:44 p.m.: Here’s the AP report from Tampa:
Alex Rodriguez is making progress in his rehab from a strained right quadriceps, and the third baseman could rejoin New York Yankees late next week.
“So far, so good,†Rodriguez said Saturday.
The three-time AL MVP is scheduled for an MRI on Monday and is eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list Thursday.
“I don’t want to speculate,†Rodriguez said when asked if could return then.
If he gets the go-ahead after his MRI he could be cleared to start playing rehab games in extended spring training.
On Saturday, Rodriguez took 65 swings in batting practice and fielded 31 grounders at third base during his second injury rehabilitation workout at the Yankees’ minor league complex. He is also running in the outfield.
Catcher Jorge Posada took batting practice for the second time since going on the DL on April 28 with right rotator cuff tendinitis. The switch-hitter remains on target to start a light throwing program Monday.
“It’s coming around good,†said Posada, who is expected to be out at least another month.
UPDATE, 4:01 p.m.: The Yankees had a chance to step on the neck of Jeremy Bonderman in the first inning and Robbie Cano let him off the ropes.
Obviously I’m not a major league hitter. But why isn’t Cano taking a strike there? Bonderman walks Giambi and then Cabrera to force in a run. Then he starts Cano with a ball. Take a strike, make the struggling pitcher work.
Instead he hacks away, right into a double play. My old Legion coach, Manny Lima of Post 1, would not approve.
UPDATE, 4:42 p.m.: So much for Wilson Betemit. He crushed a double to center then grabbed his right hamstring when he got to second base. He’s out of the game. No word yet, obviously, but he’s probably headed for the disabled list.
Maybe they can run twice at much at spring training next season, see what that does.
UPDATE, 5:01 p.m.: How about Darrell Rasner? 10 innings, 3 ER since he came up.
UPDATE, 5:06 p.m.: I do believe it’s time to declare that The Big G is back. 5 for 12 with six RBI in his last four games.
His base-running could use a little work, however.
UPDATE, 5:13 p.m.: The official word from the Yankees on Betemit is that he has a strained right hamstring. Alberto Gonzalez, please pick up the white courtesy phone.
UPDATE, 5:37 p.m.: Take that, UPenn stat geeks!
Meanwhile, Detroit is 11-20 (soon to be 11-21) against right-handed starters and hitting .256. They are 5-1 against lefties and hitting .295. It further underscores the point that the Yankees were flat crazy to start Kei Igawa last night.
Beyond, you know, that he stinks.
UPDATE, 5:58 p.m.: All things considered, allowing only run there was a success for Krazy Kyle. If he pitches and you still have the lead, that’s a plus.
UPDATE, 6:29 p.m.: Good to see Joba conduct himself like a gentleman there. … Looking forward to seeing Mo face Sheff in the ninth.
A few of us went over to see Sheff before the game, just to say hello. Sheff was an interesting guy to cover. He almost always made himself available to the media and he always had something interesting to say. It might have been factually incorrect or crazy, but it was interesting.
What amazes me about Sheff is that when you stand next to him, he’s not an imposing guy. But he’s such a good athlete and has such quick hands that he can turn on pitches and crush them.
So he against Mo should be cool.
Back later with some reaction.





Is Molina hurt? A day after night game for Moeller is interesting, even though he caught Rasner in the minors and last week, doing a good job with him.
Betemit again?
Tigers should just bunt to third all game.
lets Yanks #1
maybe girardi wants to see betemit catch one before taking him out of the lineup.
Nice post Felix. You nailed it.
I wonder why Gonzalez doesn’t rate the chance to stay around. My guess is always going to be that when $$$ are spent on contracts to the Bronx, the Yankees don’t like to have to admit failure by having them spend time in AAA, unless absolutely necessary.
Here’s hoping the lineup can turn it up a little earlier today. I’m not so sure Rasner can do it again, but I’m sure rooting for him.
surely they can find a way to ‘disable’ another player before wednesday- so IPK can be recalled to pitch instead of Kei- right?
where did the name brooks come from?
Moeller is catching these guys cause he has caught them in AAA, its a comfort factor, even though it didn’t help Igawa at all.
I’m not ready for Kennedy to return after just one start in Scranton.
I think it’s a sarcastic reference to Brooks Robinson who was an outstanding 3B for Baltimore.
Betemit again? Boy oh boy. Did Girardi watch last night?
They’ve got to be showcasing Betemit…they’ve got to be.
betemit again, omg
Where are the idiots who predicted the Yankees will sweep the Tigers in their FIRST series a weeks ago?
Brooks Betemit is as funny as Koufax Igawa.
Trisha:
Makes no sense to have A Gonzalez up unless you think his ceiling is utility infielder. We know that’s Betimit’s ceiling, so it makes more sense to use him accordingly and let Gonzalez continue his development by playing everyday in SWB. With Cano hitting and Arod due back late next week, the utility infielder, whoever it is, will see little time.
with betemit on third rasner, has to ,like in little league pitcher, away from the weak defensive spot.
the only problem with that is giambi is on first.
hmmm , outside corner is risky, inside corner is risky.
high pitches to get fly balls is obviously risky.
rasner isn’t exactly going out there with lots of options.
maybe girardi wants to see if betemit really is that bad at third so he can make a decision.
Brooks Betemit. When something is this painful, well-done sarcasm helps. My gawd, I don’t suppose Girardi is doing this for Betemit’s bat.
Perhaps Cashman is hoping something clicks with Betemit, in hopes that he can make sense of his boneheaded decision to cast off Scotty Proctor. When he did that, he knew that this years staff might not be one known for lengthy outings. He knew that Proctor was a proven quantity in the pen, a decent arm. He knew that Betemit was… well, Betemit. Not Luis Sojo, not Miguel Cairo… but Wilson “Brooks” Betemit.
betemit is better defensively than brooks robinson.
of course robinson is about 73 now.
I’m betting Gonzalez would be pretty happy being up on the big league roster as opposed to playing everyday in AAA.
I would venture there’s a lot to learn by being on the big club, even if you’re just observing.
“betemit is better defensively than brooks robinson.
of course robinson is about 73 now.”
Still probably about even.
Here’s 14 new photos of the new stadium that I posted today, hope you like them: http://tinyurl.com/5mnjle
Does anyone else get the feeling that Girardi just does what Cashman tells him. I feel like Cashman is putting these lineups together.
It’s funny because everyone always used to accuse Big Stein of pulling the strings behind the curtain. Now it feels like Cashman is doing the same thing in relations to Girardi.
“I’m betting Gonzalez would be pretty happy being up on the big league roster as opposed to playing everyday in AAA.”
Me too, but making him happy isn’t Cashman’s job. Making him have some value is his job. Yanks have 3rd, SS, and 2B covered thru 2010. Gonzalez will NEVER have an everyday job with this team. Maybe his ceiling is utility infielder. Probably is as he’s not much of a hitter, but at his age we don’t know that yet. Might be that he can show good enough at AAA to be of some value to another team. That will never happen while he’s riding the big league bench.
Just what I thought. You got nothing to say now? HA!
Fredo,
The Yankees need a quality defensive guy up in the bigs.
It’s also Cashman’s job to make sure the big club wins games. If you keep trotting out defensive liabilities like Betemit, Giambi, Duncan, wins aren’t going to happen.
Gonzalez would be more useful as a utility guy on the big club rather than a potential trade chip.
I think Yankee fans need to stop believing all the hype about Yankee prospects. Until these guys come up to the bigs and prove their worth it’s all just hype.
I would also venture to say that the more guys Cashman keeps bringing up the more damage he does to their value. Look at what they could have gotten for Hughes and Kennedy…that trade for Santana wouldn’t happen today. Cashman needs to start selling high.
Hmm, was out, so I missed yesterday’s game…boxscore looks closer than I expected
Brandon: Kuroda has a 3 year/35.3 million deal; whether that’s fair price for a pitcher like him is up to the reader. Kuo Hong-Chih’s been in the Dodgers organization since 1999 anyway, so I’m not surprised by him re-upping with them again. Saito was a good catch, but remember that he started in the minors for the Dodgers organization in 2006 (it was a minor league deal) and he was already 36 then (he’s born in 1970).
Chris – I know where you can find those people. On another blog. So why don’t you go away and play with fans of your own team. It’ll be more enjoyable for everyone involved. Unless you enjoy being petty to fans of another team.
stupid fox games…
anyway, i’m just here to say
lets Yanks #1!!!!!!
I’m hoping Betemit has a better day than the one he had yesterday. Yikes
Good luck Rasner! Let’s go Yankees
I really really really really really hate Fox games. The only time they’ve been tolerable was when Girardi was announcing. Now I can’t even have that.
Substitute A Rod and Posada in this lineup and it takes on a whole new look (obviously). Substitute Johan Santana ‘s 2.91 ERA and 1.00 WHIP for Darrell Rasner and you’ve got yourself a win today regardless of who is in centerfield.
Now that my Santana tears have dried,the Yanks have to find a way to do a better job against lefties with runners in scoring position. To let pitchers like Kenny Rogers not pay for their mistakes is just maddening. Regarless of how bad CashIgawa pitched last night, the Yanks let a win slip away by not getting the job done offensively in the 3 innings that they had runners on first and second and never scored.
Betemit needs to go away. He may have a bat but we have enough one dimensional players: Giambi, Duncan, Matsui, etc. Bring up one of the young guys from Scranton who are scrappy, pesky hitters.
Betemit will commit at least one error and strike out at least once.
Amazingly enough, Betemit has not struck out in his last 11 AB’s. Ok, so 7 K’s in 24 AB’s is still pretty bad, but I’m just saying…
I knew Moeller was starting again today – Girardi wanted Moeller to catch Igawa and Rasner since he caught them at SWB.
However, this has got to be the worst defensive infield behind Rasner today. He has got a defensively challenged third baseman and a defensively challenged first baseman.
Ensberg has got to play tomorrow when Andy pitches because with a left handed pitcher a lot of the balls will go to the left-side.
I sincerekly hope that Alex’s MRI is good on Monday and he is cleared to resume all baseball activities. The Yanks really need him back.
Doesn’t a player sent down only have to be down 10 days before they can come back up?
If so, Kennedy will have been down more than 10 days by Wednesday so I don’t think anyone needs to be DL’ed to make it happen Wednesday.
Has there been a Kei Igawa sighting yet ? In Japan ?
It would look very weak to bring Kennedy up after one start.
wednesday is the 10th day- he went down on Sunday.
he wouldn’t be eligible until Thursday.
For Knicks followers out there, D’Antoni got a 4 year/24 mil deal from the Knicks, as reported by McCallum of SI.
“Baseball rules require an optioned player, such as Kennedy, to spend 10 days in the minors before returning (unless he replaces a player put on the disabled list). Kennedy was optioned last Sunday, so the 10th day is Tuesday. From what I am told, the 10-day count begins the day of the assignment, not the day the player physically reports to the minor-league team (last Monday, in Kennedy’s case).”
Kennedy could come back. Don’t think he will though. We will see.
I read Sunday counts as day 1 so he could be back for Wednesdays start.
Girardi puts up another gem of a lineup. Betty has poor defensive skills and poor batting skills. Why exactly are they still playing him?
Yet, Girardi is smart. Right. I’m sorry, but Torre wouldn’t have put Betty back out there on 3rd again. Nor would most other managers. Girardi must have a feeling. Either that or he doesn’t care that the Yankees can’t break .500 for more than a day or so.
Bonderman’s right handed, so no Ensberg; thus it defaults to Betemit, presumably
Bad News/Good News from AP:
Notes: RHP Carl Pavano (elbow surgery) is throwing at 60-feet on level ground and could start working off a half-mound late this month. … RHP Humberto Sanchez (elbow surgery) is throwing off a mound and could face hitters in two weeks.
Don’t look now, but Betemit’s hitting .364 with an SLG over .700 since coming off the DL. No strikeouts, no walks, and he had that sac fly the other day that led to the go-ahead run in the game Moose was pitching. Yes, I know he was bad in the field yesterday. But, the offense has been struggling mightily…and yet people are calling for offense to be traded off for defense?
“Girardi must have a feeling.”
A feeling that he’s been hitting very well since coming off the DL, perhaps. Which makes sense. Because it’s true.
With Betty and Ensberg there isn’t much difference. Both are swinging the bats poorly, but Ensberg is marginally better at defense.
If you watched the game last night, then explain how a thirdbaseman could wait till the ball hit the ground and rolled till he started reacting to it. In almost every case he hesitated before reacting to the hits. I think its why he doesn’t bat very well nor field very well. Betty, its time to go.
whozat, Betty cost runs yesterday. Had they not put up so many runs maybe the Yankee offense would have pulled out a win.
“whozat, Betty cost runs yesterday. Had they not put up so many runs maybe the Yankee offense would have pulled out a win.”
And had they had an Ensberg 0-fer in place of Betemit’s 2-4 with a double and a run scored, they might not have produced as many runs. We’ll never know.
“If you watched the game last night, then explain how a thirdbaseman could wait till the ball hit the ground and rolled till he started reacting to it.”
Sorry, I was out doing things. The guy’s a backup. A platoon player. Would I like every single position player on the team to be filled with guys who can field their position with skill, hit for average, take their walks, hit with RISP, drive the ball into the gaps, steal bases, drop down bunts and save orphaned children all the while? Of course. But, we’re talking about fringe players. Betemit can hit the ball with authority from the left side of the plate, and he actually does take walks. He also strikes out. He makes the plays when the ball’s hit to him. He doesn’t make stellar plays on hot smashes or field the bunt super-well. At least he’s not a hole in the lineup like a Cody Ransom would be.
Just found out Fox is airing the Cubs game here in Chicago so I can’t watch the Yanks game. What’s the point of paying money to watch your team everyday when they black you out every other week?
Good luck Mike D’Antoni. Welcome to the jungle.
“The plan†remains to start Kei Igawa in Tampa
I don’t like this “plan”.
I do hope things change. I’ll pitch!
Thanks for the updates on Posada and Alex
No more stupid drafts for the Knicks, maybe D’Antoni can lure Walsh into stealing some picks like he stole our picks with the suns.
GO RAZ!
“May 10th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
“The plan†remains to start Kei Igawa in Tampa”
The thing that bugs me most is hearing him talk about his pitching…it’s like he doesn’t understand the need to change. I asked Chad Jennings if he’d actually changed his approach in AAA this year and just was all over the place last night. He said that Igawa continues to work up in the zone, though he’s had much better offspeed stuff in AAA than he showed last night. But Igawa thought his offspeed stuff last night was FINE. He’s just delusional. He hasn’t bought into the idea that you need to locate down in the zone to be successful. I dunno how much more he needs to get destroyed in order to get that pounded into his head.
That’s what I want to see, Shelley Duncan with a mic in his hand less than 24 hours after ending last night’s game…
Maybe KI is trying to do a jedi mind trick on the media and fans:
My pitching was fine
Your pitching was fine master
You won’t send me back to SWB where there are no sushi restaurants
etc.
Whozat, if he doesn’t get it that he has to change, then i’m losing whatever sympathy I have for the guy. Understanding, but just not physically succeeding is more tolerable to me than plain not understanding the reality. This isn’t the Nippon League anymore (or whatever it’s called, no disrespect intended).
If Igawa thought he did well yesterday…what exactly does he think a bad performance for him is?
Scary.
If Igawful starts in Tampa mark me down as another Yankee fan who not witness the game.
“Whozat, if he doesn’t get it that he has to change, then i’m losing whatever sympathy I have for the guy. Understanding, but just not physically succeeding is more tolerable to me than plain not understanding the reality.”
Me too. I was all for taking the long view on Igawa, but if he doesn’t buy into the change in his approach…what the hell is the point?
“If Igawa thought he did well yesterday…what exactly does he think a bad performance for him is?”
He didn’t say yesterday was a good performance, but he did say that he thought he located his offspeed stuff well. Which means he’s either deluded or he WANTED to put all those pitches up in the zone. I guess he feels that it’s ok to get hit hard as long as he strikes guys out to limit the damage. But that’s stupid.
Couldn’t they have chosen someone other than the person who choked just last night to do the lineup?
Lets Yanks #1 ….its catchy isn’t it and thus I feel a big victory
So all in unison now on 3
1 2 3 Lets Yanks # 1
Thank you
“He didn’t say yesterday was a good performance, but he did say that he thought he located his offspeed stuff well. Which means he’s either deluded or he WANTED to put all those pitches up in the zone. I guess he feels that it’s ok to get hit hard as long as he strikes guys out to limit the damage. But that’s stupid.”
I’m gonna say..he’s deluded!
Hopefully, the plan is for Igawa to pitch in Tampa…for the single A team.
“Couldn’t they have chosen someone other than the person who choked just last night to do the lineup?”
Didn’t the guy crush a ball deep into a gap?
All you can really do is try to hit the ball hard somewhere. It sounds like he got under it a tiny bit too much. A quarter of an inch difference and it’s a game-tying double. If he K’d or rolled over an easy grounder or popped up, or hit a lazy fly ball, I could see you calling it a choke. But that?
“I’m gonna say..he’s deluded! ”
Given the two options, I’d rather it be that one. I’d rather him think his control was good when it was actually bad than him honestly believe that what he’s doing is the right approach.
If someone has no major league hope/ability, then keeping him in the minors just to fill out a roster, at his salary level, is more than an expensive indulgence, it blocks some other player, who has more upside.
The time is approaching to either make a go of it with Iggy, or find him a new home with another organization. The fact that he’s lefthanded might make him a more desirable commodity, though if anyone scouts him I can’t imagine what they could like. But I’m not a professional scout; I could be wrong.
“For Knicks followers out there, D’Antoni got a 4 year/24 mil deal from the Knicks, as reported by McCallum of SI.”
Not sure he got paid enough for the aggravation coaching a purid team will give him. Knicks are 5 years from being decent.
SHELLEY DUNCAN IS HILARIOUS.
HOW CAN SOMEONE LIKE HIM BE SO…HAPPY AND ENERGETIC
I LOVE SHELLEY
Pete, Duncan was not very funny. I’m sorry. He wasn’t.
darn i missed the duncan man doing the lineup i thought these games stared at 355
fox couldn’t figure out how to match the audio with the video??
Shelley did an awesome job with the starting lineup! That was great.
Yeah I can’t imagine why D’Antoni would want to coach the Knicks right now. Can they compete in the next 4 years?
OH and Shelly sounded like a complete tool lol
The Razzamatazz? Wiggling the fingers behind the plate?
OK, so someone needs to make sure Shelley Duncan has a broadcasting contract after his playing career is over. That was very entertaining.
Does Bonderman have something special now, Karros?
the captain!
Fox isn’t showing the game here, and it’s a blackout on my MLBtv. Pretty bummed.
Maybe it’s just me, I hate the whole Fox announcing the lineup thing. I just think it takes too long and is annoying overall IMO. But then I already know the lineups obviously and just want to see the game.
Haha bigjf, that’s exactly what I was thinking. That guy must feel like an idiot now (not that he shouldn’t always feel like one).
He looked good for one batter and now he’s getting slapped around.
did he really just say “you’re not going to win if you have to outscore the other team all the time” ???
how else do teams win if they are not outscoring the opponent??
I think that 9th inning last night could be the start of something.
Igawa stinks, period. He pitches again and someone in the NYY organization is branded a complete fool.
Did Giambi just kiss his bat?
Since Karros opened his mouth about how special Bonderman is, the Yanks have been getting hits.
Gayle – did you see my post on the Fantasy site – in response to Papelbon blowing two saves – the Yankees are more important to me.
is it me or does the picture look a bit blurry
Jim Leyland does not mess around…on the phone already
Bonderman does have something very special going! So special it might only be good for one out hahaha.
Ironically enough, I use one of Eric Karros’ mitts when playing first baseman. Excellent defender, poor commentator.
blackdragon905, it does look a little blurry I think.
yay for my fantasy team… boo cause i added Bonderman before the game.
thats what i thought david
i love bondermans first innings.
continued development of melky cabrera
Cano is going to hit a grand slam.
just our luck wow
Didn’t we do the exact same thing last time we faced Bonderman?
darnit Robbie!
Tough break there for Cano since he smashed that ball. At least they can go back to work on Bonderman next inning.
It doesn’t matter… If the Yankees take that same approach all day off this guy they should have no problems. They hit the ball hard every single play. I’d be shocked if Bonderman makes it far in this game. He’s very wild, and when he’s over the plate the Yankees showed you how hittable he is today, even on Cano’s ball.
Stupid Cano. Don’t swing at anything until it’s a two strike count.
Can someone say what Duncan said during the lineups? I missed it…
Nice slide by Melky going into 2nd tho
That at bat by Robbie hurt. Would have liked at least one more run.
TK – you are right. Last week after the first inning Bonderman settled down. The Yanks had him on the ropes and let him off.
At least Miner made me chuckle at the Razor Ramon reference. Yes!
Leyland was on the phone to Cheap Cigarettes-R-Us, not the bullpen.
So a week after people start talking about jetes lack of hrs, he ssays he can do that.
Random thought:
Is Pavano the 21st Century incarnation of Marx, only instead of writing, he is broadcasting his idealism through action? I await his tome: “On Injuries and The Right To Be Lazy,” by Karl Pavano.
Heck, he could use the rest of the 2008 season to grow a really big beard.
What just happened?
Duncan was amazing like always. ZACH MINER, however, was very dry and BORING.
can these fox announcers learn how to say Abreu?
That was one of the weirdest thing I have ever seen
OMG IT’S A-BRE-YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
Why cant these announcer pronounce Abreu?
You can’t say that Abreu’s fear-of-walls really mattered much there. At least he faked out Dick Stockton.
wow, that was strange watching abreau on that home run.
here’s to hoping Razzy gets the W
Duncan was amazing like always. ZACH MINER, however, was very dry and BORING”
He better have been. Doing starting lineups for TV is about the only thing he can do at an MLB level.
I’ve done a little back-of-the-envelope calculating and I think that if the Yanks can maintain a 2:1 runs scored ratio, they’ll be fine. Keep it up, Ras!
Betimet batting left reminds me of David Ortiz
These balls are carrying today.
You think that being MLB announcers, they would know how to say the players names, obviously not.
Peter, can you go in the booth and tell them the correct pronunciation of Bobby Abreu… (Bobby aˈbreʲu)
Dick Stockton has enough to worry about with trying to track the fly balls, forget about pronouncing names correctly.
I have a feeling the Yanks will only score 2 runs in this game.
Deja vu of Bonderman’s last start vs the Yankees
Fran yes I saw it made me laugh. Giambi always kisses his bat before he gets to the plate.
Neil so much of a deja vu scary even the call to the bullpen by Leyland although this time he didnt come out and yell at he guy
Damon’s had the only bad ABs today, I think. Cano SCALDED that ball. Crappy luck. Betemit tagged that one too, and the other way. He’s not just trying to pull it.
Eh, I guess Moeller’s ball wasn’t THAT well hit, given how well it seems the ball is carrying today.
“I have a feeling the Yanks will only score 2 runs in this game.”
Na, they will score more. Tigers pitching sucks.
just got in from a long drive and i listened to the mets game and the announcers pointed out:
edwin encarnacion of the reds not budging out of the batters box on a ball that landed just inches foul.
ken griffey jr. noticably NOT hustling after several balls hit to RF, (announcer said he looked “disinterested in pursuing that ball”.
carlos delgado trotting from second to third on a ball he could have scored on (there were no outs but he didnt even put himself in position to score if the ball was mishandled)
is 5 weeks too much of a drag on these guys getting paid millions to play a game? do they need some vacation time?
one other thing it does is point out the integrity of jeter and arod, who could probably get away with dogging it occasionally but never do.
Gayle – You’re right. Wonder if he was warming up the same pitcher as last week.
Nice inning, Ras.
Barry Bonds to the Tigers, is that just idle Ken Rosenthal chatter or is there something to it?
Nick – he and Sheff in the same clubhouse would probably be a joy to be around!
Revealing your own ignorance Pete.
Cano crushed that ball but was unlucky to see it go straight to 2nd base. All you can do in this game is make good contact, after that……..
“one other thing it does is point out the integrity of jeter and arod, who could probably get away with dogging it occasionally but never do.”
*snap snap*
This also makes me worry less about Cano turning into one of those entitled-feeling players. No matter what, ARod will be there, earning WAY more money and NEVER dogging it. It’s like…if he’s working that hard, how can anyone else feel justified in NOT working hard?
the bonds to detroit question has been coming up alot as the tigers have been struggling, and has been all over the detroit news the past week. cant tell if there’s any real smoke there, but thats not the kind of thing management would confirm until it becomes a done deal.
bottom line is i think its the same as the joba to the rotation question…there is a plan (not to get barry) but it could change at any time as the need arises.
if the tigers need a roster spot for bonds, im sure the yankees will take brandon inge off thier hands…..
or if they dont want barry, we’ve got a LH Bat who cant play the field they might like….
If I recall correctly, Shef once accused Bonds of stealing Shef’s chef. As in, his personal chef. Preparer of food.
Would Bonds bring the chef to Detroit? One thing we know with Bonds (and Shef): the extra ingredient is love.
Ok, so none of those were good ABs. It really does look like he’s settling in. That’s bad. I still don’t really fault Cano. He smashed that ball…what’s to be done there?
JMO, I caught some of the Reds/Mets and I also noticed Griffey doggedly pursue a ball, the Beltran triple to be specific.
JMO – I’ve felt for a while that too many of the Mets’ players take time off, ever since their playoff run a couple of years ago. It’s almost like they assume they’re top dog. And not just Jose Reyes. Omar needs to free up some of these guys’ futures. Cutting Delgado might be the kick in the rear that they need.
But enought about them.
Let’s get it going, Yanks! At least Rasner is pitching well.
Looks like Bonderman has settled in now. The Yanks really needed to score more runs in the top of the first.
Man, hearing these guys (they’re not too bad), but it makes me miss Cone and Leiter. I really like their pitching insight.
seattle can have him, hes got nothing left except that humongous ego. sad to see what happened to griffey, the injuries are one thing but his attitude went to sh#& early and he’s been a tumor ever since. too bad he didnt find the right mentors he could have been the greatest ever.
any chance of anyone posting the Duncan thing on youtube? got done with work too late to see it.
Thank god its on FOX, its so great to not hear michael kays voice
I feel like the Yanks are putting good wood on the ball still, but this is kind of frustrating.
man, that video of the babe’s 60th HR sent chills down my spine!
YS was just a baby!
forget about names on the uni’s, he didn’t even have a #!
Frank I think it was a different one I thiunk last week it was Zach Miner warming up and today was Bobby Seay
I think Betemit took it personally when he got lumped in with Kei Igawa last night. He’s possessed!
holy hell
Do the Yankees stretch?
betemit out
No good, Betemit hurts.
Jeez Sterling, you made that sound like it was a can of corn off the bat, all of a sudden it hits the wall 420 ft away.
You have GOT to be kidding me.
Well, Gonzo’s back on the team now.
What IS this nonsense?
Hammy injury for Betemit. Looks like he’ll be heading back to the DL. Come on back AG? Or Kennedy?
Tough break, as Wilson was starting to swing a good bat.
Possessed by a bad hammy, that is. I think the AG will be on the way back!
blessing in disguise, step up attorney general
about to 13 on the dl come on up Alberto Gonzalez
Yankees = The Home of The Soft Players.
that or our physical trainer sucks.
teach A-Gon to play 1st.
Suzyn claims they stretch, for whatever that is worth.
So much for the Girardi School of Physical Fitness!
Well for all of us who wanted Betemit gone, it looks like it’s back to the DL for him. Guess we’ll be seeing Gonzalez real soon.
pinkeye went to his leg
I think they save money if they buy the AG a round-trip ticket from Scranton and have Kei Igawa use the return portion. Do it.
I’m getting the impression that now we are going to have an injury of the day every day this season. This season has already been tiring to watch and it is only early May.
Aaaand another poor AB from Johnny.
Now they squeeze another inning out of Bonderman. Boo.
“So much for the Girardi School of Physical Fitness!”
LOL You can’t strain fat.
“blessing in disguise, step up attorney general”
Yeah, Betemit was only hitting the ball with authority and driving in runs. A couple poor plays on D yesterday totally negates that, so good thing our offense-starved ballclub will replace him with a slap-hitting shortstop.
Don’t kill me for saying this, just one person’s opinion…but the way Shelley announced that lineup reminds me of the way he bats: he tries too hard. I like his enthusiasm but he always tries too hard to swing for HR at every at-bat, that announcing job reminds me of that.
BETEMIT I swear are we cursed or something? Ugh. This is not good.
Rough break for Betemit…just think, at Yankee Stadium that would have been a home run…
Damon’s at bats today have been garbage.
The guy in front of you just got walked on what, 4 pitches? And you’re swinging at balls?
Send down Igawa and Shelly now and bring up the Admiral and Gardner and Kennedy, and with A-rod coming back next Thursday we have a real team for once.
At least with Bonderman it’s easy to rattle his cage and get some runs off his mistakes, we need to be taking advantage of this more.
“seattle can have him, hes got nothing left except that humongous ego. sad to see what happened to griffey, the injuries are one thing but his attitude went to sh#& early and he’s been a tumor ever since. too bad he didnt find the right mentors he could have been the greatest ever.”
Huh?
Have you heard/read what the guy says? He’s anything -but- egotistical nowadays.
I think he’ll put together a solid 30 HR, 80-90 RBI season. He started slow in April last year also, then put together an excellent May.
that isnt joba.. rofl
That is Britton not Joba. lol
lol at FOX showing Chris Britton and calling him Joba
They go “There you see Chamberlain out there (in the pen)” – While they are showing Chris Britton
“he always tries too hard to swing for HR at every at-bat,”
The reason they liked him coming out of last season was that he wasn’t doing that. Sure, he swung hard sometimes, but he had a decent approach at the plate a lot of the time as well.
This year, it seems like he’s trying to do too much. Perhaps it’s that he knows his opportunities are limited? I dunno.
Seriously Betemit is hurt?? I just got in, watching the game delayed for an hour.
C’mon up GONZO!!!
Hahaha they just showed Chris Britton (multiple times) and called him Joba.
Nobody has any love for Britton.
Gonzo still has time to catch a plane to Detroit.
Interesting what Girardi said about Joba…
Did everybody get that?
How about what Rasner’s doing?
It’s amazing how simple it is – throw strikes, stupid.
(that is, I’m happy with what Rasner’s doing
)
“the Admiral”
They traded Halsey a couple years ago
Unless there’s someone else that shares a name with a famous admiral? Oh, or maybe you mean the Attorney General?
I know Joba is a bit chubby but Britton is on another level. You can’t mistake him for Joba. lol
I luv watching Rasner pitch when he’s on, what a steal he was, put on waivers by the Nationals a couple – three years ago. And to think he has passed through waivers at least once since being a Yankee, I believe. A great 5th starter.
“Revealing your own ignorance Pete.”
“Cano crushed that ball but was unlucky to see it go straight to 2nd base”
i can see it both ways. cano saw pitch that he liked and he hit a rocket.
on the other hand bonderman had just walked two hitters and was over thirty pitches in the inning and in a pitch count danger zone.
it was likely that taking a pitch would not put cano in a hole, and bonderman would have likely missed with a few more pitches. cono still would have had his hack.
this was from an article describing the torre way of taking pitches that he’s taken from his time with the yankees and showing the dodgers.
http://www.whittierdailynews.com/ci_9200487
“basically, this is how it works: A hitter goes to the plate not to swing at just anything that might be in the strike zone but to swing only at those pitches in their own hot zone, at least early in the count. That usually means he’s looking for a pitch in a specific area of the strike zone. By laying off anything outside that area, the hitter runs the risk of falling behind in the count. But he also greatly reduces the chance he will chase something that initially looks like a strike but ends up being far beyond the zone and unhittable.”
so if cano saw a pitch in his hot zone i can see taking a swing at it. what if he had hit a grand slam? i don’t think anyone including pete would second guess it. the real question and one that we can’t answer is whether it was in cano’s hot zone.
Dick Stockton has got to be the worst Broadcaster on television! Mistake after Mistake….Balls, strikes, number of outs, misidentification of players..”Yankees struggling with a Record of 18-9″…Sheesh!
Tim,
Does Rasner look different this year? Seems like same guy, different pitcher.
For those who didn’t get it…
Looks like we have our answer as to when Joba will be starting…
Ick, whats with all the Alberto Gonzalez love.. overrated
“It’s amazing how simple it is – throw strikes, stupid.”
I kinda hope Kennedy’s watched these two games on TV. He’s got better stuff than Rasner. With this kind of approach, he could definitely solidify the back end of a MLB rotation.
Haha, Cano doesn’t really have much of anything but a cold zone this season randy
Yep I meant bring up Kennedy, the Attorney General, not the Admiral – my bad and Gardner and send down the Japanese mistake, and Shelley.
“Looks like we have our answer as to when Joba will be starting…”
No. It was a non-answer answer. We knew he was in the pen for now. They could always stand the kind of upgrade he’d provide in the rotation.
Wow. What crappy announcing. As they show Jeter rounding third and going home, the guy says “He’s being held up”
“This year, it seems like he’s trying to do too much. Perhaps it’s that he knows his opportunities are limited? I dunno.”
Whozat, that’s probably it. I wish Shelley would just relax but I can also imagine what it must have been like to spend 7-8 years in the minors after spending his entire childhood hanging around the majors to now finally get called up.
“Interesting what Girardi said about Joba…”
Dynasty, what did Girardi say?
NICE HUSTLE ABRE-O
Nice that WE are the team chasing a starter in the 5th, as it has generally been the other way around.
How many injuries did we have at this point of the season last year? I am beginning to believe that it might have to do with Girardi’s spring training workout regiment. It is either that or the ice cream/candy ban that they are on.
I think Rasner is what he is. He gets by on guile and command. He does look a little better this season, but I think he is healthy for one. He will never be a Cy Young award winner but a reliable 5th starter.
“Yep I meant bring up Kennedy, the Attorney General, not the Admiral – my bad and Gardner and send down the Japanese mistake, and Shelley.”
There’s not a single guy in the lineup I sit in favor of Gardner right now. Who? Melky? Damon? Bobby? Matsui? If he was righty, maybe. But if I’m going to play a lefty OFer against a lefty, it’s going to be Damon, Bobby and Matsui over Gardner.
If you want to declare Shelly a bust, which is certainly reasonable, I would really want a guy like Kielty or Xavier Nady, though neither is available at this time
There may not be a smarter baserunner in baseball than the Captain. He has great sense on the basepaths and takes advantage of the slightest mistake by the opposition.
“How many injuries did we have at this point of the season last year?”
A truckload. Moose and Wang both missed a bunch of time early, Abreu missed a bunch of the spring, Damon was all banged up, Giambi had his issue crop up in May. And Pavano, of course.
Matsui’s looked BAD yesterday and today.
Giambi was just miracled to 2nd!
Seriously…Giambi is starting to come around!!!!
GO YANKS!
That wasn’t Chris Britton either. I think it was Colter Bean.
“I am beginning to believe that it might have to do with Girardi’s spring training workout regiment. It is either that or the ice cream/candy ban that they are on.”
they should do what i do. whenever in a game girardi does something i don’t like, i go to the fridge and get more ice cream.
i have had to put an exercise bike in front of the tv.
and come to think about it, my quads are kind of hurting.
Shoulda taken some pitches, Melkman.
“reliable 5th starter”
And that’s all Rasner needs to be
I mean, those guys cost what…8 million dollars this year?
v
iv heard and read about 2 dozen interviews with griffey over the years and i was a big fan of his in the beginning. he’s a head case, alot like arod, only with a much more entitled, self-pitying edge to it. that ‘life is so hard on me’ whine of his got old before the millenium bug. you will never change my mind about him, hes much less than the sum of his (increadible) talent.
BOOOOOO Jason. BOO.
Jason Giambi is not a fast man.
My lord, bad baserunning there by Giambi. It was also equally bad announcing by Dick Stockton.
I guess the baseball gods have their limits on miracles…
Oh Giambi. Didn’t your brother Jeremy teach you anything about baserunning??
“Jason Giambi is not a fast man.”
I felt like the more he ran, the more his fat a$$ dug his feet into the quicksand.
Giambi you idiot.
I wouldn’t sit Gardner for anyone in the lineup now either. The only change I would make to the OF will be in a year or two, when Jackson comes up I would move Melky to LF.
“That wasn’t Chris Britton either. I think it was Colter Bean.”
Fox sent a remote team to the Braves AAA affiliate just so they could be even more wrong than usual.
You said it on the announcing, Kevin. I never thought I’d crave Buck and McCarver or even *gasp* Sterling and Waldman. These two are just bad.
Giambi should have known – without coaching – that he wasn’t going to be able to get his big self home on that!!!
Nick, Colter Bean is no longer with the organization.
These announcers are rediculous
I missed Shelley’s lineup. What’d he say?
Great job by Rasner so far.
“I mean, those guys cost what…8 million dollars this year?”
my buddy livian hernandez costs only five for the twins, but 8 million is probably about right.
i wonder why the yankees committed so long to kennedy and hughes. why not bring up a guy like rasner sooner? why not let the pitchers with the hot hand pitch?
maybe it has something to do with roster problems of going up and down, but it seems like rasner certainly is a better option right now.
Folks, if Giambi starts hitting like this for a couple of weeks, he could easily carry the Yankees.
Yes, his baserunning sucked on that play (and generally he’s only slightly faster than furniture going downhill), but his doubles are of the no-discussion kind. And he’s plenty fast enough to score on HRs, you know….
This is what Giambi does: one out of every eight or nine weeks, he comes alive. Then goes dormant for another two months.
betemit has a strained right hamstring
It seems like we have been out going from 1st to 3rd a alot this year.
I remember reading during spring training that Girardi was going to be sending the majority of players from 1st to 3rd. I dont know how well that is going to work out.
I just LOVE IT when Giambi thinks hes got legs…..it cracks me up so. i know it really hurts the team some time but its so funny that i cant help but laugh at it.
you go big boy!
everytime they announce something, the opposite happens.
“he’s not going to give up a walk here.” next thing you know, guy is on first base. idiots.
I would bring up Gardner because A. I want to see what he can do – I would put him in at CF for Melky in certain situations and LF for Damon and PR for Giambi and Molina.
I know Colter Bean is no longer with the organization. I just like saying Colter Bean.
And there was a time last season when the Yanks’ pen had an abundance of pudgy white relievers.
Who figured out that was going to be a double play later, Stockton or Shef? I think Stockton.
Yeah, these announcers are pretty bad. Makes me miss Michael Kay.
gardener would pinch run for giambi, molina, moeller, duncan and maybe arod for a while. he would also play LF whenever jobamo is closing down the other team.
““I mean, those guys cost what…8 million dollars this year?â€
my buddy livian hernandez costs only five for the twins, but 8 million is probably about right.
i wonder why the yankees committed so long to kennedy and hughes. why not bring up a guy like rasner sooner? why not let the pitchers with the hot hand pitch?
maybe it has something to do with roster problems of going up and down, but it seems like rasner certainly is a better option right now.”
Livan Hernandez is garbage.
I’m liking Rasner. The reason he wasn’t up earlier is that he has no options – and there’s no way a decent pitcher like Rasner can pass through waivers without getting claimed if he happened to be bad in his first couple starts.
First off Betemit is not that hurt, he strained a hamstring remember he’s been inactive until 1 week ago in Scranton, second that’s why Betemit should scratch the right side, he crushes more pitches from the left side what part of that does the FO not know, they can potentially have an Ortiz type bat and not know it.
Gonzo I love him but he’s not that type of hitter, he is more of a David Ecstein/Orlando Cabrera, he won’t strike out much and will put the ball in play his defense is absolutely no question better than Bet’s but his offense is incomplete and they are not putting him at 1B it’s not that easy. Betemit IMO should and is in that type of mold to be an everyday 1B when Giambi breaks down.
A couple of other things if Matt Carson is called up it would be to replace Shelley Duncan, which he just may do. For people that think Afterman is not a huge reason for the drop in talent acquired through posting you are sadly mistaken and there is a reason she will not be resigned after this year, her key acquisition has been Hideki Matsui and we should not go through the names of pitchers that have recieved ridiculous posting fees from her nudging of the Yankees FO.
Randy,
I suspect that in IPK’s case, he needed to get in a groove (like the great groove he was on late last year) to be successfuly in the bigs.
His last start was a great step in that direction, and if he does it again tomorrow (assuming he stays in AAA for his next start), he’ll be in a great groove when he’s back in the Bronx.
I mention IPK to illustrate why Rassner is probably effective right now – his stuff (and confidence) is at a pretty high level right now, and that allows him to come up and perform adequately….
stockton really lost it on the dp. he had no clue what happened for 5 seconds.
Great job by Rasner so far today
The rotation going into the 2nd half could be a real plus if Rasner and Moose keep doing what they’re doing. Wang, Pettitte, Moose, Rasner, Kennedy/Joba. Of course there is the speculation that Little Stein may jump on a Kennedy/Tabata trade for Joe Blanton which might be ok too. Either way we need to get Igawa the HE## outta Dodge.
Oooh…badness on Meacham, then.
well that overhead shot that fox just showed makes me miss bowa even more
Did Giambi go through a stop signal when he got tagged out? I thought that last replay showed the third base coach with the stop signal up.
nice not so instant reply fox…
Brandon,
You need to update your handle.
Meacham is going to get a guy hurt this year putting up the stop so late.
there is a reason Billy Beane threw that chair in the war room after his head drafter picked Jeremy Bonderman against his wishes.
Would someone please post Shelley’s line-up thing?
Sorry, I had to finish up a little brain surgery before the game and missed it.
I just noticed that Mel thanks
Raz just took over the #4 spot in the rotation. the first evidence of the pitching depth the yanks are building coming up and filling a spot. get used to it, young yankees pitchers are going to come up and contribute throughout this year. now that igawa’s out of the way, ipk and the others are in a pitch-off for the #5 spot. someone will step up and grab that soon enough. this is an awesome opportunity for someone and so far Raz is stepping up.
Bad call, he was safe.
my god it’s a hit and run try to foul it off Jetes.. get’em next inning
Whitney You can live with out it.
Eric Karros has a speech impediment.
I’m sorry, but it’s the truth.
Why is he on the air? He makes Michael “If You See” Kay sound like Alexander Scourby.
if Razzy can go 8 i would be excited
“young yankees pitchers are going to come up and contribute throughout this year.”
It’s too bad for Horne and Karstens that they got hurt early. Not that Karstens is all that, but he’d certainly have gotten a look by now. And Horne could really have come up and mowed some guys down…except in the starts where he walked a bunch of people
If Rasner can go 6, awesome. I think his pitch count is low, so he could go 7, even…
ok i smell a win here, put ag at third and doug m. in at first and send gardner out to LF and let the bp pitch with that defense…..o thats right….if forgot, sorry…
And Jeremy Bonderman looks like Curly from the 3 Stooges.
Where’s Officer Joe Bolton when you need him?
pitch count at 65
ARE YO KIDDING ME D’ANTONI !
square peg meet round hole
D’Antoni? Is the deal done?
sorry but the beat writer for the Knicks is really a joke, he barely gets exclusive news in and is late updating news.
Brandon didn’t you want him just the other day?
that’s what I get for trying to jinx him coming to NY, this organization is going to need 3 -4 yrs. just to revamp D’Antoni isn’t going to survive NY.
“ok i smell a win here, put ag at third and doug m. in at first and send gardner out to LF and let the bp pitch with that defense…..o thats right….if forgot, sorry…”
Damon’s D in LF is above average. ARod would normally be at 3rd. And I’d rather have the chance to score some more runs than upgrade the D at first, of all places.
Brandon,
I hate D’antoni, but it was more of a a Phoenix thing than anything.
Expect wins and whines. It should be very interesting to see what D’antoni & Walsh can do. Expect a lot of run ‘n’ gun.
This is a good thing. Trust me. I’ll be cheering for the Knicks because New York deserves better than what they had in the Thomas regime.
D’Antoni + Walsh > Isiah + Isiah
“The rotation going into the 2nd half could be a real plus if Rasner and Moose keep doing what they’re doing. Wang, Pettitte, Moose, Rasner, Kennedy/Joba. Of course there is the speculation that Little Stein may jump on a Kennedy/Tabata trade for Joe Blanton which might be ok too. Either way we need to get Igawa the HE## outta Dodge”
I dont think they’re going to make a trade on Kennedy. I think there going to give the kid more time and if he doesnt do good in the path ahead then you may see a trade. i think its still too early. IPK & Hughes will bounce back. The real question is, How much patience are the yankees willing to have with them?
Nick,
lol. Were you hoping in to go to Golden State?
What’s with Donnie? Pulling a Strahan/Favre?
Ho!
Niiiiice.
Nick,
Sorry about the typos. There was a rumor that GS was interested in D’antoni.
“How much patience are the yankees willing to have with them?”
Even if they stink for the rest of the season (hopefully at least some of it at AAA if they’re pitching that poorly), the Yanks need to stick with them. They’re so young that giving up on them would be ridiculous. Most other pitchers aren’t even in the majors at their ages.
I agree Mel but not interviewing Thibaudo however it’s spelled, having Mark Jackson as a number one choice than doing a 180 to continue the same crap, this really makes no sense, who’s the point guard = to Steve Nash’s work ethic, when will Curry run and Randolph run, who other than RBalkman and Nate who gets overmatched plays defense. Oh boy. Throw money and think problems go away.
These announcers are killing me.
Did he really just say Farsnworth to begin serving his suspension next Friday?
i was just thinking about what it might feel like to be darryl rasner tonight, (if they hold on), knowing he just climbed all the way back into the rotation by smoking the tigers. he will say all the nice, humble things to the press and his teammates but then at some point he’ll be alone with himself for a minute. gotta be an increadible feeling.
GREAT JOB ROOK!
Yes, Pat that he what he said.
Hmmm….Looks like our #4 is better than our #2 & #3…
As well as Rasner is pitching I still think he will be in the pen when Hughes comes back. And of course Joba will end up in the rotation.
I don’t think (barring lingering injury to Hughes) there is any way he stays in the rotation.
Yankees are going to give Hughes a shot obviously and of course Joba.
who cares about basketball, talk about that somewhere else
Terrific six innings for Rasner, keeping it simple, throwing strikes, and getting quick innings. Six innings may be all that he throws. He always seemed to be on an 80 pitch limit with Torre last year and he threw around that many against the Mariners on Sunday.
Brandon, mel- D’Antoni is about the best that the Knicks could have hoped for. Mark Jackson probably wasn’t ready to be an NBA coach yet. The Knicks just need a little patience and a few good moves, and winning the lottery on the 20th would be a good start, although I hope that the Grizzlies win it, of course!
Too bad, bobby. That was a well-hit ball.
Oh, man…that stinks for Wells. But…that’s why diving catches aren’t always the best idea…
Ow. Vernon Wells broke his hand almost the same way Matsui did.
wow Wells 6-8 wks. more like see ya in late August. Expect Roy Holliday and AJ Burnett on the block.
The home umpire sucks.
Jeter’s called strike-out is so rude.
mel,
I do like the Warriors, it’s more fun around here when they’re winning than it is when they’re losing, but I would be really happy if the Knicks could someday resemble an actual NBA team again.
Plus I think Nellie will end up coming back to GSW.
Brandon,
Don’t worry. It’ll be good. He did wonders with the Suns (w/ Nash-who hasn’t been the same without Marion, but that’s besides the point).
Do you guys have any picks in this draft?
Pretty cool that Matsui’s a black belt. Maybe that’s why he has avoided muscular injuries in his career…great flexibility, and also the ability to turn invisible and kill people with his ninja powers.
“The home umpire sucks.
Jeter’s called strike-out is so rude.”
his somewhat liberal zone has helped us more than them
whozat
May 10th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
“How much patience are the yankees willing to have with them?â€
Even if they stink for the rest of the season (hopefully at least some of it at AAA if they’re pitching that poorly), the Yanks need to stick with them. They’re so young that giving up on them would be ridiculous. Most other pitchers aren’t even in the majors at their ages.
I absolutely agree. The yankees need a foundation to build off of and the young guns are a good start even if they dont have the success that people expected & wanted from them this season. But, you never know with the steinbrenner’s they say one thing, and do another
J-Dawg,
Marc Gasol is killing in Europe. He’ll be a better center than Pau.
J-Dawg you realize the most important thing for the Knicks right now is the cap money and draft and change of philosophy, they said they would interview all the candidates, all I heard was Jackson and D’Antoni, how is this decision reached right now when there are still potential candidates to be dropped after the playoffs, atleast wait it out and interview the coaching options you can’t tell me 2 options were only out there.
“Pretty cool that Matsui’s a black belt. Maybe that’s why he has avoided muscular injuries in his career…great flexibility, and also the ability to turn invisible and kill people with his ninja powers.”
Okay, that made me laugh out loud. Loudly.
jax
rasner will pitch until he isnt effective, but he’s got at least two more, then he’s pitching for his rotation spot. but hughes is a long way from coming back and the #5 spot is open, so rasner is in. if he’s still in by the time hughes comes back (and everybody else is healthy) there would be a choice, but for now…rasner IS our #4 starter.
Mel hopefully a top 5 pick and I’d trade anything any combo of players to get Derrick Rose.
So…2 run HR from Kyle?
Great job by Rasner!
Rasner’s efficiency is so…refreshing.
Are they yanking him? With a 4 run lead?
Farnsy w/ an inherited baserunner again, lets see if he can strand it.
Nice job by Joe G pulling him before he starts unravelling, and letting him leave on another high note
Getting back to Jeter scoring from first on that Giambli double. YOu are right he is a great baserunner in terms of eally seeing whre the ball is and the fielders etc. IN addition today is the first day thatI really see him not lingering at all from the injury he was full out the whole time around the base path
Heeellooooo Krazy Kyle
I thought Farnsworth already served his suspension last night?
I’m sold on Rasner. It’s still early I know but so far he looks so effortless, looks better than Andy’s pitched this season actually. I never would have guessed just as recently as 6 weeks ago that the three amigos could be in a pitch-out for a spot.
Looking ahead to next year, Moose will be gone and Andy could be 50% gone so a line-up of Wang, Hughes, Joba, Kennedy, Rasner might not be bad if the 3 stay healthy and live up to their potential. I really hope we won’t need Sabathia.
“Of course there is the speculation that Little Stein may jump on a Kennedy/Tabata trade for Joe Blanton which might be ok too. ”
The Yankees are not just going to trade Kennedy or Tabata as some stop gap measure.
Joe Blanton last year had an ERA+ of 106. This year he has an ERA+ of exactly 100.
He is almost the definition of a league average pitcher when you adjust for the huge pitcher’s park he throw in.
You do not trade two guys who were considered top 50 prospects coming into this season for a guy like Blanton. That’s just ridiculous. The yankees aren’t run that way anymore.
You especially don’t trade them when they are both at the bottom of their trade value.
When you see what Rasner is doing – this is exactly why you don’t trade Kennedy, never mind for a league average pitcher.
Rasner shows you why its so important to be patient with pitchers. And why you don’t make rash moves and trade them based on a few starts.
The Nationals DFA’d Rasner – that’s how the yankees got him.
The Yankees DFA’d Rasner and were lucky enough that no one else claimed him.
And now he’s pitching better than Joe Blanton.
Kennedy is going to be a very good major league pitcher.
The lesson to take away from Rasner’s success isn’t that we have a guy to paste into the rotation so now we can trade Kennedy and/ or Hughes.
The lesson is that young pitchers can take time but when they put it together having them in the organization is invaluable.
Um..feeling a little nervous here
mel- That was a GREAT steal by the Lakers to get Marc Gasol in last year’s second round. He should pay some big dividends down the line.
Brandon- Kind of makes you wonder what the Suns thought about D’Antoni. They said that they wanted him to stay, but that they would let him interview for other jobs. I totally agree with you about Derrick Rose. He wasn’t as good as advertised for the Tigers this season, he was a million times better!
Rasner was hitting 94…Farnsworth is hitting 96…didn’t realize Rasner through that hard…
Enough with my basketball talk, it’s time for Farnsworth to get out of this jam and maintain the good feeling that Rasner’s performance brought.
Why do the Yankees even need Joe Blanton? Darrel Rasner has been fantastic, if he keeps pitching like this he won’t be our fifth starter he’ll be our third. Moose will be fine, Pettitte and Wang are solid. The only problem is that fifth starter which we only need 2 more times in May as far as I know. I doubt Igawa gets another start but even if he does either Kennedy or someone else will step in.
Why waste long term prospects on a mediocre guy like Blanton.
This is the Kyle I remember.
Sigh.
good point, i was noticing jeter really looking like jeter today, he knew he was scoring on that ball as soon as it left the bat. when healthy, he’s the best baserunner iv ever seen. i think i can count on one hand the times iv seen him thrown out on the basepaths and in his case that is not because hes too cautious, he just has an amazing ability to make things happen running the bases.
We need Joba-STAT!!!!
“Rasner was hitting 94″
When? I only saw the high 80′s.
Look it up on gameday, that gun’s much more accurate.
Oh brother Krazy Kyle!!!
Maybe Kyle is serving his suspension right now.
Watch Farnsworth give up a home run here
To truly assess the value of a late inning reliever you have to look at what he does when he’s brought in with men on base.
Farnsworth has put up good numbers this year but a lot of that has come during innings when he’s come in with no one on base.
he’s actually not pitching bad.
Right now Rasner’s the hottest pitcher besides Wang on the staff and he’s never been absolutely Igawa type bad for the Yankees. He is who he is a good to well above average 5th starter who is potentially a 4th starter. I say we see him barring injury for at least the next 5 or so starts at least and may be the remainder of the season. I think over all imho he’s more consistent than Kennedy, Kennedy certaintly may have more of a name right now but he doesn’t throw much harder.
“Rasner was hitting 94″
he topped out at 88
How does joe let Ras start this inning he should have went with Farnsworth to start the 7th. If they lose this game for Ras its all on Joe.
CB
“The Yankees are not just going to trade Kennedy or Tabata as some stop gap measure.
Joe Blanton last year had an ERA+ of 106. This year he has an ERA+ of exactly 100.
He is almost the definition of a league average pitcher when you adjust for the huge pitcher’s park he throw in.
You do not trade two guys who were considered top 50 prospects coming into this season for a guy like Blanton. That’s just ridiculous. The yankees aren’t run that way anymore.
You especially don’t trade them when they are both at the bottom of their trade value.
When you see what Rasner is doing – this is exactly why you don’t trade Kennedy, never mind for a league average pitcher.
Rasner shows you why its so important to be patient with pitchers. And why you don’t make rash moves and trade them based on a few starts.
The Nationals DFA’d Rasner – that’s how the yankees got him.
The Yankees DFA’d Rasner and were lucky enough that no one else claimed him.
And now he’s pitching better than Joe Blanton.
Kennedy is going to be a very good major league pitcher.
The lesson to take away from Rasner’s success isn’t that we have a guy to paste into the rotation so now we can trade Kennedy and/ or Hughes.
The lesson is that young pitchers can take time but when they put it together having them in the organization is invaluable.”
Couldnt agree more
com’on Farnsy get me a groundout w/ Polanco
Here’s the thing about Rasner. He’s very confident in himself and knows how to pitch. Last year he had a 3.28 era before the Mets game and Myers let in inherited runners like Krazy Kyle is doing. Also he was like this year’s Chris Britton up and down from Scranton never pitching in a routine with normal rest and he still did well. This year he learned a new pitch and has more experience.
He is a solid 4/5 for the Yankees.
J-Dawg,
You know you’ve got the rights to Marc, right?
C’mon Kyle, one more!
To be fair CB Kyle did come in his last outing with a guy on first just like this time and he got out of it. He was bound to have a bad outing at some point. Hopefully he can finish this inning without more damage and bounce back next time out.
FARNSY ! ATTABOY
This is when you miss a Brian Bruney, or maybe Olendorf anyone?
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c.....l?eref=T1#
Really cool job by SI. Ofcourse, my beloved Yankees are in there like swimwear
Gotta love this version of Farnsworth. Next is Joba time.
leave Ross, his arm needs rest.
Oh My God!
I-DON’T-BELIEVE-WHAT-I-JUST-SAW!
wow
Well if you’re going to go with the Gameday radar gun…Farnsworth was only throwing in the 80′s…
Why the discrpancies by the way?
How do you know which one is correct?
how is polanco even still in the league with that head, could it be more obvious?
Whew! Anyone else think that pitchers and relievers who let inherited runs score should split the earned run?
Then Rasner would be 1.5 for the day and Farnsy would by at .5
“Farnsworth has put up good numbers this year but a lot of that has come during innings when he’s come in with no one on base.”
At least he only let in the inherited runner and not any more.
i saw al kaline hit 2 hr’s in the old stadium in 1968! that guy was great!
Tigers/Cards sereis with lolitch and the awesome bob gibson that year is the first i really remember. it was a GREAT one, i ran home from school to see the last couple innings (starters were still in)!
next year was the amazing mets! great time to be a baseball fan if not a yankee fan.
Darrell Rasner. Two starts = glue. Nothing glaring. He works quick, throws strikes and gets hitters out. Nothing more can be asked.
is this man learning to pitch ? he adds a cutter and mixed his stuff, is getting GO’s and infield pop ups w/ runners on … please keep it going.
mel- That completely slipped my mind!
Great pitching by Farnsworth to escape from the jam. Yes, he created the jam, but he was able to show some (GASP!)mental toughness, coming back to sandwich a strikeout of Pudge in between the two pop-ups. Nicely done!
That was an impressive sequence of pitching by Farnsworth after giving up that run.
I still don’t trust Farnsworth but he has been much better this year than he was last year when he was just awful.
I still don’t want to see him pitching in a big spot. He was fortunate Pudge swung through ball 4. But Farnsworth has been fine this year on the whole.
Checking on Gameday…I do see now that Farnsworth threw in the 90′s…
Fransworth did well.
He did what he was supposed to do in the 7th inning, i.e, contain the damage and not give up too many runs. He showed fortitude by stranding two in scoring position with no one out.
There will always be people here who will not accept him because of the past. But, Girardi showed faith in him and he is returning the favor. He is a very important piece of the bullpen, especially if Joba moves to rotation.
Simple idea — put Betemit on DL, call up Kennedy to replace him. Then send down Kei and bring up the AG. Simple. Easy. The Yanks are a much better team with that solution (of course, I prefer the AG to Betemit anyway)
At least he only let in the inherited runner and not any more.
He made sure to preserve his ERA in his walk year. Isn’t it funny how much better players perform when money is on the line? It seems like every player but Andruw Jones does significantly better in their walk year.
“Whew! Anyone else think that pitchers and relievers who let inherited runs score should split the earned run?”
There’s a stat that does take into account letting inherited runners score, and also discounts them from the pitcher that put them on. Not completely either way, clearly. I forget what it’s called.
Wow, that was a quick inning…
“How do you know which one is correct?”
Gameday is much more accurate. Gameday velocity is based on radar gun readings which are part of a system which is being used to collect pitch by pitch data for analysis.
It’s more reliable than what the networks have.
Here’s what I want to see out of Joba: FB,FB,FB………until they hit it. Please no thousands of breaking pitches that he loves to throw.
“I still don’t want to see him pitching in a big spot. He was fortunate Pudge swung through ball 4. But Farnsworth has been fine this year on the whole.”
Well, he might’ve elevated because he knows Pudge is REALLY unlikely to take a walk, no? Climbed the ladder on purpose?
That was an impressive sequence of pitching by Farnsworth after giving up that run.
I still don’t trust Farnsworth but he has been much better this year than he was last year when he was just awful.
I still don’t want to see him pitching in a big spot. He was fortunate Pudge swung through ball 4. But Farnsworth has been fine this year on the whole.
That just about sums it up for me. He stunk for 2 years so one month of good pitching isn’t going to win my trust.
Wow…thought the game was later today and to my surprise, could the Yankee 500′s finally beat Detroit.
Looks like Rasner was everything that Igawa is not. Still a mystery on Igawa and why he is even collecting a paycheck. He should be sent back to Japan as a disgrace.
Better news, Betemit is out again. Tide could finally be turning for the Yankees… like the idea of bringing back Kennedy and AG….
“Simple idea — put Betemit on DL, call up Kennedy to replace him. Then send down Kei and bring up the AG. Simple. Easy. The Yanks are a much better team with that solution (of course, I prefer the AG to Betemit anyway)”
absolutely not. Ian Kennedy hasn’t earned anything yet, he needs to show he can do it consistantly one start in AAA doesn’t show that, Kei can be sent down for a bag of rocks for all I care. I can’t stand the posters that say they prefer AG to Bet, Bet has a better bat, Gonzo is not that type of hitter, Gonzo is a better fielder but nowhere near Bet’s bat. Plus Bet isn’t out more than a few days hopefully.
Farnsworth did good.
He still makes my blood pressure go up..but so far so good from him.
Let’s go Joba!!
“Simple idea — put Betemit on DL, call up Kennedy to replace him. Then send down Kei and bring up the AG. Simple. Easy. The Yanks are a much better team with that solution (of course, I prefer the AG to Betemit anyway)”
I’d rather give Kennedy more time at AAA so he can get on a roll and build more confidence.
“UPDATE, 5:58 p.m.: All things considered, allowing only run there was a success for Krazy Kyle. If he pitches and you still have the lead, that’s a plus.”
Sounds like Peter is implying that Farnsworth gave up a run that was charged to Rasner.
“There’s a stat that does take into account letting inherited runners score, and also discounts them from the pitcher that put them on. Not completely either way, clearly. I forget what it’s called.”
Inhereted runs prevented is one statistics that does this. Two other related statistics that account for how relief pitcher’s do in the context of having men on base is adjusted runs prevented and win expectancy.
Pat-I agree with you with Kennedy at Triple A, but does Igawa have to be up here in the time being? Please tell me there are not any other options we can try. If he was supposedly our second best pitcher in Triple A at the time he was called up then we are in trouble.
Yep, it was charged to Rasner
So Rasner’s 3.00 era…stays at 3.00
Joba and Mo…
It doesn’t get much better…
That combination will make all the differnce come post season!
Wow a reasonable discussion re Joba’s fist pump. Nice to have some unbiased announcers for a change (even if they are wrong on multiple details of what they say.)
“I can’t stand the posters that say they prefer AG to Bet, Bet has a better bat, Gonzo is not that type of hitter, Gonzo is a better fielder but nowhere near Bet’s bat. Plus Bet isn’t out more than a few days hopefully.”
With A-rod out I’d rather have Betemit so he could get regular PT at third. With A-rod back soon though Betemit loses his position unless you want to platoon him at first. Now that Giambi is starting to hit though that was doubtful to happen. I think Wilson would be a better fielder at first than Jason and put up comparable if not better numbers offensively. I would have liked to see a Duncan/Betemit platoon at first.
Sterling says, Joba Joba doo
“Well, he might’ve elevated because he knows Pudge is REALLY unlikely to take a walk, no? Climbed the ladder on purpose?”
Very true. And generally I’d think that was good pitching. But the caveat there is that it was a 3-2 count. That’s a risky way to pitch on a 3-2 count.
But they very well may have scouting that Pudge will chase on 3-2 counts. He’s not a patient hitter.
“Pat-I agree with you with Kennedy at Triple A, but does Igawa have to be up here in the time being? Please tell me there are not any other options we can try. If he was supposedly our second best pitcher in Triple A at the time he was called up then we are in trouble.”
I’d go to Steven White for the next turn in the rotation. See if he can do anything and if not maybe then its time for Kennedy.
I do think Kennedy needs more time in AAA before he comes back.
But if I had to choose between Kennedy and Igawa…I would rather watch Kennedy pitch. Hell, I would rather watch Hank pitch the game.
I really wonder what they are gonna do about Igawa.
Betemit through this forum has recieved alot of heat, in the last 3 games from the left side he has a HR, 2 doubles and an RBI, what is it that people can’t understand he’s a better LHB who can play 1B and probably if he scratches the right side he will become a better all around LHB.
Dynasty, are you predicting that Joba will remain in the bullpen for the whole year or that he will go into the rotation and then return to the bullpen in the postseason?
“Please tell me there are not any other options we can try. If he was supposedly our second best pitcher in Triple A at the time he was called up then we are in trouble.”
Given that two better options were hurt (Karstens, Horne), it is what it is. Steven White is another option, but he’s not on the 40-man. All the roster gymnastics made necessary by the injuries have made starting pitcher moves even more difficult for them. They could DFA Igawa. No one’d probably take him.
Rasner doing a good job. Throws strikes, works fast and his second good outing. He should hold the 4th spot in the rotation for now – just need a #5 starter (not named Igawa).
“That combination will make all the differnce come post season!”
Given that the Yankees haven’t had many late-inning leads to protect in post-season play, I’d much rather have Joba STARTING games in October.
Nick in SF your going to confuse him
LOL. Joba doing the fist pump in the dugout.
Cograts to Jeet! First homer of the year!
Nick in SF,
I’m predicting he will remain in the bullpen the whole year…
how many bats does Damon break in a week? man.
Hey you can’t do that…that’s Joba’s trademark!!!!!
Wait…was that a fist pump from the Tigers’ pitcher!??!?!
SHOOT HIM!!!!
“I’m predicting he will remain in the bullpen the whole year…”
Horrendous idea.
OK, Dynasty, you’re on the record. But I think you’re confusing what you think is best for the team with what management has indicated they think is best for the team.
Or, to put it another way, I think you’re letting your emotion influence your analysis.
whoaaaaa u see that fist pump?!?!?!??!?! is he nuts….i wonder of mike and the mad dog will talk about that on monday
did that pitcher just show a latin fist pump in a 5 – 2 defecit ?
Cruceta just fist pumped for a strike out losing by 3. I wonder what M&MD think about that?
Mariano time….
“Cruceta just fist pumped for a strike out losing by 3. I wonder what M&MD think about that?”
M&MD: he’ll never be a Mariano that way
Steven White is another option, but he’s not on the 40-man.
I didn’t realize that, are there any other options that are on the 40 (other than Kennedy)? It seems that White would be the next in line for a call-up but the roster situation might make it tough.
“I can’t stand the posters that say they prefer AG to Bet, Bet has a better bat, Gonzo is not that type of hitter, Gonzo is a better fielder but nowhere near Bet’s bat.”
Comparing Betemit and Gonzalez is really comparing apples to oranges.
They are entirely different players at this point in their careers.
Betemit really does not appear to be a legitimate SS/2b backup option for any significant period of time. He can fill in for a game or 2 but that’s about it. He is just not a back up middle infielder. He’s a backup corner infielder who can spot fill in at SS.
Gonzalez has shown he’s a backup middle infielder and that he could probably play third in a pinch.
As a backup corner infielder Betemit hits for more power – as you’d expect.
Gonzelez may hit for a higher average and strikeout less but will hit for less power.
They are just different players and their value depends on context – what role does the team need?
The way it is going the real comparison that may need to be made is Betemit vs. Ensberg (depending on Betemit’s injury).
If Ensberg doesn’t hit his value is very limited.
They may have to decide about whether to carry Gonzalez as a backup middle infielder vs. Ensberg as a backup corner infielder.
That’s where thing are headed right now more than they are Gonzalez vs. Betemit.
That may change if a trade is made – if another team actually thinks Betemit might be able to play SS then he could have decent trade value.
We’ll see how this plays out. I don’t think he’ll just be out a few days with a hamstring.
“M&MD: he’ll never be a Mariano that way”
He’ll also never be Mariano coming in the 9th inning LOSING by 3 runs either.
Nick in SF,
That’s my prediction based on a gut instinct at the present time…if things change, who knows…
But as things stand now I believe he’ll stay in the pen…
And how is it a horrendous idea? If it wasn’t for those bugs last year, we might have won it all with the combo of Joba and Mo…
You do realize that Joba makes Mo more effective too…
“whoaaaaa u see that fist pump?!?!?!??!?! is he nuts….i wonder of mike and the mad dog will talk about that on monday”
Weeeell, I don’t think it’s the same thing, Chris. He threw two innings, not one. Plus it’s part of the whole Latin culture. Joba’s a native american, he should be more subdued. And it was against the Yankees, not against the Indians. Not the same thing.
Plus the Tigers got a lot of feistiness in them. It’s the Tiger way to be pumped up and energetic. The Yankee way (which I’m sick and tired of being shoved down my throat, by the way) is to be sedate. It’s not the same.
Steve White is on the 40 man roster.
They can call him up to take that next start.
Rasner gave the Yankees their only quality start of the year against the Tigers. It makes this outing even more impressive. Go Mo.
He pumped his fist and he’s down 3 runs.
If Joba is in the pen all year that would really set him back in terms of being a starter next year.
Gonzalez has shown he’s a backup middle infielder and that he could probably play third in a pinch.
He started at third against detroit when they were at Yankee stadium and he looked good out there. He can definitely play third, he has special defensive skills.
CB I ask this question Betemit is clearly a very good LH power bat why not have him scratch the RH side, some hitters are just not good switch hitters and he falls into that case, but from the LH side he clearly has big upsides, he can already hit the ball to the opposite field from the LH side why is he batting RH at all ?
That Mo cutter keeps Louisville in business!
Way to roll 2 their Mo, you are incredible.
Mariano is just amazing. Cabrera is one of the best hitters in the league and he just made him look terrible there.
Cabrera had no chance of centering that pitch. Completely over matched.
Chad Moeller isnt too bad for a catcher
Great pitching job by the Yanks. Nice victory. And Andy going tomorrow to take 2 of 3. I like the Yankees chances.
Mo is Awesome!!!!
Joba + Mo = INDOMITABLE!
The Great Mariano. As cool as the other side of the pillow and professional. Completely unlike the guy in Boston with the key in his back.
Brandon,
It’s not unreasonable to tell Betemit to scrap the RH hitting given that he’s so bad at it.
That said if you do that you’re probably committing him to be a platoon only player.
There’s a very good chance that he won’t be able to hit left handed pitching at all from as a left handed hitter. He may just be completely overmatched.
He’s probably hasn’t faced left handed pitching as a left handed hitter in years.
I don’t think that solves the problem.
i really hope they do call up white for that start. it shows all the minor leaguers that whoever pitches best gets the 1st shot at mlb starts.
nice win today, Rasner is the story!
I feel like I know what it’s like to be in the presence of a deity when I watch Mo pitch this year. He is serenity now.
Dynasty, I think your understanding of how the Yanks view Joba and what they want from him this year and in the future is lacking. The bottom line is that good (not to mention potentially great) starters are more valuable than setup men. Joba was good today. Not so much in the other games vs. the Tigers this year. The ones he didn’t pitch in.
Nice win!
“He started at third against detroit when they were at Yankee stadium and he looked good out there. He can definitely play third, he has special defensive skills.”
I dont’ doubt he has the ability to play a strong third base. It’s just a matter of him not having the experience.
He’s a very gifted defensive player.
well lets be honest CB it’s not like the right side is helping him in his overall AVG, OBP % and SLG %
“Steve White is on the 40 man roster.
They can call him up to take that next start.”
My fault. Then…man, I’d be hard-pressed not to really lean heavily in that direction. TB’s got some good hitters, so it certainly wouldn’t be easing him in, but…if Igawa doesn’t see that he can’t pitch up in the zone, forget it. I’m ready to toss him.
yankees flashing a shut-you-down bullpen. its funny when i read what ppl write on here about the bp (that its basically horrible and lucky when they hold a lead) and what the announcers from the other teams say about it (you better score before the 6th or its game over). if the starting pitching settles down with days off and rasner filling in, this team is ready to take off.
“well lets be honest CB it’s not like the right side is helping him in his overall AVG, OBP % and SLG %”
If he hasn’t faced lefty pitching as a lefty in years, then whatever he’s doing against them righty is better than that’d be. It’s certainly not something you’d really want to see midseason.
“Livan Hernandez is garbage.”
hahahahahahaha
that’s a good one.
you must have hated that complete game 1 run victory he just had.
what’s that 5 wins?
i guess one man’s garbage is another’s treasure.
“Joba + Mo = INDOMITABLE!”
This misses the entire point of this game.
Joba and Mo are both amazing.
But that is NOT why the yankees won.
They won because Rasner pitched a terrific game.
How useful were Joba and Mo yesterday when Igawa was terrible?
It was Rasner who won this game. The 18 outs he got were the key to this game.
Not the 3 outs that Joba got. Or the 3 outs Mo got.
It’s nice to have a fourth starter. I say give Steven White the next start and then bring back Ian Kennedy at least until Joba or McCutchen enter the rotation.
well how about if he is sent down have him work on swinging from the LH side altogether getting use to it instead of having him waste the RH side in the pro level. It really has held down his potential whozat
Nick in SF,
I’ve read about what they want for Joba’s future…I know they view him as a starter long term…and I’m not opposed to that idea on principle…
However…if this formula of Joba + Mo continues to work, they will not upset that delicate late inning balance…
It isn’t just about Joba-it’s about Mo’s effectiveness too…
No one here seems to recall the World Championship Angel teams…as I recall late inning relief was vital to their success…
How valuable was Scot Shields for example?
“well lets be honest CB it’s not like the right side is helping him in his overall AVG, OBP % and SLG %”
No its not. This is the fatal flaw in his game – he just can’t hit left handed pitching.
That’s not that uncommon a fault.
No matter what you do it’s unlikely he’s going to start hitting left handed pitching.
That’s why he’s limited as a player. It also makes him a very strange player to have on the bench – big pluses and big deficiencies.
For all you people who want Joba in the rotation. I’m sorry I just don’t get it. You will all be the ones to bitch when the 8th inning man gives up a bunch of runs to loose a game an a win for Joba Leave him just where he is at for now.
CB,
With all due respect, if Farnsworth had failed and there was no Joba, you might be making the counter argument…
CB you can also tell him after K-FLOP pitched those undeserved 3 innings it was the BP of Albaladejo, Hawkins and Ramirez who kept the game a float enough to mustard a comeback effort in the 9th, oh yeh Bet led that inning off w/ a double that ended up w/ him scoring too…
Dynasty, please read CB’s comments and take them to heart.
“I’d be hard-pressed not to really lean heavily in that direction.”
I agree. I would not give Igawa another start. I’d call up Steve White and give him that start against Tampa.
No way I do Igawa again. The Alan Horne and Jeff Karstens injuries really hurt right now.
“With all due respect, if Farnsworth had failed and there was no Joba, you might be making the counter argument…”
but he didn’t fail did he, so what is your point, we can easily apply the same thing to Joba
“No matter what you do it’s unlikely he’s going to start hitting left handed pitching.”
CB so you don’t think from a natural swing side he can hit a ball coming out of a LHP’s hand, I mean the arguement is his RH swing is horrible , you can even see it’s not natural to him in his cuts, why waste an AB at that side and not test it out as a predominantly LHB instead… that’s just one of my thoughts on him.
The point is we just don’t know how many games might be lost when starters like Rasner or Pettitte or whoever gives a good performance will be for naught…
It doesn’t matter if you lose the game on the front end (starting) or the back end (relief)…a loss is a loss…
How many of Joba’s starts might be spoiled because there is no Joba to relieve?
Then there’s a domino effect you have to consider…No Joba in relief will mean Mo will be taxed…
It’s not smart to upset something that is proving to be so effective…
“How valuable was Scot Shields for example?”
Less valuable than their starting pitching, which I’m sure was also very good.
Dynasty, I’m not even sure what you’re saying about CB there. CB would not be making the counter-argument if Kyle had blown the game — he’s been consistent on this issue through the entire off-season and season thus far.
I think what I said before is apt: you think that the Yanks do or will see things YOUR way instead of THEIR way. Over and over you said things like “I just can’t see them changing a winning formula….” The key phrase there is “I just can’t see…”
“I’d call up Steve White and give him that start against Tampa.”
He walks a lot of guys, though. 4+ per 9. That could be LETHAL with Tampa’s speed. Though, letting them crush doubles and homers isn’t good either. White doesn’t have a good GB:FB ratio either.
it’s kinda pick your poison at this point, though.
why is it that you can’t make sense in your post, I’m trying to understand Dynasty’s arguement w/ the BP , but he just makes no sense ! since WHEN HAS THE BULLPEN BEEN THE PROBLEM THIS SEASON EVEN IN JOBA NON APPEARANCES !
“With all due respect, if Farnsworth had failed and there was no Joba, you might be making the counter argument…”
No I can honestly say that I would never, ever say that.
There is no way that you can equate the value of getting three outs with 18 outs or with 21 outs.
I have dozens of posts on this blog to that effect so it’s not like I’m just saying that right now based on how things worked out this game.
There is no comparison in the value of a quality start to a good one inning relief appearance.
If Rasner didn’t give them this outstanding start it would not have mattered at all how Farnsworth, Joba and Mo pitches.
They would have been absolutely irrelevant.
Just compare today’s game with yesterdays.
Joba and Mo were as awesome yesterday as they were today.
But yesterday they were useless to the team. Not their fault but they were irrelevant.
The value of any relief pitcher is COMPLETELY dependent on the quality of the starting pitcher.
That’s the thing with a relief pitcher – it’s not about their absolute level of talent. It’s about their value.
The value of a relief pitcher is very different than their talent because their value depends on context.
It’s the starting pitcher that defines the context any relief pitcher throws in.
“No Joba in relief will mean Mo will be taxed…”
You’re acting like the choice is between Joba in the 8th and Mo throwing two inning saves 4 days a week. It’s not. Among Ohlendorf, Veras, Ramirez, Robertson, Horne, McCutchen, someone will step up that’s 80% as effective as Joba. And that’ll be fine, because Joba moving to the rotation will mean more and larger leads later in games.
Two quality starts from Darrell Rasner. We’ll NEVER see such a thing from Igawa.
Igawa didn’t merit yesterday’s start. It was all about his contract and that reason has to come to an end …. NOW.
It may be somewhat chancy with Steven White or Chase Wright but Igawa will remain the same.
“It’s not smart to upset something that is proving to be so effective…”
If that’s how you define a .500 team, maybe. Can you break down the Yanks’ 19 losses and explain how many were lost due to ineffective starting pitching and how many were blown by the bullpen? Well, take out the one that Joba himself blew, since you consider that the exception that proves the rule, and work on the other 18.
Gee I wonder who is a better pitcher, Rasner or Igawa ?….I’ll get to some research and git bak too ye un thaht won sune !
“CB so you don’t think from a natural swing side he can hit a ball coming out of a LHP’s hand, ”
No I don’t. The only way Betemit can get better is to go back down to the minor leagues and work really, really hard for at least a year – maybe two on hitting lefites.
I don’t see him wanting to do that or a team making that kind of committment to his development given his age.
Betemit is an example of a player who’s long term career was likely hurt severely by being called up to the majors too soon.
At this point he is what he is.
farns is doing great working for joe g and will be hearing people cheering him at the stadium if he gets through this road trip without blowing a lead. thats alot of positive momentum.
no question i want joba in the rotation from the all star break on. if not, his development takes a big step back b/c he will pitch less innings than last year. olendorf is ready to step into the 7th and Krazy gets the 8th. a guy with 3 top notch pitches is not a releaver, on the yankees, hed win more than wang. and unlike hugh’s potential, he is already proving that he can dominate major league hitters.
if he is eventually mo’s replacement, thats fine when it happens but using him for middle relief and setting his development back is not the way to use him.
Nick in SF,
Well, we can just keep going around in circles but what’s the point?
If he relieves I’ll root for the Yankees to win…
If he starts, I’ll root for the Yankees to win…
However, I don’t think removing him from the bullpen is a wise strategy…
And I don’t care what the so-called plan is-plans are subject to change…
If someone wants to keep Betemit for his bat, fine. He’s something like a .260 career hitter with neither power nor speed.
We can be give the AG a chance to see what he can do against big league pitching, that way we won’t be giving any games away in the field.
Betemit is a proven major leaguer, so he’d be find as filler on a trade.
Angels had a fantastic pitching staff in 2002
Their top 3 starters had era+ of 113, 117, and 141. 4th slot was Aaron Sele at era+ of 90, and apparently 5th slot was split between Lackey (121), Callaway (105), and Schoeneweis (91) (methinks Schoenewis started 2002 as the 5th starter for 15 games then got banished to the bullpen for another 39)
Last night’s game was the perfect example for why relief pitching is so easy to over rate in comparison to starting pitching.
Is anyone going to claim that Todd Jones pitched well? Despite Jones being absolutely awful last night Detroit won the game.
Igawa was terrible as the starter. And that put the yankees in a hole they couldn’t dig themselves out of.
So last night Detroit’s starter was OK and their bull pen awful. And the yankees starter was awful and their bull pen pitched well.
Who won? The team that got the decent start and had the awful bull pen performance.
Detroit’s bull pen was OK today. But why did they lose? Their starter was terrible.
Nick in SF,
I have a question for you and anyone else here on the board who’s willing to tackle it…
Assuming they get Joba into the starting rotation as “planned”…
How many starts do you project Joba to have the rest of this season?
What’s your best estimate?
OK, I just did the research and Rasner IS way better than Igawa…..also, it looks like my 7 year old daughter JUST barely edges out Igawa as well…..
Blargh,
The Angels would not have been World Champions without the immense contributions of the bullpen…
Really, I don’t think that’s open to debate…
DID YOU ACTUALLY JUST SAY THAT !
“The Angels would not have been World Champions without the immense contributions of the bullpen…”
If you replaced one of their best starters with a replacement level guy, I betcha they wouldn’t have been champs either.
But no one’s saying “take the 2002 Angels minus Scot Shields”, even. I’m saying “replace 2002 scot shields with like…2004 or 2007 scot shields.
“OK, I just did the research and Rasner IS way better than Igawa…..also, it looks like my 7 year old daughter JUST barely edges out Igawa as well…”
I would say that a monkey could pitch better than Igawa. Igawa is just horrible. Hell, I would trust that Irabu pitching for the Yanks more than I would trust Igawa.
Dynasty… every time I think there’s hope for you, that you’re making progress, you go and say something like that! Why do I bother? Hmmmm. I guess I bother because you seem like a good guy, and genuine Yankee fan, and someone who wants to understand. Unlike most of the Joba-must-stay-in-bullpen crowd, who come across as bitter and/or trolls. Ugh.
I think you could clarify your views on this subject if you just came out and say what you seem to often hint at. Just say “I think that middle-inning relief pitching is the most important aspect to a winning baseball team” and then we’ll all get where you’re coming from.
(p.s. the Angels won the World Series because they had a mole named Darren Baker undermining the Giants from within)
2002 Scot Shields’s postseason consisted of 1.7 innings in the World Series (all in game 5). His first 0.7 inning was a K, a HR, a single, then a groundout. His full inning after that was a flyout, single, single, error (one unearned run here), groundout, grand slam (3 more unearned runs), then flyout.
2002 Scot Shields is a really bad choice to use for postseason reliever glory.
Er, whoops, that was not a grand slam
That was a 3 run homer by Aurilia. Nevertheless, Aurilia’s run was still counted as unearned…I don’t know why.
Nick in SF,
I think that you can’t really say one is more important than another…
They’re all interdependent…
If you have great relief but no starting pitching you won’t win obviously…I happen to think the Yankees will fix their starting pitching without resorting to Joba…
Of course if you have starting pitching but no relief-you can lose a lot of games that way too!
You need BOTH to win-there’s no way around it…
By the way, what were K-Rod and Troy Percival doing in the 2002 World Series?
What would K-Rod and Troy Percival and Joba and Mo and Goose Gossage in the bullpen do on a day that Kei Igawa starts? ARGH.
How did K-Rod and Troy Percival get into a position to save any games? ARGH.
“However, I don’t think removing him from the bullpen is a wise strategy…And I don’t care what the so-called plan is..”
You don’t have to care about the plan or agree with it or accept it, but until you recognize its logic and its very existence, you’re not going to make much sense!
Ok, yay for today’s win, see all you good folks later.
Pretty well, relatively speaking; Percival only gave up a HR to Bonds, otherwise no other runs during his 3 innings. K-Rod lost game 4 for the Angels but otherwise didn’t give up any runs for the rest of the series that I could see (overall 8.7 IP in WS for K-Rod).
Anyway, if Joba is to be a starter next year, he has to become a starter sometime this year to build up the innings to be a full time starter next year. There’s no way he’ll get up to 140-150 innings as a reliever.
Nick in SF,
Well, at least we’re in agreement on Kei Igawa…
Imagine if we had to rely on Igawa to start a postseason game…
I shudder at the thought…
Dynasty if Igawa had to pitch in a postseason game I just would not watch it. I am not watching Wednesday night’s game most likely because I already know the outcome and that is Igawa stinking up.
Rasner can be our #4 starter, at least as of now.
Kevin,
And no one would blame you for not watching…
I’m getting sick of the bashing at Joba for his emotions. What the hell does Papelbon do ? Same damn thing, get over it. “You are glad he conducted himself like a gentlemen.” Why the hell don’t you go write for a Boston paper. I’m sick of this, Joba is the man and the emotion is not showing up the batter. Cleveland calling him bush league. Whatever. Does Manny and Ortiz need to act like gentlemen too ? Oh I forgot they are Red Sox so they are good.