The LoHud Yankees Blog

A New York Yankees blog by Chad Jennings and the staff of The Journal News


Game 74: Reds at Yankees

Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Jun 20, 2008 Print This Post Print This Post | Email This Post Email This Post

(Check the updates for comments from a MLB umpire on Pat Venditte)

YANKEES (40-33)
Damon LF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Giambi 1B
Cano 2B
Cabrera CF
Molina C

Mike Mussina (10-4, 3.87) vs. the Cincinnati hitters.

Edinson Volquez (9-2, 1.64) vs. the New York hitters.

Notes: A-Rod has hit in seven straight (12 of 25, nine RBI, four home runs, 10 runs scored). … Johnny Damon has hit in five straight (11 of 24, five runs). … Derek Jeter has hit in eight straight (10 of 32, six runs, five RBI). Jeter has reached base safely in 34 straight interleague games. … The Yankees have won seven straight and 10 of 12. … Giambi is 0 for his last 9 with five strikeouts. … Yankee pitchers have struck out 40 in the last three games. … The Yankees have won 12 of 15 at home. … Bobby Abreu is 2 of his last 25. … Jose Veras has thrown nine consecutive scoreless innings. … Jose Molina has 13 doubles. That’s more than Giambi (11), Jeter (10) and Melky Cabrera (9).

UPDATE, 4:27 p.m.: Ian Kennedy has a rehab game scheduled for Monday. He’ll throw 50 pitches for the GCL team.

Also heard from Phil Hughes. He will start playing catch on Wednesday. He has started lifting weights. So good news for IPK and the Franchise.

UPDATE, 6:04 p.m.: Talked to Brian Bruney. He threw a 30-pitch bullpen today and did some running in the outfield for the first time since he was injured. So that’s two bullpens for Bruney. “It’s going to take some time but I’m getting there,” he said.

UPDATE, 6:05 p.m.: As promised, I went to speak to the umpires today about Pat Venditte. Crew chief Charlie Reliford invited me into their locker room. Get this: There is no major-league rule regarding a pitcher like Venditte.

“The only rule is what when a pitcher is on the rubber, a batter cannot change boxes,” Reliford said. “But there is no penalty for switching, you just tell him he can’t do it.”

The MLB Rules Committee (which meets infequently) will have to address the situation and decide what Venditte can and can’t do. Reliford believes that ultimately Venditte would have to stick with one arm once an at-bat starts. But what if the batter switches sides during the at-bat. “Good question,” he said. “That’s something that will have to be decided.”

Reliford said that each minor league uses the Major League rules but can modify them as needed. “That’s what the kid’s league will have to do now,” he said. “It’s a very interesting thing.”

The umpires get a bad rap sometimes but Reliford was very gracious with his time.

UPDATE, 7:15 p.m.: A little cloudy but a nice night in the Boogie Down for the Yankees and Reds. A comfortable 75 degrees at the grand old ballpark.

Fascinating matchup (to me, at least) between old-timey Mike Mussina and young gun Edinson Volquez. I have a couple of stories to write but I’ll check in with updates as time permits.

UPDATE, 7:23 p.m.: Can somebody explain this to me? An opposing player hits a home run (Joey Votto in this case). The person who catches it is pressured into throwing the ball back on the field. So the outfielder throws the ball in and the ball boy sitting on the first base line has a dozen people begging for it. He flips it to one of them.

So it’s not cool for the person who catches the ball to keep it. But some dope sitting behind first base can keep it? How does that work?

UPDATE, 7:57 p.m.: It’s one thing to be aggressive. But the Yankees have so far run into outs with Bobby Abreu and Derek Jeter at the plate? Why let Volquez off the hook by giving him outs? Make him work and get into Cincy’s middle relief.

Meanwhile. Brian Runge has an interesting strike zone.

UPDATE, 8:06 p.m.: It would be interesting to look back at Cano’s errors. I bet 75 percent of them have come on “easy” plays that he makes casually.

UPDATE, 8:33 p.m.: Those intentional walks don’t ever seem to work out well for Joe Girardi, do they? I understand Jay Bruce is damn good. But Jolbert Cabrera was 2 for 2 off Moose.

Meanwhile, good hustle by Bruce to score from first and a heck of a slide by Cabrera around the glove of Molina.

UPDATE, 8:42 p.m.: That no defense playing Derek Jeter just saved a run by going to his left, making a diving stop and flipping to Cano for a force.

UPDATE, 8:57 p.m.: If you were managing another team and there was a grounder to first base, wouldn’t you have whoever was on base keep running? The Big G just can’t make a throw.

UPDATE, 9:10 p.m.: Big spot for The Big G here. He is hitless in his last 11 at-bats with six strikeouts. This would be a good time to snap out of it.

 
 

Advertisement

907 Responses to “Game 74: Reds at Yankees”

  1. V June 20th, 2008 at 3:37 pm

    Posada with the day off. I’m assuming routine day off (he played the past three)?

  2. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 3:39 pm

    Posada doesn’t usually catch Mussina–not since he’s having the success with Molina he is.

    I like this line up.

  3. Fredo Corleone June 20th, 2008 at 3:41 pm

    He only DH’d yesterday. Nobody’s admitting as much, but Molina is Moose’s personal catcher.

  4. Laura June 20th, 2008 at 3:41 pm

    This Reds pitcher is very good. I hope he has an off night.

  5. gayle June 20th, 2008 at 3:41 pm

    I like Jorge sitting tonight. First so Mussina continues to work with Mol;ina and 2nd it allows Jorge to catch Giese in his first start at the stadium and give him some guidance whereas if he caught tonight he would not be catching tommorrow as it is a day game after a night game.

  6. jennifer June 20th, 2008 at 3:42 pm

    I’d assume it is so Jorge could catch two days in a row Saturday and Sunday. Otherwise you run into day/night game.

  7. PJH June 20th, 2008 at 3:45 pm

    Plus Molina is 1 for 2 with a homerun off of Volquez. The only Yankee to face him.

  8. Yankee Trader June 20th, 2008 at 3:46 pm

    Why is it the Yankees knock Peavy out in the 4th inning, after giving up 4 runs and can barely score off Josh Banks?Peavy and Volquez are probably the two best pitchers in the NL, currently and suspect Volquez to be a tough pitcher to face tonight.

  9. E June 20th, 2008 at 3:47 pm

    why have moeller if u dont ever play him?

  10. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 3:47 pm

    What PJH said.

  11. berniepaul&tino June 20th, 2008 at 3:49 pm

    moeller is just an insurance policy if posadas arm starts acting up again.

  12. jay destro June 20th, 2008 at 3:50 pm

    crazy 8′s kids.

  13. whozat June 20th, 2008 at 3:52 pm

    “why have moeller if u dont ever play him?”

    Because you don’t want to lose him on waivers when you try to send him to the minors.

  14. saucY June 20th, 2008 at 3:52 pm

    “Plus Molina is 1 for 2 with a homerun off of Volquez. The only Yankee to face him.”

    WOW!

    i took a look and Moeller caught Moose only 1nce and Posada caught Moose only 1nce this season. Moose did well throwing to Posada, but you can’t argue with the results with Molina behind the plate for him. oh and yeah, molina’s 2.500 OPS against Volquez :lol:

    Nice Matsui’s playing today!

  15. V June 20th, 2008 at 3:52 pm

    “why have moeller if u dont ever play him?”

    Because he sucks?

    He’s the 3rd catcher. He’s there if he’s needed. He’s not going to be used if not needed.

  16. Fredo Corleone June 20th, 2008 at 3:52 pm

    “Why is it the Yankees knock Peavy out in the 4th inning, after giving up 4 runs and can barely score off Josh Banks?”

    Wouldn’t put too much stock into the Peavy beating. It was his 2nd start off the DL and he’s basically doing his minor league rehab in the majors. He’s probably not himself til July.

  17. Patrick (the good one) June 20th, 2008 at 3:53 pm

    “why have moeller if u dont ever play him?”

    Insurance

    “Peavy and Volquez are probably the two best pitchers in the NL, currently and suspect Volquez to be a tough pitcher to face tonight.”

    Brandon Webb is having a better season than Peavy. In fact the Yanks lucked out when facing Peavy, it was his second start back from the DL. When he’s in a groove he’s one of the best.

  18. Wave Your Hat June 20th, 2008 at 3:56 pm

    Moeller wasn’t claimed the last time he was sent down. I’m surprised everyone is buying the insurance angle.

  19. bronxbomber77 "Fear the 'Stache" June 20th, 2008 at 3:56 pm

    Hopefully Yankees Stadium on a Friday night will get to Volquez.

    The destiny and aura of the place will be too much for him to face.

    Here’s to dropping four runs on Volzquez in the first frame!

    GO YANKEES !

    Worst to First, 2008 !

  20. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 3:56 pm

    Not to mention, Peavy’s stats are obscured by Petco being the mother of all pitcher’s parks…check out his road stats, and he’s not so mesmerizing.

  21. JR Yankees June 20th, 2008 at 3:57 pm

    I would imagine during the remainder of the season we will see Posada with many more days off than we are used to for two reasons:

    1. We have a competant, very good defensive backup catcher with passable offensive capabilities.
    2. Girardi wants to make sure we can get Posada through the rest of the season prior to his scheduled surgery (it is almost a given he will get surgery during the offseason).

    Overall, as long as the rest of the lineup does the small things…moving runners over, getting a guy in from 3rd with less than 2 outs, stealing bases…this team can survive without Posada behind the plate and/or absent from the lineup all together. Lately, this team is playing very good fundamental baseball and we shoudl all hope it keeps up now that Wang is down and out.

  22. saucY June 20th, 2008 at 3:59 pm

    “Moeller wasn’t claimed the last time he was sent down. I’m surprised everyone is buying the insurance angle.”

    that was a while ago really. a lot can change. the indians just traded for Sal Fasano. i’m pretty sure they’d take Moeller for free instead of giving someone up for Fasano, no matter how bad “playertobenamed” is…

  23. Patrick (the good one) June 20th, 2008 at 3:59 pm

    “Moeller wasn’t claimed the last time he was sent down. I’m surprised everyone is buying the insurance angle.”

    Ok if he isn’t on the team for insurance then why is he on the team?

  24. Nick June 20th, 2008 at 4:01 pm

    Oh god. Volquez. ERA leader, NL All-Star game starter?

  25. randy l June 20th, 2008 at 4:02 pm

    ” I wonder what happens if you look at the bullpen’s ERA in the Hughes/Kennedy starts versus all the other ones?”

    rebecca-

    that wouldn’t tell you if the relief pitcher was tired that day. the bull pen adverse effects might not show up until the next day when the second rookie stresses the bullpen. or even another day later.

    i think this is a real effect, but one that is really hard to measure which is why i asked the people on the blog who are fluent with baseball data bases if they knew a way to measure it.

    the good news ,as cb pointed out, is that the yankees have seemed to withstand the short starts so far. and they do have a number of replacements at triple a and double a as the season goes on.

  26. whozat June 20th, 2008 at 4:04 pm

    “Ok if he isn’t on the team for insurance then why is he on the team?”

    Some bizarre conspiracy that makes no sense, or because the Yankees are stupid. One of the two.

  27. Wave Your Hat June 20th, 2008 at 4:05 pm

    “Ok if he isn’t on the team for insurance then why is he on the team?”

    I didn’t mean to suggest you were wrong in saying he was insurance – I meant to suggest other things might be more important than a third catcher.

  28. MeMoeller June 20th, 2008 at 4:06 pm

    I’m on the team as a double super secret weapon. I will be the centerpiece for a trade to get CC!

  29. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 4:08 pm

    Randy: Agreed.

    Moeller is on the team because of Posada’s arm.

  30. Joey Vegas June 20th, 2008 at 4:11 pm

    When was the last time Hawkins pitched?

  31. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 4:12 pm

    I think hawkins pitched in the loss to Oakland.

  32. Wave Your Hat June 20th, 2008 at 4:13 pm

    Agree that Moeller is on the team because of Posada’s arm. However, do the negatives from the chance that Moeller is claimed off waivers, Posada reinjures his arm and the Yanks have to use someone marginally worse than Moeller for a back-up catcher outweigh the negative of having no bench at all? I guess the Yanks think so, but I’m not convinced.

  33. Jorge Steinbrenner, the long-lost third brother June 20th, 2008 at 4:16 pm

    Edinson Volquez: better than Sandy Koufax. Greg Maddux calls him every night and asks him for pitching tips.

    I say eight in a row tonight. We’re doing exactly what we need to do, and that’s win ‘em in bunches.

    We beat Peavy because good pitchers occasionally get hurt, have bad outings, etc. He’s a friggin’ gamer, though. When’s he a FA? :)

  34. V June 20th, 2008 at 4:18 pm

    “Agree that Moeller is on the team because of Posada’s arm. However, do the negatives from the chance that Moeller is claimed off waivers, Posada reinjures his arm and the Yanks have to use someone marginally worse than Moeller for a back-up catcher outweigh the negative of having no bench at all? I guess the Yanks think so, but I’m not convinced.”

    I have a feeling they’re in the process of figuring out who they want to bring up. The problem is, if you DFA Moeller, put someone on the 40 man in his place, and then you need a catcher, you have to DFA someone to get that catcher on the 40 man.

    If he could be sent to AAA, they would do that. The 25 man roster spot isn’t as important as the 40 man roster spot, though.

  35. SJ44 June 20th, 2008 at 4:18 pm

    Would you rather have Chris Stewart back here if Posada gets hurt or Chad Moeller?

    There is nobody in the minors who can catch if Posada goes down. There is also no guarantee Posada will be able to stay healthy the rest of the season.

    He is after all, playing with a tear in his rotator cuff.

    I am still having nightmares about the night Stewart caught Hughes. He was awful.

    When you have a catcher with a bad wing (like Posada) you have to take precautions.

    Also, Moeller has helped this team win games this year.

    His presence on the roster isn’t hurting the team so far.

    If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

  36. Jorge Steinbrenner, the long-lost third brother June 20th, 2008 at 4:18 pm

    Moeller’s on the team because Chris Stewart was a complete disaster in one game and we don’t want to risk losing a quality 3rd catcher/potential backup if we have to DFA him again. he wouldn’t come back to us a second time.

    this is a problem i wish we didn’t have, though, as that really probably is Brett Gardner’s spot on the bench.

  37. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 4:21 pm

    I’ve got no problem with Moeller being on the roster right now.

    What I have a problem with is Hawkins and Traber, when there are likely other, better options. Don’t even get me started on Farnsy in the 8th inning.

  38. Wave Your Hat June 20th, 2008 at 4:22 pm

    I understand the argument for Moeller, just said I wasn’t convinced. A lot of bad things need to happen for Moeller to be useful (including someone claiming him off waivers if he’s sent down). On the other hand, if Brett Gardner was up we could pinch it for Melky if he faces a lefty in the late innings. That could win some games too. So, I just don’t think the choice is so clear cut.

  39. SJ44 June 20th, 2008 at 4:23 pm

    Re: the bullpen issue, I think Cash will do what he’s done the last two seasons. Remake in mid-season.

    By that I mean, he will add reinforcements as the season wears on. Ostensibly, to replace either worn out, injured, or ineffective guys.

    That’s how they added Bruney two years ago and how they remade the ‘pen with Joba last year.

    Its why I believe we will see Melancon at some point this season. Perhaps Robertson will also be a consideration if he can keep his walks down.

  40. DFox June 20th, 2008 at 4:23 pm

    Jason Giambi just gave the funniest interview I’ve ever heard on the Michael Kay Show.

  41. pat June 20th, 2008 at 4:26 pm

    D Fox
    Give us the highlights

  42. Francis The Praying Mantis June 20th, 2008 at 4:27 pm

    unfortunately Aura and Mystique have to work at Lace tonight.

  43. SJ44 June 20th, 2008 at 4:27 pm

    Brett Gardner is currently slumping in AAA. There is no way Brett Gardner would ever PH for Melky if they were teammates in NY. Why? Because Melky’s stronger side is from the left side of the plate.

    He’s a better hitter from the left side than Brett Gardner.

    The doomsday scenario for the Yankees is that Posada gets injured, they waive Moeller prematurely (and he gets claimed) and Stewart and Molina end up catching for large chunks of the season.

    I’ll pass on that possible option. Once Gardner can show he can consistently produce in AAA, perhaps we can discuss his value to the Yankees at some point in the season.

    Right now, he’s not a better player than Melky Cabrera and there is no way having him up here now helps the Yankees more than having insurance in case Posada get can’t through the season behind the plate.

  44. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 4:27 pm

    DFox: We can haz highlights, plz?

  45. Jim PA June 20th, 2008 at 4:29 pm

    DFox-
    “HaHa” funny or “what the hell’s this guy talkin’ about” fuuny?

  46. Brent (This Damon Guy's For Real, Huh?) June 20th, 2008 at 4:32 pm

    I think you DFA Hawkins and remove Traber from the 40-man before you get rid of Moeller. For the backup to the backup, Moeller is a great find. He can get a hit or two every so often, and he calls a great game.

    Hawkins sucks, and I don’t think that the Yankees’ need for a left-handed specialist warrants keeping Traber on the roster. Give me a right-handed pitcher that can pitch to righties and lefties the majority of the time instead.

  47. TurnTwo June 20th, 2008 at 4:33 pm

    I thought Bleich was pitching for Stanford today, but the next game i see isnt until tomorrow. any idea what happened, or was i just wrong to begin with?

  48. Jorge Steinbrenner, the long-lost third brother June 20th, 2008 at 4:34 pm

    Thank you, SJ, for some sanity on Brett Gardner. I’m all for him being on the big club right now, but it’s more because our idea of a pinch runner two weeks ago was Shelley F’n Duncan.

    Too many folks see Melky’s fire and enthusiasm as something hurtful to the team. Until Brett Gardner shows that he can handle playing CF on the big league team BETTER than Melky, Gardner will be what he is right now, and that’s a prospect with zero major league at-bats.

  49. Nick in SF June 20th, 2008 at 4:35 pm

    I think the Stanfurd game got pushed back a day because of a rainout last night.

  50. SJ44 June 20th, 2008 at 4:36 pm

    Giambi was hysterical. Kay asked him about the mustache.

    He said, “Are you going for the Magnum PI look, or the 70′s Adult Film Star look”? Giambi said, “Definitely going for the Adult Film Star look”.

    He also said the move by Joba to the rotation now looks “genius” because of Wang’s injury.

    He was very funny and completely off the cuff.

    If 1050 puts that interview on the website, you have to listen to it.

    One of the funniest, most down to earth interviews I’ve ever heard Kay do with a Yankee player.

    He was open, honest and funny. No worrying about what came out of his mouth.

    You can really see why he is so popular with guys in the game. It was a great listen.

  51. Keith M June 20th, 2008 at 4:37 pm

    I found some video of this….

    http://gothamist.com/2008/06/2.....hitter.php

  52. TurnTwo June 20th, 2008 at 4:37 pm

    thanks, Nick.

  53. tomkins June 20th, 2008 at 4:38 pm

    with a short bullpen, a blowout would be nice. but very unlikely against volquez (never given up more than 3 ER in a game this year). let’s take some pitches and get into the middle relief.

    and hope moose is solid, of course

  54. DFox June 20th, 2008 at 4:40 pm

    For the Giambi interview, I don’t want to ruin it. Just go here: http://stations.espn.go.com/st.....id=2693958 either tonight or tomorrow and the Podcast will be there and I guarantee it will have the interview. Because part of the reason it was so funny is because the stuff was actually coming out of Giambi’s mouth and the delivery was amazing. Everyone at the station was cracking up.

  55. tomkins June 20th, 2008 at 4:40 pm

    also, volquez is due for a correction (according to his underlying stats, according to sabermetricians aka smarter people than I). let’s start it tonight.

  56. SJ44 June 20th, 2008 at 4:40 pm

    Nick is correct. The LSU-UNC game got postponed for rain last night and they moved that game to tonight and the Stanford game to Saturday.

    I am a big Gardner fan. I also think Melky is a MUCH better player.

    In fact, its not even close.

    Take a look at what Melky was doing in AAA at 20 years old. He was dominating AAA. Brett isn’t dominating AAA.

    At best, Gardner is a 4th OF on a major league team, IMO. If he was recalled tomorrow, he would be the 5th OF on the Yankees.

    Right now, they don’t need a 5th OF. They need Moeller (because of the uncertainty of Posada) more than they need a 5th OF at this time.

    Melky is also a much better defensive OF than Brett.

    I agree with Keith Law. Eventually, Austin Jackson will be better than both of them.

    Overall though, Melky does a lot of the little things to help the team win games. Yesterday was another example of that.

  57. Wave Your Hat June 20th, 2008 at 4:41 pm

    Well, far be it from me to continue to argue with SJ44, but Melky’s OPS against lefties this year is .611. If Gardner was up, we could pinch hit Betamit for him (not great against lefties, but OPS of .684, plus we could pinch run for our dinosaurs. Or, we could pinch hit whichever of our regulars was not playing that day for him. You guys are so sure Moeller will get claimed if he’s sent down, but that’s far from clear, as is the chance that Posada will re-injure himself. No one (at least not me) is claiming Gardner’s better than Melky.

  58. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 4:43 pm

    SJ: Thanks for that!

  59. Francis The Praying Mantis June 20th, 2008 at 4:44 pm

    Ive said this numerous times, even when he couldnt buy a hit and I wanted him axed, I really like Giambi as a person…he is one cool brother. When I met him, he was hysterical, granted he was coked out of his face, but still, he was very charming and down to earth.

  60. E June 20th, 2008 at 4:48 pm

    On SNY i’m watching Venditte’s inning last night…he looks GOOD. I know the hitters are amateur but the movement on his pitches is unbeliveable and he really attacks hitters by getting ahead early in the count. With good coaching he really could be something

  61. SJ44 June 20th, 2008 at 4:48 pm

    The problem with making a stats only argument is, Brett Gardner has never faced major league pitching. He has exactly zero ML AB’s. He has no major league track record. None.

    Why do you think a guy with zero ML AB’s is better than a guy who is in his third year in the majors?

    A guy BTW, who has been a consistent .270-.280 hitter in the majors and also plays excellent defense.

    Betemit is an awful RH hitter.

    There is no benefit to the Yankees in sitting Melky Cabrera for a guy (Betemit) who has can’t hit RH over a larger sample size, and a guy (Gardner) who is never had a ML AB.

    You weaken the team and not strengthen it with that strategy.

    Also, on a team with poor defense, you don’t take one of the best defensive players on the team out of the lineup.

    Doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.

  62. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 4:50 pm

    Melky is not one of the big power guys, and tensds to hit at the lower end of the line up, which means people think he’s expendable.

    He’s not. Well, not right now, anyway.

    But it’s all the little things he does, as SJ says…and it’s not even stuff he does when he’s t bat or in the field or anything like that, but more like the enthusiasm he brings to the team. He gives the team life.

  63. E June 20th, 2008 at 4:53 pm

    Gardner in AAA is hitting .338. For a team like the Yanks that struggles mightily against leftys and Melky struggles against leftys, that’s pretty good. With his speed and ability to hit against leftys, i think he would be very valuable on the September roster, but I don’t see him being called up before then

  64. EricVA June 20th, 2008 at 4:57 pm

    I think I’m gonna play the Brett Gardner drinking game tonight.

    Seriously you guys act like he’s Jay Bruce and Evan Longoria combined.

  65. Patrick (the good one) June 20th, 2008 at 4:57 pm

    ” When I met him, he was hysterical, granted he was coked out of his face, but still, he was very charming and down to earth.”

    We get it Francis, you are a cool guy that does lots of drugs. Congrats bro!

  66. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 4:58 pm

    EricVA: So you mean it’s not just me?

  67. EricVA June 20th, 2008 at 4:59 pm

    For days I’ve been trying to say that it’s not a good move to bring him up…he isn’t that good. Now I just resort to making fun of people who demand he start in CF for the rest of the season.

  68. GreenBeret7 June 20th, 2008 at 4:59 pm

    At this stage of his career, although Cabrera is no star, he has a lot of value to the Yankees. He has more value to NYY than he would to most other teams. He provides the Yanks with what they need. Of course, if he was a Livan Hernandez clone as a pitcher and still play center, it would help. The Yanks really need Hernandez.

  69. Wave Your Hat June 20th, 2008 at 5:00 pm

    SJ44-

    My argument is not to sit Melky. Can’t be done, he’s too valuable. But this year, for whatever reason, he can’t hit lefties. In the late innings, opponents are getting a big advantage if they can bring in a lefty to face him. Right now, when they do that, the Yanks have no response, because Melky can’t be pinch hit for. We’d lose the DH, even if Damon slides over to center. If Gardner was up, he wouldn’t be starting over Melky, but the Yanks would have a response. They could pinch hit Betamit for Melky. This year, for whatever reason, Betamit is hitting lefties much better than Melky is. Also, having Gardner on the bench would let the Yanks use him as a pinch runner in the late innings, especially where we need a stolen base bad. So, if Posada had not been hurt, having Gardner up would be a no-brainer. The question is, is sending Moeller down and calling up Gardner a bad gamble? I agree if everything goes wrong, it could be. But I think everything going wrong is a low probability outcome. Posada probably won’t get re-injured, Moeller probably won’t be claimed; the Yanks could probably find someone off the scrap heap not much worse than Moeller.

    Just my 2 cents.

  70. TurnTwo June 20th, 2008 at 5:01 pm

    ha! im intrigued as much as the next fan about Brett Gardner, but this isnt the time to be discussing him. the team is on a roll, playing good defense, stealing bases, working counts. there’s no place for him on the roster right now. let him get his ABs in Scranton, and when he’s needed, he’ll be called up. now just isnt that time.

    a Gardner drinking game might wind up being more fun than the Bronson Arroyo/Mike Francessa experience. Count me in!

  71. YankeeDiva June 20th, 2008 at 5:02 pm

    Hawkins- is he really as bad as some claim? He has about 23 innings of no hit ball (in 17 games). He did well at the begnning of May and has done well so far in June (his last game was in Houston). He either seems to be on or off, there is no real in between with him (has 5 games where he game up more than 2 runs).

  72. Francis The Praying Mantis June 20th, 2008 at 5:02 pm

    Patrick, I havent touched a drug(other than weed, but weed is not a drug) in 4 years, I dont even drink.

  73. mel June 20th, 2008 at 5:03 pm

    Our old friend Dotel tied up the game in Chi-town.

  74. MoBoy June 20th, 2008 at 5:03 pm

    Our year is saved.sub-8 ERa Kennedy and 9 Era Phil will be back soon.And Shelly Duncan is hitting good in the minors.Who needs a trade we got three rookies with no MLB expirence and a bullpen who if you take MO’s numbers out of it are a 4era pen.

    And we are beating up the bottom of the NL hitting and pitching teams.

    Mussina and Joba averages 5 1/3 per start and Pettitte needs 200 pitches to go past 6 innings.

    There will be a trade.This is the last year in Yankee Stadium there not gonna risk not going past the ALDS.

  75. SJ44 June 20th, 2008 at 5:04 pm

    Brett Gardner is not hitting .338. He’s hitting .282.

    When Melky was called up to the Yankees a couple of years ago, he was hitting .350 in AAA.

    Brett Gardner’s sole value to the Yankees for this season, if they stay healthy, is as a pinch runner in the post-season. That’s it.

    To suggest he can or should replace Melky right now isn’t even logical.

    He’s not a better overall player than Melky Cabrera.

    If speed was all that mattered, the Houston Astros would be in first place. They have a ton of speed on that team and can’t win a game.

  76. Patrick (the good one) June 20th, 2008 at 5:04 pm

    Why do you people make the argument that Gardner has no MLB experience? Of course he doesn’t, but if thats your reason for not bringing him up then he never will!

    Also I don’t think I’ve seen anyone argue that Gardner should start over Melky and yet some people think thats what we are saying.

  77. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 5:04 pm

    YankeeDiva: But you still can’t trust him in high leverage situations.

  78. munchabuncha June 20th, 2008 at 5:04 pm

    While a pinch runner can be useful in a close game, its not like the Yankees have no speed at the bases. Its only once that you can use him in the game. If he isn’t good as a replacement for the position he ran for, then you burn another bench player.

    That just doesn’t seem worth if for Gardner.

  79. Patrick (the good one) June 20th, 2008 at 5:05 pm

    “Patrick, I havent touched a drug(other than weed, but weed is not a drug) in 4 years, I dont even drink.”

    Yeah except you are constantly bringing up how you did lots of coke

  80. Patrick (the good one) June 20th, 2008 at 5:05 pm

    “To suggest he can or should replace Melky right now isn’t even logical. ”

    Now I’m getting frustrated. NOBODY is suggesting that

  81. EricVA June 20th, 2008 at 5:07 pm

    Here’s a better idea. Trade for Willy Taveras. Can play outfield, is RH, and can run. Plus he’s probably available.

  82. Wave Your Hat June 20th, 2008 at 5:09 pm

    One more time. No one is arguing to call up Gardner for his bat. Call him up so someone can play in the outfield if you pinch hit for Melky (not with Gardner -with Betamit, or Posada or Guiambi if they aren’t playing that day) in the late innings. Or, he can steal a base. Both are more valuable than Chad Moeller doing nothing, in my opinion.

  83. munchabuncha June 20th, 2008 at 5:09 pm

    The biggest problem with the Astros is the over play the running game.

  84. Francis The Praying Mantis June 20th, 2008 at 5:09 pm

    Patrick,
    Im pretty sure I only mentioned that I did a lot of blow once and it was in a discussion about players partying habits. Ive mentioned the Giambi thing before though.

    Back to topic…Gardner is not very good.

  85. EricVA June 20th, 2008 at 5:10 pm

    Patrick,

    Nobody is suggesting it right now. But if you’ve been reading the past few days it has been suggested countless times that Gardner should be called up and Melky benched “for a few days” or that they should platoon.

  86. Jerkface June 20th, 2008 at 5:12 pm

    I have a very complicated matrix in EXCEL that says Gardner would offer us several levels of RORM

  87. SJ44 June 20th, 2008 at 5:13 pm

    If finding a catcher “off the scrap heap” was so easy, guys like Sal Fasano wouldn’t have a job.

    They are still playing because there aren’t any good catchers out there.

    Its impossible to find good backup catchers. The Yankees (surprisingly) have two.

    Melky didn’t do a bad job hitting righties for the first 6 weeks of the season.

    In fact, IIRC, he was one of the leading HR and RBI producers on the team when the team was hurt and slumping.

    Wilson Betemit is an awful RH hitter. Its not even logical that he is on the Yankees right now (except for some reason Cash likes him) let alone being a top RH bat off the bench.

    Frankly, I’d rather see a guy like Ty Wiggington or Ryan Freel (if he was healthy) on the bench than Wilson Betemit.

    As far as Gardner, here is one problem with him being on the bench. He’s never been a bench player in his career.

    I don’t see the logic of putting a young player, who is still developing his game, on the bench and expecting starter-like production out of him.

    The chances of that happening is slim.

    At some point, he would have to play and there is no way you play him over Cabrera right now.

    Its a move they don’t need to make.

    They need pitching . Preferably, at least one (maybe two) starter and one more guy in the ‘pen.

    Those are larger concerns than Melky’s production against lefties. Especially when his defense more than makes up for his lack of current production from the right side.

  88. EricVA June 20th, 2008 at 5:13 pm

    RORM = Ridiculously Overhyped Reading Material?

  89. Jerkface June 20th, 2008 at 5:14 pm

    Runs Over Replacement Minority

  90. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 5:16 pm

    “Those are larger concerns than Melky’s production against lefties. Especially when his defense more than makes up for his lack of current production from the right side.”

    Well said.

    Also, is anyone watching the Euro? Tonight was a thriller! Croatia scores in the last minute of extra time…they’re probably going on to face Germany in the next round.

  91. Francis The Praying Mantis June 20th, 2008 at 5:17 pm

    Runs Over Replacement Minority

    bwhahahahahahahahaha

  92. TurnTwo June 20th, 2008 at 5:18 pm

    “Trade for Willy Taveras. Can play outfield, is RH, and can run. Plus he’s probably available.”

    i thought about a Hawkins/Taveras-based swap over at RAB when it was reported the Rockies were interested in acquiring LaTroy, and was completely dismissed.

  93. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 5:18 pm

    Holy mother of….

  94. TurnTwo June 20th, 2008 at 5:19 pm

    by the way, WHAT A FINISH with the Turkey/Croatia Euro 2008 quarterfinal match!

    going to penalty kicks…

  95. Nick in SF June 20th, 2008 at 5:20 pm

    This might not be a key to Cashman’s thought process, but I don’t want to have to replace my “Got Melky?” t-shirt with a “I’ve Got a Brett Idea!” or “Don’t Let Your Gardy Down!” substitute. My new Yankee t-shirt budget is tapped out until mid-July at the earliest and I’m hoping someone will pick me up an “Anyone But Farnsworth” shirt at the stadium.

  96. Francis The Praying Mantis June 20th, 2008 at 5:20 pm

    how about reggie willits?

  97. Wave Your Hat June 20th, 2008 at 5:21 pm

    I would like someone better than Betemit as well, so we do agree on something. However, we don’t have anyone right now, so we need to optimize with the assets we have. Those that want to keep Moeller up are worried about the downside, which is reasonable, but trailing two good teams I think the Yanks need to focus on some upside, which is why I have been suggesting sending down Moeller. Personally, and I know there’s a debate on this, I doubt that Moeller would be claimed off waivers if he was sent down. Also, I don’t think Brett Gardner has much future as a Yankee anyway, so I don’t care if he doesn’t play every day. I think the Yanks would get an advantage if someone who could hit lefties better than Melky could pinch hit for him late. People keep saying Betemit can’t hit lefties, which historically is true, but it is not true this year. We’d also get an advantage if we could pinch run for Giambi or Posada late. It might win a ball game or two, and this year we are going to need to win every single game we can.

  98. EricVA June 20th, 2008 at 5:21 pm

    Well I think we’d have to offer more than Hawkins. But I think we could probably offer a couple of prospects.

  99. nyyfaninlaaland June 20th, 2008 at 5:21 pm

    Anyone on here from the Tampa area?

    We have pretty good blogs for the AAA and AA orgs, and Charleston’s website is pretty good for info there.

    But Tampa is an info black hole as far as I know, and the team website is worthless. I understand that local media is relatively uninvolved – they do have a major league team to cover after all.

    Somebody needs to be our Chad Jennings or Mike Ashmore in Tampa. Any volunteers – or is there some worthwhile site I’m not in the know about? This seems like a natural for Brandon, SJ, CB or such. Being in SoCal I’m geographically undesiraeable. Hey Pete, use your unbridled influence to get our volunteer access to the right folks.

    I know the Yanks can be a bit circumspect about supplying info – what exactly is an “upper body injury” anyway? Could be anything from tenditis to labrum surgery. But it would be nice to know who’s taking the 5th starter slot in Tampa with Garcia and Pope on the shelf (time to promote Pendleton?). What’s happening about their injuries? Who’s on the move. Etc., etc., etc.

    This is a predominantly a majors blog. I appreciate the info I see here about prospects, and A ball guys aren’t likely to be in NY next week. It would just be nice to have a good info source. I’d think the Yanks would at least like a more involving site for fans – could help sales.

  100. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 5:23 pm

    TurnTwo: This might be the most insane soccer match I’ve ever witnessed!

  101. TurnTwo June 20th, 2008 at 5:24 pm

    “Well I think we’d have to offer more than Hawkins. But I think we could probably offer a couple of prospects.”

    yeah, thats why i said “-based” deal… but honestly not much more. they’ve got a gluttony of OFs over in Colorado, and Taveras isnt much more than a 4th/5th OF on a good team.

  102. EricVA June 20th, 2008 at 5:25 pm

    Right…a #5 OF, which is why we’d want him. He’s Brett Gardner with ML experience.

  103. TurnTwo June 20th, 2008 at 5:25 pm

    exactly, EricVa.

  104. GreenBeret7 June 20th, 2008 at 5:25 pm

    Wind must have been blowing out today. 7 total runs scored an 5 homers.

  105. whozat June 20th, 2008 at 5:26 pm

    “Gardner in AAA is hitting .338.”

    Did you mean against lefties? That is very, very likely to be a small-sample-size glitch.

    Gardner has not shown the ability to dominate AAA pitching. Thus, it is VERY unlikely that he will perform adequately as a starter in the bigs. If you think pinch running is really important, go get Justin Christian. If we’re looking for useful bench pieces, look for someone with a statistically significant positive split against lefties that can play decent to good D at a position where we could use a little platooning.

    Those are the OF and 1B.

  106. TurnTwo June 20th, 2008 at 5:27 pm

    wow, what a choke job!!

  107. Nick in SF June 20th, 2008 at 5:27 pm

    Croatia is toast.

  108. Matt L June 20th, 2008 at 5:27 pm

    Have you checked Hughes’ website, it appears he may be switching back to #65.

  109. TKinDC June 20th, 2008 at 5:27 pm

    After choking away these pk’s, do you think the coach of the Croatian squad should point out to the ref that Turkey doesn’t happen to be in Europe?

    I’m just sayin’ :)

  110. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 5:28 pm

    Wow. That game was incredible. I think Turkey >>> George Mason ’06

  111. TurnTwo June 20th, 2008 at 5:29 pm

    TK, now just let them have their fun. ha! jesus.

  112. TurnTwo June 20th, 2008 at 5:30 pm

    Turkey : Euro 08 :: Greece : 04??

  113. whozat June 20th, 2008 at 5:30 pm

    “how about reggie willits?”

    He’s good and young enough that, if they make him available, someone will value him a starting player and make an offer commensurate with that valuation.

    If we’re looking for people to trade for, leverage the Yankees’ most abundant resource: money. Look for guys with bloated (but short) contracts. Other teams will not really want to take on that money, but we can.

  114. GreenBeret7 June 20th, 2008 at 5:31 pm

    Nick, hold on to your “Got Melky” t-shirt. The Yanks have a left fielder at Staten Island named Melky (Mesa).

  115. Andy in Sunny Daytona Beach June 20th, 2008 at 5:31 pm

    Battle of Swarthies. Dirty Turkey

  116. Nick in SF June 20th, 2008 at 5:32 pm

    TKinDC, the entire Turkey squad is required by UEFA to live west of the Bosporus Straits. So it’s strictly kosher, although that’s not the word they’d use in Turkey.

  117. Born in da Bronx June 20th, 2008 at 5:32 pm

    nyyfaninlaaland: I am in clearwater. we should talk more how do I reach you?

  118. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 5:32 pm

    I now have a crush on Rüstü….

  119. EricVA June 20th, 2008 at 5:33 pm

    Whozat,

    Do you really trade for an outfielder with a big contract to be a 4th or 5th outfielder? I’d think you want somebody used to being a bench player, not a starter with a big contract.

  120. miggs June 20th, 2008 at 5:33 pm

    I didn’t know Garcia was on the shelf…. Is it a minor injury or something serious?

    Volquez will be a good test for the Yankee bats today. I am very curious to see how they do against this guy, he’s been pretty lights out this year. I had a chance to watch one of his starts… he has a great combination of movement and location. If the guy stays healthy I think he’s gonna be a star.

  121. Nick in SF June 20th, 2008 at 5:34 pm

    Great moments in ESPN commentary:

    “The Germans have to be licking their German chops.”

  122. kill.schill(ing) June 20th, 2008 at 5:36 pm

    Any reason why Girardi opted to catch Jorge tomorrow instead of tonight. Tonight makes two days in a row he hasn’t sat behind the plate.

    Given Girardi’s lack of candor about injuries, I now always infer from even the most innocuous but curious decision that he’s trying to conceal something.

  123. TKinDC June 20th, 2008 at 5:36 pm

    Nick –

    I think it is Halal (sp?)

    I was just teasing – heck just because the better part of 300 years were spent pushing those guys back across the Dardenelles doesn’t mean they can’t kick the ball around today!

  124. miggs June 20th, 2008 at 5:36 pm

    One more question… does anyone know what the basic premise is regarding draft picks and playing this year? Do most of them play in the fall or winter league? I heard some of them might play for Stanten Island. Is that possible? The draft was just last week.

  125. kd June 20th, 2008 at 5:37 pm

    i cannot believe that turkey won. i’ve been wrong for both games.

    ok, the gardner stuff is getting a little too much attention. melky’s a solid contributor, and not even a problem for the yankees. it’s time to focus on getting a starter.

    what do you think it would cost to get a guy like john danks? lefty who is doing well in the AL?

  126. miggs June 20th, 2008 at 5:37 pm

    *staten

  127. TurnTwo June 20th, 2008 at 5:38 pm

    “Any reason why Girardi opted to catch Jorge tomorrow instead of tonight.”

    i think Moose has a good thing goin on with Molina, although they’d never call him his ‘personal catcher.’

  128. TurnTwo June 20th, 2008 at 5:38 pm

    “what do you think it would cost to get a guy like john danks? lefty who is doing well in the AL?”

    impossible… he’s in that Chicago rotation for the near future.

  129. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 5:40 pm

    kill schill: See the beginning of this thread.

    Nick and TK: German chops did have me laughing. And Kosher : Jews :: Halal : Muslims.

    Basicaally the same, but Muslims can eat shellfish.

  130. whozat June 20th, 2008 at 5:42 pm

    “Do you really trade for an outfielder with a big contract to be a 4th or 5th outfielder? ”

    I didn’t mean a big contract in a vacuum. I meant big for their role. Willits is young and cheap…that’s not a good idea for a target when you can spend money and want to keep players. A 4th or 5th OFer that’s older and making a couple mil, say, would be a much cheaper talent-wise. A Dave Roberts, say, over a Willits. Though Roberts is on the DL…but you get my point?

  131. cb June 20th, 2008 at 5:43 pm

    “But Tampa is an info black hole as far as I know, and the team website is worthless. ”

    nyyfaninlaaland,

    I complete agree with you. Quite honestly I’m really surprised that none of the local media has jumped on the opportunity to cover tampa through a blog (same thing for charleston).

    Chad Jennings and Mike Ashmoore do a terrific job with Scranton and Trenton. A blog is the perfect medium to cover minor league ball – obviously there won’t be a ton of interest in the print version but over the internet given how many yankee fans there are and how spread over the country – its a big missed opportunity.

    I can only thing Chad Jennings blog has been a huge plus to his career. Same for Ashmoore.

    Unfortunately the local press in Tampa doesn’t seem interested. I’m not in the area but it would be great to be able to get more information.

  132. TurnTwo June 20th, 2008 at 5:44 pm

    whozat, maybe like a Radny Winn, right?

  133. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 5:44 pm

    CB: I spoke to Chad Jennings at the LoHud Scranton game, and while he didn’t say so outright, he basically acknowledge that the blog was a good thing.

  134. whozat June 20th, 2008 at 5:44 pm

    “One more question… does anyone know what the basic premise is regarding draft picks and playing this year? Do most of them play in the fall or winter league? I heard some of them might play for Stanten Island. Is that possible? The draft was just last week.”

    Yeah, some have already played. College seniors graduated in may…unless they’ve got leverage to pull for over-slot money, why would they not sign?

  135. Bad Scooter June 20th, 2008 at 5:47 pm

    miggs,

    Kids that were drafted last week once signed can and do play this year somewhere. Staten Island is one place they will play. Like Venditte, he was drafted this year and pitched last night.

  136. whozat June 20th, 2008 at 5:48 pm

    “whozat, maybe like a Radny Winn, right?”

    I dunno for a bench guy, though. And he still has another year on his deal…If we had to replace an OFer, that might be the kind of target I’d advocate.

    But, like…for the 1B platoon thing, that’s part of the reason I like Wigginton as a target. He’s expensive enough that a lot of teams wouldn’t go for him, but his deal is up at the end of the year.

  137. Bad Scooter June 20th, 2008 at 5:48 pm

    GCL, too miggs.

  138. EricVA June 20th, 2008 at 5:49 pm

    Whozat,

    Makes sense now. I thought you meant Griffey or someone like that.

  139. Vrsce June 20th, 2008 at 5:50 pm

    Joba is “The Franchise” , not frail Phil

  140. DFox June 20th, 2008 at 5:52 pm

    1050espnradio replaying the Giambi interview at 6:10 if anyone is interested in hearing it.

  141. cb June 20th, 2008 at 5:53 pm

    rebecca,

    if nothing else that blog has given jennings the opportunity to develop relationships with many of the ny beat writers like pete and mark feinsand. would that have happenned without his blog and the great job he’s done with it? i doubt it.

  142. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 5:56 pm

    CB: Not to mention what the whole blog experience has done for, say, medieval history students that blog on the side ;)

  143. whozat June 20th, 2008 at 5:57 pm

    “Makes sense now. I thought you meant Griffey or someone like that.”

    Nah. Guys who’re not really performing up to starting caliber anymore…if they’re basically free it might be worth giving them a shot as a bench guy. Like Sexson…if he’s released and you can get him for the minimum…I’d probably take a flier on him as a bench bat against lefties. Maybe if he’s not thinking so much and doesn’t feel like he’s gotta be this big run-producer, he’ll hit a little. If not, whatever. Cut him. But it’d make more sense than giving Betemit righty ABs. It’s the kind of thing where, if the opportunity arises, get him while you’re working on some other things. If something better comes along, send him on his way. If he’s doing ok…awesome.

  144. EricVA June 20th, 2008 at 6:00 pm

    I agree with you, Whozat, but sometimes we could fill needs in-house better than taking a chance. For your example – Sexson – can’t we just have Duncan back up? At least Duncan plays more positions and probably strikes out LESS!

    If the Yankees pick up an outfielder, it probably should be a speed guy more than another power bat. We really do have enough of those.

  145. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 6:02 pm

    Weather doesn’t look too good over here guys, hope it holds off.

  146. whozat June 20th, 2008 at 6:04 pm

    “For your example – Sexson – can’t we just have Duncan back up? At least Duncan plays more positions and probably strikes out LESS!”

    Sexson has actually hit lefties well this year, and throughout his career. Duncan did nothing in the bigs. I’m not saying trade for Richie. I’m saying, if he costs nothing but the MLB minimum (the same thing Shelley costs), let’s see what he can do. I think his D is solid over there, which is better than Shelley, and he’s actually hit well in the majors before. Shelley really hasn’t.

    “If the Yankees pick up an outfielder, it probably should be a speed guy”

    Sure. Roberts was the only speed guy that’s on an ill-advised contract off the top of my head (except Pierre, but that’s TOO ill advised :-) )

    But if you really just want a pinch runner/defense guy, Justin Christian is your guy. He’s at AAA and no one will care if he’s rotting on the bench most of the time :-)

  147. randy l, June 20th, 2008 at 6:04 pm

    “Joba is “The Franchise” , not frail Phil”

    i agree.

    pete’s gotta stop calling hughes the “franchise” because it’s actually become an embarrassing and derogatory term in red sox country.

  148. EricVA June 20th, 2008 at 6:05 pm

    Whozat,

    Do we need anything other than a pinch runner/defense guy?

  149. EricVA June 20th, 2008 at 6:06 pm

    (on offense…I know about our pitching needs)

  150. miggs June 20th, 2008 at 6:07 pm

    Whozat thanks for the info. So I’m guessing a lot of it has to do with when they sign and/or their stage of development.
    I can see why college kids can step right in and play… a lot of the competition they face is similar to A-AA if I remember correctly.

  151. jennifer- I got your back Girardi June 20th, 2008 at 6:07 pm

    It looks like it might rain. I am 10 miles from ys.

  152. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 6:07 pm

    Glad to hear Bruney’s throwing again.

  153. jennifer- I got your back Girardi June 20th, 2008 at 6:07 pm

    Matt L

    Where did you see that Phil might change his number?

  154. whozat June 20th, 2008 at 6:08 pm

    “Do we need anything other than a pinch runner/defense guy?”

    I think so. I’d really like a good righty bat with solid D for the OF. He can stink against righties, that’s fine. Bobby Kielty (recovering from injury in the Sox system) is the type of guy I mean. Lets you sit Abreu against tough lefties, provides you with a good righty bat off the bench, and he can pinch run. He’s not a burner like Gardner, but a solid upgrade on the basepaths over a Matsui or a Giambi.

  155. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 6:09 pm

    jen: doesn’t look promising here, either.

  156. whozat June 20th, 2008 at 6:09 pm

    “So I’m guessing a lot of it has to do with when they sign and/or their stage of development.”

    That is all that it has to do with :-)

  157. JD(Duncan's arm bashes still hurt) June 20th, 2008 at 6:10 pm

    looks like scatterered showers on weather channel.com .Think the game will play but might be some stops/delays.

  158. JD(Duncan's arm bashes still hurt) June 20th, 2008 at 6:14 pm

    Whozat- I totally agree. I think they thought they had that guy in Duncan.

  159. jennifer- I got your back Girardi June 20th, 2008 at 6:14 pm

    Rebecca I think we are right near each other.

  160. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 6:15 pm

    As promised, I went to speak to the umpires today about Pat Venditte. Crew chief Charlie Reliford invited me into their locker room. Get this: There is no major-league rule regarding a pitcher like Venditte.

    I am endlessly amused by this.

    Anyway, looks like the rain might stay north of YS, so I think we should be in the clear. And yes, I don’t know what I’m talking about.

  161. jennifer- I got your back Girardi June 20th, 2008 at 6:15 pm

    http://www.accuweather.com/rad.....8;site=PA_

  162. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 6:15 pm

    jennifer, you’re just down 208/4 from me.

  163. jennifer- I got your back Girardi June 20th, 2008 at 6:15 pm

    K-long threatened to break Jasons arm. :lol:

    Said if you change your swing I’ll break your arm.

  164. jennifer- I got your back Girardi June 20th, 2008 at 6:16 pm

    Yep

  165. whozat June 20th, 2008 at 6:16 pm

    “Whozat- I totally agree. I think they thought they had that guy in Duncan.”

    They were hoping so. They hedged their bets with Ensberg. Both were totally reasonable guy to take a shot with. Neither worked out. It happens. If another option comes along at the right price, you go for it. Sexson-for-free is something I’d certainly consider. But I won’t be torn up if they don’t.

  166. Guiseppe Franco June 20th, 2008 at 6:20 pm

    pete’s gotta stop calling hughes the “franchise” because it’s actually become an embarrassing and derogatory term in red sox country.

    Eh, I couldn’t care less what RSN does. We’re talking about a group of people who last year voted for the President of a fan club.

    That’s pretty embarrassing if you ask me.

    Besides, Hughes’ nickname is Phil Franchise. He’s the symbol of the Yankee movement and the guy who started it all.

    Let Hughes keep his name. He will start earning his name soon enough.

    Who cares what those jokers think.

  167. jennifer- I got your back Girardi June 20th, 2008 at 6:22 pm

    Thanks Pete, that was really nice that he took the time to answer the question.

  168. nyyfaninlaaland June 20th, 2008 at 6:22 pm

    That Betemit has – frankly marginally – better #’s against lefties is not a good use of stats. He has 19 total ABs in this case. Give him 1 day of 0-3 and that meager advantage is gone.

    Would having a PH option be good – sure. By the way, Moeller has a .653 OPS against lefties, with the same .263 BA, but a much higher OBP (important re PH) than Betemit. In the same 19 AB’s. Maybe that’s something for him to do.

    To be fair, I agree that it would be good if Moeller didn’t have to be carried, that he’s just as likely to not be claimed, and that frankly he’s not very good historically either. But that Cleveland just traded for Sal Fasano tells me to be patient. Posada’s shoulder is a problem requiring insurance – and I’m sure Cashman is constantly looking for better options than Moeller. But I also have to agree that pinch hitting for Melky late against lefties isn’t issue #1. And having Gardner sit on the bench instead of Moeller wouldn’t be good for him.

  169. whozat June 20th, 2008 at 6:23 pm

    “We’re talking about a group of people who last year voted for the President of a fan club.”

    Yeah…but…I know the guy who got elected VP!

    He’s a great guy. Four kids. Good singer :-)

  170. jennifer- I got your back Girardi June 20th, 2008 at 6:25 pm

    And it is raining. Not too hard, not sure whether or not they would start the game in this.

  171. 108 stitches June 20th, 2008 at 6:25 pm

    John Gibbons axed in Toronto. Former manager Cito Gaston is interm manager.
    No surprise with the way the Jays have faded.

  172. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 6:25 pm

    whozat: LMAO!

  173. whozat June 20th, 2008 at 6:27 pm

    “whozat: LMAO!”

    What? It’s true! Regular Rob Crawford. The pictures of him from the World Series parade last year are priceless. He’s clearly the most excited person there.

  174. Nick in SF June 20th, 2008 at 6:29 pm

    Let Red Sox Nation laugh it up, I still think that Phil is going to be throwing darts before it’s all said and done.

    But the Franchise nickname predates our general knowledge of Joba, right?

    Tim Lincecum has the same nickgame for the SF Giants, which is another reason Sabean probably won’t be trading him to the Bronx for Wilson Betemit and Chad Moeller.

  175. whozat June 20th, 2008 at 6:29 pm

    Oh, geez FIVE kids now. I forgot that was why he had to quit the singing group we were in. His wife had another kid and wouldn’t let him go out one night a week to sing with his buddies.

  176. bphill June 20th, 2008 at 6:30 pm

    Is Venditte a legit prospect or just a guy who can throw righty and lefty?

  177. Jerkface June 20th, 2008 at 6:31 pm

    BPHILL: He doesn’t have overpowering stuff, but he is legit. His pitches have some crazy movement.

  178. Mike June 20th, 2008 at 6:33 pm

    Volquez is a good example of how pitchers take more time to develop. He was always rated extremely high by baseball america but had a rough time with Texas his first 3 seasons. He seems to have put it all together now. So let’s get too down on Hughes.

  179. nyyfaninlaaland June 20th, 2008 at 6:34 pm

    Born in da Bronx -

    sorry, I missed your question.

    Don’t know what to do about connecting – perhaps you can get my e-mail from Pete somehow, since it’s included in our sign on. Not sure I want to put it up here – not that I don’t trust you all, I’ve just not seen that done.

    What did you want to talk about?

  180. nyyfaninlaaland June 20th, 2008 at 6:40 pm

    There’s a good story about the Venditte situation on milb.com as well.

  181. stuart June 20th, 2008 at 6:40 pm

    Volquez got hammered last yr. Young guys need to learn..Volquez is 2 yrs older then Joba.

    I still think Hughes will be a star………..

  182. george June 20th, 2008 at 6:40 pm

    the Red Sox have their first good decade since the Woodrow Wilson administration and we’re supposed to worry about whether they mock “The Franchise.”

    here’s “embarrassing and derogatory” – when your team’s non-championship lasts much longer than the rise and fall of the U.S.S.R.

  183. JoeT 28 in 09!! MO FOR CY YOUNG!! June 20th, 2008 at 6:44 pm

    Nick in SF – you’re right, to get Lincecum from San Fran we’d have to throw in some more spare parts – Moller, Betemit, Igawa, Hawkins…. maybe a couple injured guys??

  184. Nick in SF June 20th, 2008 at 6:46 pm

    Don’t forget the maple bats, JoeT. And most likely the top-secret blueprints for the 6-fingered glove.

  185. Paul June 20th, 2008 at 6:47 pm

    Nice of the ump to explain the situation. I don’t see why they should be powerless to stop a switch hitter from switching boxes. Simply call the hitter out if he makes contact for being out of his proper batter’s box! I recall Hank Aaron lost a homer that way because his foot went over the front line.

  186. MoBoy June 20th, 2008 at 6:49 pm

    Hughes needs to stay in AAA a little bit longer now that he barely gonna go 60-80 innings this year.This isn’t AAA.

    We can’t let JOba go 5 innings evey night,Hughes go 140 innings next year and let Kennedy work thru he’s issues all at the same time.Because we tried it this year and it’s gonna be good in the long run but we don’t have 3 years too wait.Thats why we need a big pitcher.GIve these kids some time.

  187. JoeT 28 in 09!! MO FOR CY YOUNG!! June 20th, 2008 at 6:51 pm

    For the blueprints of the 6-fingered glove we’d be able to get more… Peavy, Webb, CC… our pick

  188. 27 this year June 20th, 2008 at 6:52 pm

    pavano for Lincecum, they get a proven veteran pitcher and we get a young starter.

    I bet Sabean would jump on that, he is that stupid.

  189. 27 this year June 20th, 2008 at 6:52 pm

    How about all three JoeT

  190. 27 this year June 20th, 2008 at 6:53 pm

    For that blueprint, we get full access to a machine that can raise people from the dead in their prime years. Now, look at that lineup!

  191. nyyfaninlaaland June 20th, 2008 at 6:55 pm

    Seems the umps could just start calling strikes if the batter delays too long in getting into the box, and balls if the pitcher takes too long to deliver. The advantage would be with the pitcher, but it seems it should be in this case – switch pitching is a skill acquired through practice, just like switch hitting. The advantage of developing the skill is the ability to adjust to the batter – making the pitcher opt first removes the point.

  192. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 7:01 pm

    Venditte was on Sportscenter. I was endlessly amused. My brother says even my father was talking about it at lunch today–and my dad doesn’t like baseball!

  193. nyyfaninlaaland June 20th, 2008 at 7:04 pm

    By the way, the current rule was violated last night. Batter stepped in, Venditte took the rubber, batter stepped out and changed.

    Now the question becomes, can the pitcher change his glove hand before coming to a set position while standing on the rubber?

  194. Blargh June 20th, 2008 at 7:06 pm

    Don’t forget cloning! That blueprint will be the ticket to 5 Walter Johnson’s!

  195. miggs June 20th, 2008 at 7:07 pm

    anyone having trouble with mlb.tv?

    I’m only getting a green screen.

  196. Anyone but Farnsworth June 20th, 2008 at 7:07 pm

    I guess dereks contract does not support him. He needs to do all these lame commercials soo he can party like a rockstar.

  197. S.A.- No pain..no gain! Bronson Arroyo will save us!! June 20th, 2008 at 7:08 pm

    Let’s go Yanks! Get em Moose!

    Good news about Hughes, I still believe in the kid

  198. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 7:08 pm

    miggs: Try switching to a lower frequency?

  199. bphill June 20th, 2008 at 7:09 pm

    Jolbert Cabrera…

    Is Jolbert a wannabe Joba type name?

  200. S.o.S.27 June 20th, 2008 at 7:09 pm

    miggs,
    try it through espn.com. I usually have trouble getting the screen up from mlb.com.

  201. bphill June 20th, 2008 at 7:10 pm

    Is that like a 5 pitch inning?

  202. Anyone but Farnsworth June 20th, 2008 at 7:10 pm

    3 pitch inning

  203. E June 20th, 2008 at 7:10 pm

    AWESOME PLAY!

  204. S.A.- No pain..no gain! Bronson Arroyo will save us!! June 20th, 2008 at 7:10 pm

    Nice start

    Volquez time. Yikes

  205. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 7:10 pm

    That I like.

  206. miggs June 20th, 2008 at 7:10 pm

    This is insane, I get the sound, but its a green screen…

    F MLB.com

  207. Nick in SF June 20th, 2008 at 7:11 pm

    That inning was Moose-bar worthy!

  208. Angel June 20th, 2008 at 7:11 pm

    Wow… was that a 4 pitch inning for Mike?

  209. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 7:11 pm

    BTW, it was a four pitch inning.

  210. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 7:11 pm

    That’s what Cabrera gets haha. Horrible bunt that he gets lucky is a base hit and then over aggressive on the bases doubled off first base on the fly ball to right.

  211. EricVA June 20th, 2008 at 7:12 pm

    So can somebody explain that play. All I see is double play fly to right.

  212. S.o.S.27 June 20th, 2008 at 7:12 pm

    miggs,
    get out and get back in. Preferably through espn.

  213. mel June 20th, 2008 at 7:13 pm

    Four pitches? I’m disappointed. DFA him now. Wasting a pitch.

  214. Philip June 20th, 2008 at 7:13 pm

    so i just moved to CT, I know the game is on My9 tonight, im a comcast HD subscriber…what channel is this game on? I cant find it!

  215. TurnTwo June 20th, 2008 at 7:13 pm

    it looked like Cabrera took off on the pitch… fly ball to shallow right center field… abreu caught it, released in one quick motion, Giambi scopps it at first, and they had him doubled up at first by about 5 feet.

  216. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 7:14 pm

    Heh, Volquez threw more pitches to Johnny than Moose threw entire inning

  217. Angel June 20th, 2008 at 7:15 pm

    Its on game 2 on the Extra Innings Schedule – not sure what channel that is for you.

  218. S.A.- No pain..no gain! Bronson Arroyo will save us!! June 20th, 2008 at 7:15 pm

    Good job Jeets

  219. Angel June 20th, 2008 at 7:15 pm

    Its not My9 coverage for me either. I have FSN Ohio coverage.

    Ugh.

  220. E June 20th, 2008 at 7:15 pm

    great piece of hitting by jeter…i also credit damon with that. He took a few pitches and Jeter got to look

  221. TurnTwo June 20th, 2008 at 7:16 pm

    “they’re on tv all the time”

    yes, michael kay. the yankees are on tv all the time.

    by the way, so is every other team in the league. welcome to the 21st century.

  222. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 7:16 pm

    Note to Yankees: You are not playing the Padres any more.

  223. Philip June 20th, 2008 at 7:16 pm

    since im in the market, the extra innings is blacked out…

  224. S.A.- No pain..no gain! Bronson Arroyo will save us!! June 20th, 2008 at 7:17 pm

    Dang it

  225. Angel June 20th, 2008 at 7:17 pm

    That play at 2nd looked closer than FSN Ohio is saying.

  226. E June 20th, 2008 at 7:17 pm

    I like that call by Girardi, get things going and try to get Moose a lead. Jeter might have been safe.

  227. YanksAngel June 20th, 2008 at 7:17 pm

    He looked safe

  228. Melissa June 20th, 2008 at 7:18 pm

    Just checked the video of the ambidextrous Venditte pitching last night facing a switch hitter. Crazy!

  229. TKinDC June 20th, 2008 at 7:18 pm

    Saw this last night – thought it was interesting:

    “It was announced on Thursday that two-time All-Star and four-time World Series winner Tino Martinez will manage the World Team in the XM All-Star Futures Game on Sunday, July 13, at Yankee Stadium in New York.

    “I’m thrilled to death,” Martinez said. “It’s quite an honor to be able to manage that team. To have the opportunity to do it in Yankee Stadium, it doesn’t get any better than that.”

    I wonder if Tino wants to manage in MLB in the future?

  230. nyyfaninlaaland June 20th, 2008 at 7:21 pm

    By the way, as an example of the info dearth that is the Tampa Yankees, Jason Stephens was promoted to fill their rotation from Charleston for today’s game. (more details on the Riverdogs website – none on Tampa’s). Also, Cervelli went back on the DL – C Ryan Baker, recent NDFA signing, promoted from GC to his spot.

    In Charleston, Nick Chigges & Pryllis Cuello came up from SS, with Braeden Pruitt sent to Staten Island. Thanks R-Dogs! Nice for Chigges – he went to College of Charleston. And Cuello needed to move – Yanks #3 draftee David Adams is in SS too. But Justin Snyder’s also in A-, though with Damon Sublett on the Tampa DL too, maybe he’ll get bumped up.

    And that’s your Tampa Yankees minute for today!

  231. S.o.S.27 June 20th, 2008 at 7:21 pm

    Was that supposed to be a hit and run? He was looking at the catcher a bit long. If it didnt bounce to second,he would have been out by a mile.

  232. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 7:21 pm

    That play was closer than I first thought, but the Reds are not the Padres. They’re slightly better behind the plate.

    I think.

  233. YanksAngel June 20th, 2008 at 7:21 pm

    Great for Tino!!

  234. randy l, June 20th, 2008 at 7:21 pm

    the yankees don’t have any young starters that look like volquez.

    it’s great they are working the draft in this country, but what about signing some young latin starters?

  235. E June 20th, 2008 at 7:21 pm

    I dont understand why HP umps are calling check swings…they are wrong a ton of the time. I like the call cus it helps us out, but rly it’s silly. The first base ump can do it.

  236. AlbanyYankee June 20th, 2008 at 7:22 pm

    Yankees not providing the game in Hi-Def tonight. Curses!

  237. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 7:23 pm

    Jeter might have gotten in under the tag there, it was tough to tell and the ump was way out of position, but then again, the throw was on 3 or 4 bounces and also beat him to second, so you wonder whether he should have gone there in the first place with a guy up who’s tough to double up and A-Rod behind him.

  238. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 7:23 pm

    Ugh.

  239. Angel June 20th, 2008 at 7:24 pm

    These FSN Ohio announcers were already annoying me. That didn’t help matters.

  240. TKinDC June 20th, 2008 at 7:24 pm

    Can we blame JP Riccardi for that?

  241. TurnTwo June 20th, 2008 at 7:24 pm

    its only one run. cant expect Moose to be perfect.

    gotta work those counts on volquez now.

  242. bronxbomber77 "Fear the 'Stache" June 20th, 2008 at 7:25 pm

    Dang…

    I got Votto in my FL, but still.

    I get the feeling this will be a 3-2, 2-1 or even possibly a 1-0 game, unless the NYY can pound their bullpen.

    Volquez is the real deal.

  243. E June 20th, 2008 at 7:25 pm

    1 run only, also only 16 pitches for moose. He’s my hero haha

  244. Got mofongo? June 20th, 2008 at 7:25 pm

    what the hell happened to cervelli?! didn’t he just start playing again and now back on the DL?

  245. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 7:25 pm

    TKinDC: No, because that was Votto.

  246. ANSKY June 20th, 2008 at 7:26 pm

    Since there is no rule against it, that ambidextrous Venditte kid should be allowed to switch arms during an at-bat.

    Since there is already a rule against it, batters should still not be allowed to switch once the at-bat starts.

    Venditte should develop a windup (full or stretch if either is physically possible to do effectively) that starts with him facing second base (assuming rules allow it) so the batter can’t see which hand the glove is on. He may have to get creative on this if there are any rules.

    If that’s physically possible, and if it’s allowed by the rules, runners on second would be more vulnerable to being picked off. Curious how the balk rule would be interpreted.

    He should also develop a couple arm angles.

    Each pitch would have to be signalled before he ‘toes the rubber’ and turns his back.

    The batter, even if he’s a switch hitter, will be totally flummoxed on each pitch.

  247. Philip June 20th, 2008 at 7:26 pm

    ive learned that mid-west announcers just are plain annoying. Example: Hawk Harrelson

  248. E June 20th, 2008 at 7:26 pm

    c’mon a-rod hit one out

  249. whozat June 20th, 2008 at 7:27 pm

    “it’s great they are working the draft in this country, but what about signing some young latin starters?”

    I can’t tell…are you serious? You know that kids get signed out of Latin America when they’re 16…You won’t see them in the bigs until 5 or 6 years later at the earliest. And then there’s the rate of attrition.

  250. TurnTwo June 20th, 2008 at 7:27 pm

    “Since there is no rule against it, that ambidextrous Venditte kid should be allowed to switch arms during an at-bat.”

    you can be sure they’ll be closing that loophole before he ever sniffs actual mlb action.

  251. Joe m June 20th, 2008 at 7:27 pm

    What infielder is Moose going to blame that HR on

  252. whozat June 20th, 2008 at 7:29 pm

    “What infielder is Moose going to blame that HR on”

    The one standing on the mound.

  253. E June 20th, 2008 at 7:29 pm

    Nice baserunning by A-rod! Beautiful jump

  254. jennifer- I got your back Girardi June 20th, 2008 at 7:29 pm

    Pete, If I caught a homerun ball, i’d keep it. I don’t care. I’d atone for my grandfather and father losing homerun balls.

  255. TurnTwo June 20th, 2008 at 7:29 pm

    stay aggressive!!

  256. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 7:29 pm

    Guess A-Rod wanted to pick up Jeter. Or something.

  257. ANSKY June 20th, 2008 at 7:30 pm

    You’re probably right, TurnTwo …

    Still its hard to imagine picking up a pitch out of either hand if his windup started like Hakeem Olajuwan’s ‘dream shake’.

  258. nyyfaninlaaland June 20th, 2008 at 7:30 pm

    Don’t know what happened to Cervelli. And don’t know about Garcia, Pope, or Sublett either. Anyone?

    Someone in the Tampa area (Born in da Bronx, where are you?) please help!

  259. Angel June 20th, 2008 at 7:30 pm

    Thats two balls they’ve tattooed – Abreu and Matsui.

  260. E June 20th, 2008 at 7:32 pm

    I like this, Yankees being patient and hitting the ball hard. By the end of the game we’ll have something to show for it

  261. Nick in SF June 20th, 2008 at 7:32 pm

    Moose only wasted one pitch on that HR. Crafty vet.

  262. JoeT 28 in 09!! MO FOR CY YOUNG!! June 20th, 2008 at 7:32 pm

    hey guys i’m sure I missed this asked and answered a hundred times today so I’m sorry
    but I just watched the video from SNY – what side did the batter end up batting from and did Venditte throw from the same side??

  263. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 7:33 pm

    Joe T: They went righty righty

  264. E June 20th, 2008 at 7:33 pm

    Venditte threw right and batter was batting righty i think

  265. whozat June 20th, 2008 at 7:34 pm

    “but I just watched the video from SNY – what side did the batter end up batting from and did Venditte throw from the same side??”

    Righty righty

  266. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 7:34 pm

    Big spot for Robbie here.

  267. JoeT 28 in 09!! MO FOR CY YOUNG!! June 20th, 2008 at 7:35 pm

    thanks Rebecca/E/whozat

  268. Angel June 20th, 2008 at 7:36 pm

    Damn.

  269. E June 20th, 2008 at 7:36 pm

    wow two great defensive plays, one by bruce one by votto damn

  270. TurnTwo June 20th, 2008 at 7:36 pm

    wow… so thats what defense at 1B looks lie, huh?

  271. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 7:37 pm

    Ugh, this is just plain…

    …Robbie must have some really bad karma or something…

  272. Angel June 20th, 2008 at 7:37 pm

    Not that bad though. Encouraging to see them working counts and hitting him hard a few times.

  273. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 7:38 pm

    His strike zone is pretty wide tonight which cost us big time in that last inning, especially in the Giambi at bat there. Just because the guy has good numbers doesn’t mean he deserves box to box.

  274. S.o.S.27 June 20th, 2008 at 7:38 pm

    31 in 2 innings. Keep milking the counts.

  275. BBB June 20th, 2008 at 7:38 pm

    damn, Volquez is tough and the defense he’s getting behind him is making this even harder.

    Does anyone know if we’ve seen all of his pitches so far or does he have another one he’s saving for 2nd time through the order?

  276. TurnTwo June 20th, 2008 at 7:39 pm

    SOS- absolutely.

  277. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 7:40 pm

    Wow, if this home plate ump were as consistent with his strike zone Bako would have been punched out on strikes a few times over in that AB.

  278. Edinson screams IPK's June 20th, 2008 at 7:42 pm

    kudos to whozat on who moose should blame for the bomb..good one

  279. S.A.- No pain..no gain! Bronson Arroyo will save us!! June 20th, 2008 at 7:44 pm

    come on Moose

  280. JoeT 28 in 09!! MO FOR CY YOUNG!! June 20th, 2008 at 7:44 pm

    We do not need Jay Bruce getting hot for this series

  281. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 7:44 pm

    Moose, one more out. Preferably before another walk/hit/anything that advances the runner.

    Like that.

    Yay.

  282. TurnTwo June 20th, 2008 at 7:45 pm

    man, even when he grounds meekly to SS, Griffey still has that sweet looking swing.

  283. BBB June 20th, 2008 at 7:46 pm

    Phew. Got out of it and still w/a great pitch count.

  284. MrMulligan June 20th, 2008 at 7:46 pm

    Moose being nice and economical…3 IP…30 pitches

  285. S.A.- No pain..no gain! Bronson Arroyo will save us!! June 20th, 2008 at 7:46 pm

    Back to work bats. Work Volquez

  286. MrMulligan June 20th, 2008 at 7:48 pm

    Volquez has been NASTY this year…gotta have some faith since we’re getting “good wood” on him.

  287. AlbanyYankee June 20th, 2008 at 7:48 pm

    Unless the rule has changed, a batter used to be able to switch sides during an at bat until there were 2 strikes.

  288. BBFan June 20th, 2008 at 7:50 pm

    Many expected Girardi to be quite different from day one.
    I thought he would take at least half the season building relationships with his players.

    It appears he is on his way to his aggressive managing style many expected. Look at all the steals and aggressive running recently.

    Up until recently, Girardi has been relatively passive. I am sure it has to do with the quad and hamstring injuries many players had and he did not want to take chances with the health of the players. Now that the roster is at full strength he is taking his chances.

  289. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 7:51 pm

    Girardi has made some blunders, but all things considered, he could be doing a heck of a lot worse.

  290. TurnTwo June 20th, 2008 at 7:53 pm

    BALK!

  291. Nick in SF June 20th, 2008 at 7:54 pm

    oooooh, situational hitting opportunity here. Love those.

  292. TurnTwo June 20th, 2008 at 7:54 pm

    seems like the ump is being a little inconsistent behind the plate right now…

  293. Gerry June 20th, 2008 at 7:54 pm

    Girardi has not impressed me. What has done to improve the club?

    They played worse when they didn’t have A-Rod and Posada. Played better when they came back.

    A chimp can manage great talent that is highly motivated like the Yanks.

  294. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 7:54 pm

    Again, Melky and the little things.

  295. Anyone but Farnsworth June 20th, 2008 at 7:55 pm

    Whats volquez pitch count?

  296. MrMulligan June 20th, 2008 at 7:55 pm

    “Look at all the steals and aggressive running recently.”

    Agree 100%…we are an impatient lot.

    Really like the new NL style…especially when combined with our hitters…pressures the hell out of the pitcher.

  297. S.A.- No pain..no gain! Bronson Arroyo will save us!! June 20th, 2008 at 7:55 pm

    Nice Johnny! 1-1

  298. TurnTwo June 20th, 2008 at 7:55 pm

    here’s johnny!

  299. jennifer- I got your back Girardi June 20th, 2008 at 7:55 pm

    Gerry- Give me a break.

  300. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 7:55 pm

    Like I said. Little things.

    Also, Johnny B. Good.

  301. AlbanyYankee June 20th, 2008 at 7:56 pm

    Another broken bat from Damon, but it works. His bats are more fragile than Carl Pavano.

  302. S.A.- No pain..no gain! Bronson Arroyo will save us!! June 20th, 2008 at 7:56 pm

    Volquez is at 44 pitches and rising

  303. Vrsce June 20th, 2008 at 7:56 pm

    Yankees are grinding this guy down.
    Just like they used to.

  304. Anyone but Farnsworth June 20th, 2008 at 7:56 pm

    44.. we need this dude to throw more.. their bullpen is decent but its the weakest part of every team.

  305. S.o.S.27 June 20th, 2008 at 7:57 pm

    45

  306. MrMulligan June 20th, 2008 at 7:57 pm

    JD is playing out of this world…re-birth @ 34?

    Yanks putting pressure on the young Volquez…

  307. TurnTwo June 20th, 2008 at 7:57 pm

    bad jump for damon.

  308. Kevin NY June 20th, 2008 at 7:57 pm

    Why are they wasting outs against a great pitcher?

  309. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 7:57 pm

    Yankees. Again.

    These are not the Padres. Be a little more careful, okay?

  310. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 7:58 pm

    Girardi, why don’t you wait for the three-run homer, K?

  311. Nick in SF June 20th, 2008 at 7:58 pm

    Was Zito really #2 on that list?

    At this point, how can Zito be overrated?

  312. Angel June 20th, 2008 at 7:58 pm

    So I assume you’re thinking that leaves a job opening as manager for you then, Gerry?

  313. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 7:59 pm

    Brian Runge is blind. That was four inches below the knees.

  314. Astoria John June 20th, 2008 at 7:59 pm

    give him hell cap’n.. what a Bullspit call

  315. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 7:59 pm

    Erm. This umpire.

    I might have some issues with him.

  316. Angel June 20th, 2008 at 7:59 pm

    You’ve got to be kidding me. That was below his knees.

  317. JoeT 28 in 09!! MO FOR CY YOUNG!! June 20th, 2008 at 7:59 pm

    yeah this isn’t little league – you don’t call a strike to prove to the batter that you’re in charge

  318. Nick in SF June 20th, 2008 at 7:59 pm

    I guess the ump thinks Jeter is overrateed too.

    Give me a break, that was down by his shin-guards!

  319. BBFan June 20th, 2008 at 7:59 pm

    “A chimp can manage great talent that is highly motivated like the Yanks.”

    Then why do you think Yanks won nothing in the post season in the last three seasons?

  320. Bad Scooter June 20th, 2008 at 7:59 pm

    The way Runge rung him up was a bit over the top.

  321. randy l, June 20th, 2008 at 8:00 pm

    “I can’t tell…are you serious? You know that kids get signed out of Latin America when they’re 16…You won’t see them in the bigs until 5 or 6 years later at the earliest.”

    why wouldn’t i be serious? other teams seem to sign amateur free agents like volquez who are starters from latin american countries?
    maybe the yankees have in recent years and they haven’t worked their way though the pipeline yet. i really don’t know .
    that’s why i was asking.

    do the yankees have any latin pitchers in the minors who are starters and who are prospects?

  322. BBB June 20th, 2008 at 8:00 pm

    WTF man! That was nowhere near a strike and same with Giambi’s so called strike 2 earlier. Since when do rookies get so much leeway from HP umps? Ours don’t!

  323. MrMulligan June 20th, 2008 at 8:00 pm

    If we can get Volquez out in the 6th with a tied/close game it’ll be $$$…this kid has dominated the NL.

  324. TurnTwo June 20th, 2008 at 8:00 pm

    to the ump’s credit, he called i think the first strike the same way… about half way down his shins.

    not that Jeter should swing at that pitch, but Runge was consistently bad in that AB.

  325. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 8:01 pm

    Hey! I know the answer to the trivia question!

  326. myrtlebeachfan June 20th, 2008 at 8:01 pm

    The ump was just angry he started to 1st before he made the call.

    What a piece of ****.

    A lot of money goes into baseball. There can’t be umpires with personal agendas. That was ridiculous.

  327. S.A.- No pain..no gain! Bronson Arroyo will save us!! June 20th, 2008 at 8:01 pm

    That ump is blind

    Volquez is at 50 pitches now. Hopefully they work him some more next inning

  328. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 8:02 pm

    Looks like the removal of the poison-tipped spikes is permanent.

  329. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 8:02 pm

    That pitch he called a strike to Jeter was disgraceful. That was almost 3, 4 inches below the knees.

  330. munchabuncha June 20th, 2008 at 8:02 pm

    Why is Volquez getting so many gift strike calls, yet Mussina isn’t? Giambi got robbed, Jeter got robbed.

    I can’t stand it when umpires do this crap. Does he have money on the game against the Yankees? Sure seems that way.

  331. Larry Mahnken June 20th, 2008 at 8:02 pm

    I emailed Peter a little earlier:

    Rule 6.06 A batter is out for illegal action when—
    (b) He steps from one batter’s box to the other while the pitcher is in position ready to pitch

  332. Anyone but Farnsworth June 20th, 2008 at 8:02 pm

    Bobbito hates the wall..hah

  333. Wolf In Pinstripes June 20th, 2008 at 8:02 pm

    Wow. The umpiring has really been bad this year. I’m not just talking about calls against the Yankees, either. We’ve been on the fortunate end of some bad ones as well, but that was in no way a strike to Jeter.

  334. SamVA June 20th, 2008 at 8:03 pm

    apparently… no matter how low or high a pitch is as long as it is over the plate it is a strike

  335. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 8:03 pm

    Let the players play the game. Stop getting in their faces trying to show them up and get the call right instead of trying to be a showoff with a huge emphatic call that you want to make in the moment.

  336. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 8:04 pm

    I had more problems with the umpiring last year, but this strike zone is just…erm.

  337. Ollie June 20th, 2008 at 8:04 pm

    Moooooooose.

  338. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 8:04 pm

    Krivsky also turned Austin Kearns into…nothing.

  339. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 8:05 pm

    Remember the pitch to A-Rod against the Royals that he was called out on, I think against Hochevar, where the pitch actually bounced before it reached the catcher? If an ump makes a call like that, he should be immediately removed from the field and replaced by a computer for the next few innings.

  340. TurnTwo June 20th, 2008 at 8:05 pm

    that was disgusting by Cano.

  341. Jeff NJ June 20th, 2008 at 8:05 pm

    Ca-NO!

  342. Angel June 20th, 2008 at 8:05 pm

    What the hell was that?

  343. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 8:05 pm

    Robbie. Not good.

  344. Nick the Saint June 20th, 2008 at 8:05 pm

    Cano can’t make the easy routine plays.

  345. Angel June 20th, 2008 at 8:06 pm

    I mean holy crap, there was no need to freaking rush that. It almost had a bow on it, it was such a gift out.

  346. TKinDC June 20th, 2008 at 8:06 pm

    oh robbie! :(

  347. YanksAngel June 20th, 2008 at 8:06 pm

    where was Cano’s head on that throw?

  348. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 8:06 pm

    Nonchalant, no matter if he’s throwing it away or making a Gold Glove quality play.

    That’s Robbie.

    Thing is, he gets it done far more often than not.

    And Coney’s right, that was a tough play.

  349. Vrsce June 20th, 2008 at 8:06 pm

    Pugly

  350. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 8:06 pm

    Way to make up for that play Cano with the nice tag!

  351. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 8:06 pm

    Joey Votto forgot where 2nd base was.

  352. Nick the Saint June 20th, 2008 at 8:06 pm

    “Krivsky also turned Austin Kearns into…nothing.”

    How has Kearns been the past 2 yrs? Don’t make it seem like he gave up an all star.

  353. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 8:06 pm

    Robbie owes Jose a dinner or two.

  354. Jeff NJ June 20th, 2008 at 8:06 pm

    Ca-YES!

  355. BBFan June 20th, 2008 at 8:07 pm

    “It’s one thing to be aggressive. But the Yankees have so far run into outs with Bobby Abreu and Derek Jeter at the plate?”

    I guess Girardi is damned if he is aggressive and damned if he is not.

  356. AlbanyYankee June 20th, 2008 at 8:07 pm

    “Rule 6.06 A batter is out for illegal action when—
    (b) He steps from one batter’s box to the other while the pitcher is in position ready to pitch”

    But if the pitcher is off the rubber (not ready to pitch) and there are less than two strikes, I think the batter can switch, right?

  357. TurnTwo June 20th, 2008 at 8:07 pm

    wow, Molina! thats what a good team does… pick up your teammate.

    now its robbie’s turn… lets see a big knock now.

  358. Angel June 20th, 2008 at 8:07 pm

    Yes, you needed to make that one there as pennance, Robbie.

  359. TKinDC June 20th, 2008 at 8:07 pm

    LMAO !

    Molina!!!!!

  360. YanksAngel June 20th, 2008 at 8:07 pm

    Great pick up by Molina

  361. BBB June 20th, 2008 at 8:08 pm

    “A lot of money goes into baseball. There can’t be umpires with personal agendas. That was ridiculous.”

    That’s exactly why I am a Questec supporter. Ego and power tripping always come into play whether they want to admit it or not. It’s human nature.

  362. whozat June 20th, 2008 at 8:08 pm

    “why wouldn’t i be serious? other teams seem to sign amateur free agents like volquez ”

    Yeah…seven years ago. You’re basically complaining that, 5-7 years ago, they didn’t sign any pitchers that have worked out yet.

    Brandon knows a lot about Latin American prospects. Ask him. Or, go look at the low level teams and see who’s doing well at a young age.

  363. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 8:08 pm

    Still, everybody and their brother wanted Kearns. And before his numbers fell off a cliff, Felipe Lopez was an All-Star caliber infielder (even if he made Cano looked focused in the field). He got a few middle relievers, the most important of whom was damaged goods and threw like 10 bad innings for the Reds.

  364. SJ44 June 20th, 2008 at 8:09 pm

    Randy,

    The Yankees have signed a lot of LA pitchers the last few years.

    Most of them are in the GCL and the Dominican League. Some are decent prospects but are only 18-19 years old.

    The best LA prospect who has made it to A ball so far is Jairo Heredia, who is in Charleston. He’s only 20 and he’s got a chance to be a good one. He was injured early in the year and is just coming back. Real nice arm action and can get it up to the low 90′s.

  365. SamVA June 20th, 2008 at 8:09 pm

    thank you.. he is such a good back-up catcher… thank you cash

  366. whozat June 20th, 2008 at 8:09 pm

    “I guess Girardi is damned if he is aggressive and damned if he is not.”

    Only people who wish this was still the 70s complain that the Yanks don’t run enough. The Yankees have been very judicious with their stealing this year, but today they’ve been dumb. Wasting baserunners against a pitcher like this is ludicrous. You can only go when you get the kind of jump ARod got.

  367. MrMulligan June 20th, 2008 at 8:10 pm

    Damn, without the E it would’ve been 40 @ 4 IP…MOOSE now @ 42…AWESOME.

  368. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 8:10 pm

    Bobby is definitley slumping.

  369. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 8:10 pm

    I mean, lets be fair. Jim Bowden was worse, much worse. Remember Eric Milton? Trading Travis Hafner? But Krivsky did little to impress ownership. Nice guy, but that’s not really enough for a franchise looking to rise.

  370. whozat June 20th, 2008 at 8:11 pm

    “The best LA prospect who has made it to A ball so far is Jairo Heredia”

    THAAAAAT is the name I was trying to remember.

  371. Anyone but Farnsworth June 20th, 2008 at 8:11 pm

    Great Abat A-rod

  372. TurnTwo June 20th, 2008 at 8:12 pm

    can someone tell Kay that Griffey rumor is two weeks old, and was disproven.

  373. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 8:12 pm

    Tampa Bay really needs to build a nicer stadium. I really don’t want to watch World Series Games in a few years in that garbage dump.

  374. Coach Jay23 June 20th, 2008 at 8:12 pm

    CANO you guys wanna rip him apart. You guys try to make that play thats not an easy play. It wasnt hit hard and had to make a judement to under hand it or not. No one on here will rip Jeter or Damon running us out of a chance for a run against the MLBs era leader. Thats ok to do right??? Give the kid a break.

  375. Richie June 20th, 2008 at 8:12 pm

    Heredia is 18 not 20.

  376. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 8:13 pm

    Bobby will be fine. I think it’s clear that he won’t be anything like what he once was, but he’s plenty productive.

  377. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 8:13 pm

    That probably wasn’t the inning the Yankees were looking for. On the bright side, they’re working Volquez’s pitch count pretty well.

  378. whozat June 20th, 2008 at 8:13 pm

    “No one on here will rip Jeter or Damon running us out of a chance for a run against the MLBs era leader. Thats ok to do right???”

    Actually, I did just rip them for running us out of scoring chances.

  379. Coach Jay23 June 20th, 2008 at 8:13 pm

    Anyone but Farnsworth why are you gonna sit there and make fun of Arod when he is with out question on fire lately??

  380. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 8:14 pm

    Moose’s pitch count is especially important considering how many we’ve used the pen. If he can go 7, or even 8, regardless of the score, that would be huge.

  381. TurnTwo June 20th, 2008 at 8:14 pm

    “Tampa Bay really needs to build a nicer stadium. I really don’t want to watch World Series Games in a few years in that garbage dump.”

    a dump on TV, perhaps. i had a couple of friends who went down to Tampa and saw a couple games, and said the stadium isnt nearly as bad in person that youd think.

  382. randy l, June 20th, 2008 at 8:15 pm

    “You’re basically complaining that, 5-7 years ago, they didn’t sign any pitchers that have worked out yet.”
    whozat-

    who’s complaining ?
    i’m thinking out loud.

    this blog is full info about pitching prospects and i realized when watching volquez that i haven’t heard of any latin starter prospects on the blog.
    it might be nice to add some felix hernandez’s to the yankee prospect list .

    if there aren’t any latin starter prospects ,then yeah, that should be looked at wouldn’t you say?

  383. MrMulligan June 20th, 2008 at 8:15 pm

    “Tampa Bay really needs to build a nicer stadium. I really don’t want to watch World Series Games in a few years in that garbage dump.”

    New waterfront park in St. Pete for 2012:

    http://tampabay.rays.mlb.com/t.....llpark.jsp

  384. Coach Jay23 June 20th, 2008 at 8:15 pm

    No you said Girardi being aggressive, Where I am sure Damon and Jeter went on their own

  385. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 8:15 pm

    Working his pitch count? After that last inning not really. An 11 pitch 4th inning sets him back on the pace of 15/inning which would get him through 7. Gotta work him more than that if you want to get him out of there earlier.

  386. whozat June 20th, 2008 at 8:15 pm

    “Bobby will be fine. I think it’s clear that he won’t be anything like what he once was, but he’s plenty productive”

    His OPS is at .784. That’s really not very good. He’s not walking nearly as much as usual. His OBP is WAAAAAY down.

  387. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 8:16 pm

    Well, we’d be watching on TV. So yes, I demand something nicer to look at than dark gray concrete.

  388. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 8:16 pm

    Johnny b. Bad.

  389. mel June 20th, 2008 at 8:17 pm

    Tampa won the bid to host the World Series in ’10? When did they make the announcement?

  390. whozat June 20th, 2008 at 8:17 pm

    “The Yankees have been very judicious with their stealing this year, but today they’ve been dumb. Wasting baserunners against a pitcher like this is ludicrous. You can only go when you get the kind of jump ARod got.”

    I said that. How is that ripping on Girardi?

  391. jennifer- I got your back Girardi June 20th, 2008 at 8:17 pm

    Poor moose has garbage d behind him

  392. TurnTwo June 20th, 2008 at 8:17 pm

    “New waterfront park in St. Pete for 2012:”

    idk if that has really gotten past the “its cool, but not getting the funding to get built” phase.

  393. Wolf In Pinstripes June 20th, 2008 at 8:17 pm

    Cano just had a bad play – it doesn’t mean he’s crap. That’s why it’s called an “error”. he’s been awesome on the field this year.

    Aaaaaand there’s Damon with a TRULY bad play. Yikes.

  394. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 8:17 pm

    The difference in this game so far is defense. Fortunately it hasn’t cost us yet but it will if we don’t tighten it up soon. Cano’s error almost cost us and he got picked off but that was with 2 outs, leading off it’s much less likely they get out of this without a run. Against Volquez you can’t give away runs like that.

  395. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 8:17 pm

    I think Bobby’s days of .900 OPSes are over. He’s lost some power, and I think his drop in walks is another thing that’s here to stay. But we can re-evaluate him at the end of this year. For now, once he gets out of this slump, he’s hardly anything to worry about.

  396. jennifer- I got your back Girardi June 20th, 2008 at 8:17 pm

    mel are you serious? In that garbage park?

  397. Angel June 20th, 2008 at 8:18 pm

    Unless your name is an alias for one of the coaches in the dugout, you can’t possibly know that they went on their own with any certainty at all, Coach Jay 23

  398. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 8:18 pm

    Corey Patterson has power, speed, and a propensity to waste both.

  399. TurnTwo June 20th, 2008 at 8:20 pm

    and a great grab by cano… ok, we’re back to even steven.

  400. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 8:20 pm

    Guys, lets be realistic here. Have you seen the arms coming up through that system? Their rotation is plenty good now. David Price isn’t the only guy coming up the pipeline.

    Cano nonchalantly snagging a grounder and stopping Encarnacion dead in his tracks.

  401. Angel June 20th, 2008 at 8:20 pm

    lol, I don’t think she’s serious, Jennifer. Some nimrod was on here a few posts up annointing Tampa Bay WS contenders in a few years.

  402. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 8:20 pm

    That’s what a catcher like Molina can do for you. You can pull the infield in and throw pitches that you think he’ll roll over on. Smart game calling there.

  403. Nick in SF June 20th, 2008 at 8:20 pm

    You can watch the World Series from here:

    http://tinyurl.com/5jufep

  404. whozat June 20th, 2008 at 8:20 pm

    “if there aren’t any latin starter prospects ,then yeah, that should be looked at wouldn’t you say?”

    The point is that they started being more aggressive in the market, shockingly, when Cash got more control of baseball operations. They get signed at 16. It’s not that hard to figure out where they might be these days…the DSL or _maybe_ A-ball.

  405. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 8:21 pm

    Jay Bruce is 1-2. Cabrera is 2-2.

    I thought the idea was to IBB the better hitter, no?

  406. randy l, June 20th, 2008 at 8:21 pm

    sj-

    thanks

    just out of curiosity , were the yankees in on the felix hernandez bidding when he was signed by the mariners?

    i realize that i don’t know anything about the yankee’s latin american scouting.

  407. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 8:21 pm

    ….

    Like I said.

  408. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 8:21 pm

    If Jolbert Cabrera gets three hits, I might die of shame. The very fact that an old Japan reclamation project like him is playing is a perfect example of why Dusty Baker was a terrible choice to manage this team.

    Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me.

  409. whozat June 20th, 2008 at 8:22 pm

    “I think Bobby’s days of .900 OPSes are over. He’s lost some power, and I think his drop in walks”

    Why? Plate discipline is an old-player skill.

  410. Anyone but Farnsworth June 20th, 2008 at 8:22 pm

    Damon why dont you walk to the ball

  411. jennifer- I got your back Girardi June 20th, 2008 at 8:22 pm

    noddle arm comes into play.

  412. TurnTwo June 20th, 2008 at 8:22 pm

    ha!! rebecca, yeah… just, yeah.

  413. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 8:22 pm

    That might be the game. Good job. You get the big out with the runner on 3rd less than 2 outs and blow it after the IBB. That’s why you don’t intentionally walk a hitter like that in that kind of game. Cost them a run that never should have scored. Terrible managing all around there.

  414. SJ44 June 20th, 2008 at 8:22 pm

    That was dumb strategy. Why not let Moose pitch to the rookie?

    That was a situation of outsmarting yourself and it cost him two runs.

    Sometimes, Girardi tries too hard. That was one example.

  415. BBB June 20th, 2008 at 8:23 pm

    uuuuugh

    If we lose this game can the loss be charged to Damon and Cano?

  416. YanksAngel June 20th, 2008 at 8:23 pm

    well that didn’t work :(

  417. jennifer- I got your back Girardi June 20th, 2008 at 8:23 pm

    wow this ump is awful!!

  418. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 8:23 pm

    ….

    okay.

    He was out by a MILE. I mean, a MILE.

  419. whozat June 20th, 2008 at 8:23 pm

    “were the yankees in on the felix hernandez bidding when he was signed by the mariners?”

    Yes. That was sort of the last straw that made them re-evaluate the resources they needed to put into the latin american market.

  420. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 8:23 pm

    WHAT???? IS THAT UMPIRE BLIND???

  421. MrMulligan June 20th, 2008 at 8:23 pm

    “annointing Tampa Bay WS contenders in a few years.”

    Damn, I’d consider Tampa (with their core group of signed young players and stud SP’s) a WS contender next year…anyone else?

  422. myrtlebeachfan June 20th, 2008 at 8:23 pm

    Ok HONESTLY JOE?

    Are you KIDDING ME?

    Intentionally walk JAY BRUCE? He’s a MINOR LEAGUER in a SLUMP.

    That was freaking RIDICULOUS!

  423. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 8:23 pm

    “Nimrod” qualifies as a new one.

    I think Molina missed the tag.

    Well, I can’t get too upset. They were due for one of these.

  424. Angel June 20th, 2008 at 8:23 pm

    That home plate umpire is %@$%#^W#%$ useless!!

    Just insane.

  425. TurnTwo June 20th, 2008 at 8:23 pm

    upon further review, actually the right call.

  426. S.A.- No pain..no gain! Bronson Arroyo will save us!! June 20th, 2008 at 8:23 pm

    That sucks

  427. Wolf In Pinstripes June 20th, 2008 at 8:24 pm

    I understand the strategy of walking Bruce, but if they hadn’t had the infielders in on the grass against Cabrera, Alex might have had a chance to ghet to that ball.

    Matt was dead on – you can’t give up runs through mistakes in this game against Volquez.

  428. BBB June 20th, 2008 at 8:24 pm

    WOW THIS UMP IS A F’N DIRTY SCUM&^%*

  429. Angel June 20th, 2008 at 8:24 pm

    I can’t quite believe how useless these FSN announcers are too, at least the Yes Network guys will admit its a crappy call.

  430. mel June 20th, 2008 at 8:24 pm

    Bad to worse…

    Let’s go guys.

  431. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 8:24 pm

    The Yankees lost this game on their own. Facing the league leader in ERA you have to play a good, solid game, and all they have done is play like crap behind Mussina. Take out Damon’s error that was ruled a double and they don’t score at all this inning, and walking a huge insurance run with 2 outs like that should be grounds for firing. You cannot lose games in this way. Inexcusable.

  432. stuart June 20th, 2008 at 8:24 pm

    damon f’ed up the whole inning.. he botched the double and should have caught the 1st ball.

    terrible… moose was looking so good before his implosion…….

  433. Jeff NJ June 20th, 2008 at 8:25 pm

    I’m not sure if he was safe or out, but Cabrera did a nice job of switching legs.

  434. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 8:25 pm

    Jolbert Cabrera is a 35 year-old righthanded hitter with a career .669 OPS.

    Walking Bruce, who is going to be an NL MVP contender in a few years, was the right move.

  435. Coach Jay23 June 20th, 2008 at 8:25 pm

    If you know anything about baseball and major league baseball any manger will tell you most guys go on their own, and Jeter and Damon are guys who have the green light to go when they seem they can make it. Girardi may stop the running game now but I am sure they went on their own, I certain players they can whenever they want and they know the situations they can run on and thats in High School so I am sure at the MLB level they can run.

  436. TurnTwo June 20th, 2008 at 8:25 pm

    “at least the Yes Network guys will admit its a crappy call.”

    but it wasnt. he was safe. Molina missed the tag.

  437. Global Warming June 20th, 2008 at 8:25 pm

    Damon totally killed that inning.

    Error on the catch and his noodle arm had that guy scoring from first.

  438. Joe m June 20th, 2008 at 8:25 pm

    Who is Moose going to blame all this on Two out hits

  439. Angel June 20th, 2008 at 8:26 pm

    *yawns at transparent trolls*

  440. Igawa's buck teeth June 20th, 2008 at 8:26 pm

    yea Damon made an Error but why are you pitching around a Bruce? Just go after him! It drives me crazy instead he pitches to a guy who has been all over him today. just stupid.

  441. SJ44 June 20th, 2008 at 8:26 pm

    Randy,

    Yes they were. It was at a time there was a lot of turmoil in the Yankee front office and they ended up missing the boat with Felix.

    Cashman cited that situation as an example of why he wanted (and eventually got) full control in May 2005.

  442. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 8:26 pm

    Okay, on replay he was safe. But still. They should have called him out. Because I said so.

    Anyway. Three runs is not impossible if we can get into their ‘pen.

    HUGE if though, with Volquez on the mound.

  443. stuart June 20th, 2008 at 8:26 pm

    Peter was bitching a few weeks ago that the yanks never run any more… remember that post now he thinks they are to aggressive.

    when you get caught you are too aggressive, that is called monday morning QB….

    the inning was all caused by Damons error, that was not a double.

    cano’s error caused Moose to throw 2 more pitches that was it….

  444. will June 20th, 2008 at 8:27 pm

    WELl… we cant win every game, let’s just hope for a tampa bay loss. who would of ever thought we’d be saying that?

  445. Coach Jay23 June 20th, 2008 at 8:27 pm

    haha food for Thought lets fire Girardi and bring back Buck and give him another try

  446. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 8:27 pm

    Who cares what Bruce might be in 3 years? Right now he’s slumping tremendously and didn’t hit the ball hard in his base hit. Against Volquez, leading baseball in ERA, you simply DO NOT walk runners intentionally. That’s just idiotic. You cannot put extra runs on base. If the guy hits a home run at least they earn their 2 runs. Now by walking him you basically hand them insurance runs if Moose isn’t perfect.

  447. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 8:27 pm

    “Why? Plate discipline is an old-player skill.”

    Well, to an extent. But I don’t think Bobby will be drawing 100 walks again. For one, pitchers will throw him more strikes. He’ll still watch enough go by that he’ll be valuable.

    And after this year, he may no longer be our problem.

  448. Fran June 20th, 2008 at 8:27 pm

    I could understand when Manny beat Moose, but Jolbert Cabrera?

  449. stuart June 20th, 2008 at 8:27 pm

    of course walking bruce was the correct move, just a moron would think differently…

  450. mel June 20th, 2008 at 8:27 pm

    Why are you guys assuming the loss?

    5 more innings.

  451. jennifer- I got your back Girardi June 20th, 2008 at 8:28 pm

    auh they just showed andy phillips ;)

  452. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 8:28 pm

    The inning was not only set up by Damon’s error, but the INTENTIONAL WALK. Take that out and the deficit is manageable. Instead, you allow them to score tremendous insurance runs.

  453. MrMulligan June 20th, 2008 at 8:28 pm

    Yanks need to chip away…

  454. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 8:29 pm

    mel: I’m not sure, but Volquez’s crazy ERA might have something to do with it.

    Also, ‘Stache hasn’t had a hit in a while.

  455. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 8:29 pm

    Jolbert Cabrera has also been plying his trade in Japan the last few years. He probably shouldn’t even be on the roster, and wouldn’t be if Dusty Baker didn’t manage this team.

    I think the Yankees decline the option, and re-sign Giambi at an excessive (though not nearly to that degree) rate. He’s got two good years left.

  456. mel June 20th, 2008 at 8:29 pm

    Rebecca,

    That’s right. It should have been a makeup call.

  457. MoBoy June 20th, 2008 at 8:29 pm

    Raise your hand if you thought Mussina was gonna win 20 games.

  458. S.o.S.27 June 20th, 2008 at 8:29 pm

    That is mussina being mussina. Implosion after an error(Damon,it was an error). Some things dont change.

  459. will June 20th, 2008 at 8:30 pm

    Does a guy like molina look at the replay… then later comeback out and apologize to the umpire? Maybe that’d buy him a future call..

  460. SJ44 June 20th, 2008 at 8:30 pm

    Jay Bruce may be a NL MVP candidate in a few years but, he’s not one now.

    I’d gladly take my chances of Moose working him over than putting another guy on base in that situation.

    I don’t care what Cabrera’s career stats are. He was 2-2 tonight (going into that AB) and hit the ball pretty hard through the middle in his second AB.

    It was a dumb strategy and it cost them 3 runs.

    Bruce is slumping, why intentionally walk him? Just work outside the zone and see if he chases.

    In a 1-1 game, I fail to see the logic of walking a rookie who hasn’t hit in 2 weeks.

    Oh well, lesson learned (we hope) for Girardi.

  461. TurnTwo June 20th, 2008 at 8:30 pm

    “Also, ‘Stache hasn’t had a hit in a while.”

    perhaps he just remembered he was jason giambi?

  462. randy l, June 20th, 2008 at 8:30 pm

    “Yes. That was sort of the last straw that made them re-evaluate the resources they needed to put into the latin american market.”

    thank whozat, that’s why i asked.

    really bad use of his body by molina. he got caught kind of off balance and just gave up on getting his body into the play. he had plenty of time. just a bad play. it happens.

  463. mel June 20th, 2008 at 8:31 pm

    Ooookay. 4 more innings.

  464. Angel June 20th, 2008 at 8:31 pm

    Yes, because thats how he’s got 10 wins – by consistently imploding after errors behind him. Who knew? :)

  465. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 8:31 pm

    All of the runs in this game for Moose should be unearned except the home run. All of you who have a vendetta against him will blame him, but take out Damon’s error and NO WAY that inning ever comes close to happening. Look at this now, we are down 3 after 5 against the league leader in ERA because of an error and an idiotic intentional walk. Do you think they will come back and win this game making the guy throw 70 pitches in 5 innings?

    DEFENSE, LEAGUE AVERAGE DEFENSE. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. The difference between this team being maybe in first place and being where they are now is their horrible defense. Errors cost them the majority of their runs, which is a shame because their pitching is actually really good this year.

  466. munchabuncha June 20th, 2008 at 8:32 pm

    Girardi helped to lose this game. Honestly, some of the things he does really are not the signs of a good manager.

  467. MrMulligan June 20th, 2008 at 8:32 pm

    Ron:

    This team needs to rid itself of 34 – 36 year old DHs…Giambi will be back in Oaktown next year.

  468. will June 20th, 2008 at 8:32 pm

    Tampa losing 2-1 top of 5th.

  469. S.o.S.27 June 20th, 2008 at 8:32 pm

    The intentional walk didnt make mussina throw his next pitch right down the middle. He f-up. Stop placing all the blame on Girardi. And persues to give up another hit after.

  470. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 8:32 pm

    Mussina will likely not win tonight, but he could still win twenty games. He’s at ten before the all star break; he’ll have at least one or two more starts before then as well.

    We’re playing very sloppy baseball tonight and beating ourselves.

    We can still win this, but the yankees have to not give up free outs.

  471. Anyone but Farnsworth June 20th, 2008 at 8:33 pm

    MIchael Kay she is pretty but you are too ugly for her!!!

  472. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 8:33 pm

    Bruce isn’t just some rookie. He’s the reigning minor league player of the year. Jolbert Cabrera is a replacement-level journeyman. It’s a no-brainer, and Moose’s fault for not getting the piece of jetsam out.

  473. stuart June 20th, 2008 at 8:33 pm

    Sj you are wrong. colbert had a bunt hit in the 1st. bruce already had 1 legit hit..

    no friggin way and also colbert is a right …

    SJ I expect more from you………….

  474. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 8:33 pm

    Runge is an idiot.

  475. mel June 20th, 2008 at 8:34 pm

    I’m really not ready for the win streak to end, guys. Let’s pick it up.

  476. myrtlebeachfan June 20th, 2008 at 8:34 pm

    Volquez pitches in the NL. Not to take away from his ERA, but it looks better than he has pitched. The Yankees are the best hitting team in baseball (whether or not this season’s stats say so, they are).

    We can light him up. He goes 2-0 on hitters a lot. It’s just a matter of being more patient. We need a big hit or two from Matsui and Abreu.

  477. Angel June 20th, 2008 at 8:34 pm

    *finds random capitalization of words that Don’t need to Be capitalized Really annoying*

  478. SJ44 June 20th, 2008 at 8:35 pm

    Moose isn’t going to win every start nor are the Yankees going to win every game.

    1-1 game, I don’t intentionally walk a rookie to pitch to a guy who is 2-2 in the game. That’s just me.

    Overall, Moose hasn’t pitched that badly.

    Unfortunately, when you are facing the guy who has been the best pitcher in baseball so far this year, there is little margin for error.

    This game hardly is an indicator of ANYTHING. Its just 1 of 162, regardless of what the result may be.

    I’m sure the Yankees will be just fine. They were due for a clunker.

    It happens to everybody.

  479. Coach Jay23 June 20th, 2008 at 8:36 pm

    I agree Girardi has really hurt us in this game and in alot of other games. I dont think he can command the respect in a veteran clubhouse, maybe in a young one. He played with some of the guys and I dont think they look at him as a manager. I think if we miss the playoffs, fire him and make a change for the new era. I like Buck Showalter and Im sure there are names out there like Willie, Luis Sojo, Mattingly that Hank likes alot more than Girardi

  480. S.A.- No pain..no gain! Bronson Arroyo will save us!! June 20th, 2008 at 8:37 pm

    the game is far from being over.
    Please get through this Moose and let the bats get back to work and try and do something. :|

  481. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 8:37 pm

    STOP BLAMING MUSSINA.

    You all are crazy with your hatred of Mussina. You think that inning EVER comes to fruition without Damon? No way in hell. And even with that, he’s bound to make a mistake eventually, he is not perfect and his stuff isn’t as good as it used to be. Putting extra baserunners on base (AKA Girardi’s stupid IBB) basically makes it so every mistake he makes is severly amplified. Why would you do that?

    A good manager needs to know his pitchers. Moose makes occasional mistakes. His stuff is diminished. Don’t give them extra runs by putting guys on in big spots where he might make one.

  482. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 8:37 pm

    myrtlebeachfan, Volquez pitches in Cincinnati which is an extreme hitter’s park. His numbers are actually worse than what they should be.

  483. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 8:37 pm

    Why isn’t anyone blaming Moose for allowing JOLBERT CABRERA to have two hard hits off him?

  484. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 8:38 pm

    Damon’s defense deserves plenty of the blame, off course. But Damon had nothing to do with throwing Cabrera a cookie, and throwing Junior something he could pull.

  485. bphill June 20th, 2008 at 8:39 pm

    This is why we don’t trade for Bedard….

    He just left the game grabbing his back/hip area….

    chronic hip problems eh?

  486. SJ44 June 20th, 2008 at 8:40 pm

    Stuart,

    Cabrera also drilled his second hit right by Moose. I could care less of Bruce’s minor league credentials are, he’s been slumping for two weeks.

    Why intentionally walk him? Let Moose work him and see what happens. Bruce could chase a pitch or two and get himself out. If you get to 2-0, you could walk him after that if need be.

    Every time Girardi intentionally walks guys it seems to bite him in the butt.

    Let’s not put Jay Bruce in the HOF just yet. We are talking about an AB in a game, not one’s career numbers.

    Its the problem with just looking at the game through stats and nothing more. There’s more to it than just reading a stat sheet.

  487. Coach Jay23 June 20th, 2008 at 8:40 pm

    Volquez has only allowed more than 2 runs once guys so its not like its a fluke this year, we need to keep working the count maybe scratch 1 more run and try to beat the bullpen up for 3 or 4 runs in the 8th

  488. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 8:40 pm

    Jolbert Cabrera has been in the major leagues before, stop acting like he’s some AAAA scrub who’s never played before. Bruce is a rookie in a huge slump. Moose is a guy who will give up some base hits. Why, WHY would you put an extra baserunner on in a TIE GAME against the LEAGUE LEADER IN ERA? Stupid move, and it killed them.

  489. S.A.- No pain..no gain! Bronson Arroyo will save us!! June 20th, 2008 at 8:41 pm

    Come on Moose. 1 more

  490. S.o.S.27 June 20th, 2008 at 8:41 pm

    Ron,
    Exactly.See you folks later.

    Yanks comeback and win 6-5.

  491. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 8:42 pm

    Jetes with the range!

  492. TurnTwo June 20th, 2008 at 8:42 pm

    wow, who took Jeter’s place at SS?

  493. Astoria John June 20th, 2008 at 8:42 pm

    no range my butt!!!

  494. Nick in SF June 20th, 2008 at 8:42 pm

    This game isn’t a clunker quite yet. Almost, but the Captain keeps hope alive!

  495. Angel June 20th, 2008 at 8:42 pm

    Nice job, Jeets.

  496. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 8:42 pm

    NICE play.

  497. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 8:42 pm

    Look guys. Jeter’s defense saves them a run. Too bad it came after Damon’s cost them 3. Even average defense would put this team in first place right now. It’s the routine plays that get them.

  498. Stormrider6 June 20th, 2008 at 8:43 pm

    Jeet went to his left there! Take that, Jeter haters!

  499. Patrick Bateman June 20th, 2008 at 8:43 pm

    Time to give back the ice cream Mike.

  500. YanksAngel June 20th, 2008 at 8:43 pm

    Nice Jeter!! Now lets get some runs!!

  501. S.A.- No pain..no gain! Bronson Arroyo will save us!! June 20th, 2008 at 8:44 pm

    Nice Captain!

  502. MoBoy June 20th, 2008 at 8:44 pm

    Mussina never in he’s career won 20 wins even with better Yankees teams.He’s all of a sudden gonna do it at age 39.

    Only if he takes short cuts(which he has) and averages 5 1/3 innings.Then maybe.But with Joba and Kennedy and Hughes who are gonna learn to pitch in the majors (who needs AAA) we will have 4 pitchers who average 5 1/3 inngs.

    Glad we have a great bullpen.

  503. Anyone but Farnsworth June 20th, 2008 at 8:44 pm

    We need to get to him this innning

  504. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 8:45 pm

    It’s almost a manager’s rule in baseball that you never put extra baserunners on by way of the IBB in a close game, knowing that if you make a mistake you’ll be down extra runs. Girardi has to learn how to use the tool that is the IBB.

    He walks Bruce in the completely wrong spot and REFUSES to walk Manny, who KILLS US, and instead hits big home runs. Look, I understand if he walked Brandon Phillips or Adam Dunn there, but Jay Bruce is a rookie in a slump, he’s not Manny Ramirez at the plate yet. Make him beat you, don’t let the IBB beat you.

    They have most likely though lost this game again on offense. 1 pitch out for Molina. They refuse to make him throw ANY pitches and at this rate he could go 7 or 8. Yesterday they got lucky Joba kept it in hand despite all of the jams or their 2 run clunker would have looked really bad.

  505. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 8:45 pm

    Yeah, uh, apparently we’re not getting to him this inning.

  506. BBB June 20th, 2008 at 8:45 pm

    O

  507. Astoria John June 20th, 2008 at 8:46 pm

    am i a bad person for hoping the ump punched Edinson on the chin on that first base out call??

  508. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 8:46 pm

    Disgraceful. 73 pitches through 5 2/3. Look, you keep saying how we’re going to knock him out, get to the bullpen, whatever, but if they don’t stop this terrible “we’re down so we stop working the count” kind of nonesense, he might throw a CG.

  509. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 8:46 pm

    damn down 4-1 into the 6th vs Volquez not looking pretty at all

  510. BBB June 20th, 2008 at 8:46 pm

    Oh, nice. Now we’re gonna lay down for the rest of the game. And Dusty Baker manages the Reds so you know this kid is out there for at least 110 pitches. ugh.

  511. Anyone but Farnsworth June 20th, 2008 at 8:46 pm

    Blame this future loss on Girardi, he kept Volquez in the game with those stupid steal calls.

  512. Angel June 20th, 2008 at 8:47 pm

    Are these FSN Ohio tools kidding me? They’re saying that pitch to Jeter was a strike?

    Parochial much?

  513. S.A.- No pain..no gain! Bronson Arroyo will save us!! June 20th, 2008 at 8:48 pm

    not exactly making him work this inning

  514. Astoria John June 20th, 2008 at 8:48 pm

    c’mon Jetes, the kid is getting cocky catch him offguard..time for #200!!

  515. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 8:49 pm

    And look, Jeter hits it hard, but the lack of good at bats before him that inning made the at bat almost completely useless considering they’re down 3. He hit it hard, oh that’s nice, but you’re down 3. You need base runners in front of guys like Abreu and A-Rod.

  516. S.A.- No pain..no gain! Bronson Arroyo will save us!! June 20th, 2008 at 8:49 pm

    He’s at 80 pitches now

  517. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 8:50 pm

    50 through 3.

    30 through the next 3.

    Wake up Yankees. You beat yourselves not only on defense, but with your refusal to take a pith.

    They’re bound to lose someday, but today was a game they should not be losing. Take out the defense and this game is still tied, and put a better at bat in the middle of one of those innings and maybe they have 2 or 3 instead of 1.

  518. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 8:50 pm

    Nope.

    I’m pretty damn sure that if Moose had thrown the same first pitch to Bruce as he did to Jolbert Cabrera, it would have been 3-1 with the heart of the lineup due up.

  519. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 8:50 pm

    Okay, that was cool.

  520. bphill June 20th, 2008 at 8:51 pm

    that was a special count down.

  521. V June 20th, 2008 at 8:51 pm

    Wow, the whiners are out in force! AMAZING!

    Wow, it’s as if the Yankees aren’t allowed to lose a game. I feel bad for you expecting 162-0 seasons.

  522. JoeT 28 in 09!! MO FOR CY YOUNG!! June 20th, 2008 at 8:51 pm

    “everyday they have a celebrity pull the lever”

    like the met life guys

  523. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 8:52 pm

    OK, and if Moose gives up a home run to Bruce, there are 2 outs, nobody on, and he can get the next guy out. By allowing an extra baserunner to score on that double, you basically allow them to turn what could have been a 1 run inning after the bad play by Damon into a HUGE inning.

    Hey look at that. He dominated Bruce. What a shocker!

  524. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 8:52 pm

    Again, WHY did we walk bruce?

  525. Angel June 20th, 2008 at 8:52 pm

    It must almost be time for Captains Corner etc. to show up.

  526. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 8:53 pm

    Moose, this is utterly pathetic.

  527. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 8:53 pm

    3-3. That’s why Cabrera should not have been pitched to instead of Bruce. It’s not a fluke, he’s seeing the ball well off Moose. Bruce was easily dominated in every at bat tonight and had a soft base hit.

  528. V June 20th, 2008 at 8:54 pm

    Matt – I have a good idea. Before you give yourself a heart attack, why don’t you turn off the game?

  529. JoeT June 20th, 2008 at 8:54 pm

    SO yesterday that Yankees steal bases which results in both runs in a 2-1 game and Giradi is a genius. Today we try to build runs against a pitcher with a 1.6 ERA and because they get thrown out he’s a moron. The bottom line folks is if Damon catches that fly ball its a 1-1 game.

  530. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 8:54 pm

    V, if you have nothing to say about the game, don’t post. Why do you only show up to flame people who care enough about the team to be upset by a sloppy game? Have you ever actually discussed the game at hand?

  531. SJ44 June 20th, 2008 at 8:54 pm

    Like I said, I’ll take my chances with Moose working over a rookie who has been struggling with off speed stuff for the last 10 days, than putting guys on base needlessly.

    If you get beat, you get beat. That’s baseball.

    To put Bruce on in front of guy who was 2-2, and hit the ball hard off Moose in his last AB, wasn’t smart strategy.

  532. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 8:56 pm

    How anyone can blame this by riticizing the running game tells me how stupid some of these posters are getting, it’s not a given we score a run against Volquez he’s the best in the league, the one run we managed to squeeze was because of that aggressive running game. Volquez is the type of SP that if you take pitches it might be a 3 pitch or 4 pitch AB.

  533. Anyone but Farnsworth June 20th, 2008 at 8:56 pm

    HHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAH

  534. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 8:56 pm

    …Yeah, Giambi can’t throw.

  535. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 8:56 pm

    Giambi, that was quite possibly the worst throw I’ve ever seen.

  536. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 8:56 pm

    Stache’ WTF was that ?

  537. BBB June 20th, 2008 at 8:56 pm

    Bruce and Cabrera continue to make the IBB decision look questionable as this game wears on.

  538. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 8:56 pm

    Giambi with another sloppy play. Sloppy play. They easily had a double play there. Play a clean game and it’s 1-1 and we’re in line to win against a tough pitcher in Volquez. If you aren’t upset about this kind of game, you are not a fan.

  539. Wolf In Pinstripes June 20th, 2008 at 8:56 pm

    Uh-oh. Giambi just caught a case of Cano-itis.

    These guys do not have their heads in the game at all tonight.

  540. JoeT 28 in 09!! MO FOR CY YOUNG!! June 20th, 2008 at 8:56 pm

    how does that happen? that might’ve been the worst all around baseball play of the year

    he’s still on first, and I don’t need to say anything about Giambi’s throw

  541. Angel June 20th, 2008 at 8:57 pm

    Ugh, that looked like a miscommunication and bad throw there.

  542. Angel June 20th, 2008 at 8:57 pm

    Ugh, that looked like a miscommunication and bad throw there.

  543. lil' m June 20th, 2008 at 8:57 pm

    I love Big G but he can’t throw to second to save his life lol

  544. Pedro June 20th, 2008 at 8:57 pm

    “To put Bruce on in front of guy who was 2-2, and hit the ball hard off Moose in his last AB, wasn’t smart strategy.”

    Right on. Even more so if you consider Bruce’s hit was a cheap, off the end of the bat one.

    And here we go, our D is a joke.

  545. TurnTwo June 20th, 2008 at 8:57 pm

    giambi, juuuuuust a bit high.

  546. YanksAngel June 20th, 2008 at 8:57 pm

    Jason!!

    Moose has got to be thinking, why me

  547. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 8:57 pm

    Given the odds heading into the game that Jolbert Cabrera would be 4-4, I think we ought to agree to disagree.

  548. Joe Mama June 20th, 2008 at 8:57 pm

    that was the ugliest throw to first I have seen in years

  549. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 8:57 pm

    How anyone can blame this by *criticizing the running game tells me how stupid some of these posters are getting, it’s not a given we score a run against Volquez he’s the best in the league, the one run we managed to squeeze was because of that aggressive running game. Volquez is the type of SP that if you take pitches it might be a 3 pitch or 4 pitch AB.

    Yeh I know double post

  550. Angel June 20th, 2008 at 8:58 pm

    Meh, double post.

  551. Pedro June 20th, 2008 at 8:58 pm

    It seems as if the Yankees are not interested in winning this game.

  552. TurnTwo June 20th, 2008 at 8:58 pm

    and michael kay apparently cant do simple subtraction.

    nothing but the best for the organization in the booth.

  553. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 8:59 pm

    Giambi can’t throw to second at all–he doesn’t like doing it, either.

    however, Giambi is only one person. Not the entire team.

    Also, say what you want about Moose, but he’s saving the ‘pen some innings.

  554. Larry Mahnken June 20th, 2008 at 8:59 pm

    “Rule 6.06 A batter is out for illegal action when—
    (b) He steps from one batter’s box to the other while the pitcher is in position ready to pitch”

    But if the pitcher is off the rubber (not ready to pitch) and there are less than two strikes, I think the batter can switch, right?

    On that point I am not sure, but it does indicate that Charlie Reliford was wrong when he said there was no penalty for switching sides once the pitcher is set.

  555. SJ44 June 20th, 2008 at 8:59 pm

    I can’t get too broken up about this game. Moose is giving them innings which, truth be told, is more important to me than the result.

    If they are going to lose, getting 7-8 innings out of a starter, when the bullpen is gassed, is fine by me.

  556. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 9:00 pm

    Wow, Cabrera looked pretty out on that play. When the ump is out of position, what do you expect?

  557. S.A.- No pain..no gain! Bronson Arroyo will save us!! June 20th, 2008 at 9:00 pm

    Ouch

  558. Stormrider6 June 20th, 2008 at 9:01 pm

    I hope Melky is watching this…

  559. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 9:01 pm

    ouch I did that in 97′

  560. Anyone but Farnsworth June 20th, 2008 at 9:01 pm

    I want a Giradi pissy fit.. to get this team pumped

  561. JoeT June 20th, 2008 at 9:01 pm

    SJ44,

    You and I are clearly not watching the same game. The first hit was a bunt. The second hit was a ground ball up the middle that barely went under Moose’s glove. Giradi made the correct move but Moose did not execute the pitch, it happens. As I stated earlier, Damon catches that ball its 1-1.

  562. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 9:01 pm

    As much as I dislike Cabrera killing the Yankees today, hope he’s okay. Feel bad for him–not a fun way to end an evening.

  563. Wolf In Pinstripes June 20th, 2008 at 9:01 pm

    “giambi, juuuuuust a bit high.”

    LOL. TurnTwo channeling his inner Harry Doyle.

  564. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 9:02 pm

    This is really on the offense though. As good as Volquez is, we’ve had some terrible at bats resulting in quick outs tonight. In fact, if not for the balk, we’re probably being shut out right now.

  565. V June 20th, 2008 at 9:02 pm

    “V, if you have nothing to say about the game, don’t post. Why do you only show up to flame people who care enough about the team to be upset by a sloppy game? Have you ever actually discussed the game at hand?”

    Yes, I do, Matt. But it’s a lot more enjoyable to discuss when people aren’t being idiots.

    This guy isn’t leading the majors in ERA because he’s the type of guy the Yankees pwn, ya know?

  566. BBB June 20th, 2008 at 9:02 pm

    “It seems as if the Yankees are not interested in winning this game.”

    It does seem that way and THAT’s what makes it so frustrating. It’s not like they are simply getting beat by a good pitcher. They’ve beaten themselves by playing bad baseball.

  567. V June 20th, 2008 at 9:03 pm

    “This is really on the offense though. As good as Volquez is, we’ve had some terrible at bats resulting in quick outs tonight. In fact, if not for the balk, we’re probably being shut out right now.”

    No, this is on Volquez, who is an excellent pitcher this year.

    If the Yankees were taking strike 1 and strike 2 every at bat, you’d probably be whining that they’re watching hittable pitches.

  568. Shirley June 20th, 2008 at 9:03 pm

    Score some more runs! Let Moose get another win.

  569. jennifer- I got your back Girardi June 20th, 2008 at 9:03 pm

    I think this has to go down as one of the worst umped games I’ve seen.

  570. S.A.- No pain..no gain! Bronson Arroyo will save us!! June 20th, 2008 at 9:04 pm

    do something bats. Please

  571. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 9:04 pm

    I don’t see us winning tonight, Volquez is just proving tonight he’s a young Pedro in the making, memo to Cashman Michel Inoa w/e the price better be signed this summer.

  572. SJ44 June 20th, 2008 at 9:04 pm

    Matt,

    Exhale. There is no reason to be upset at this game.

    They have won 7 in a row and are playing excellent baseball for the last 3 weeks.

    Every team in baseball will have a sloppy game.

    Yes, even the Yankees.

    They have a few more chances to get back in the game.

    If they don’t, getting 7 out of Moose tonight is just what was needed for the next two days.

    Especially tomorrow with Giese pitching.

    Take a long term view instead of thinking every game is a must win. They aren’t.

    Its about winning series.

    As long as the Yankees keep winning series, they will be ok.

  573. JoeT 28 in 09!! MO FOR CY YOUNG!! June 20th, 2008 at 9:05 pm

    That play Damon needs to be an error. Moose has a legit chance to be on the all-star team (and possibly even start) Right now he has 7 innings and 4 earned runs instead of 1. That raises his ERA obviously – help the guy out – who wouldn’t want Moose starting the all-star game at Yankee Stadium?? It’s not even like I’m asking for a real tough play to be called an error instead of a hit, it was right at him and I realize he lost it in the lights, but it hit his glove and even Damon will tell you that it was an error.

  574. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 9:05 pm

    Brandon, how’s the Latin piece coming? :)

    Also tonight’s game is a combination of Volquez, the Yankees forgetting to work counts, an error by Damon, a stupid decision to walk Bruce, and a really bad umpire at home plate.

  575. JoeT 28 in 09!! MO FOR CY YOUNG!! June 20th, 2008 at 9:06 pm

    damon play** sometimes i’m lexdixic

  576. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 9:06 pm

    “If the Yankees were taking strike 1 and strike 2 every at bat, you’d probably be whining that they’re watching hittable pitches.”

    Uh, no. You work the count against a good pitcher so you don’t end up in a spot like tonight, where you’re only down a few runs but you can’t get him out of the game because you let him get away with 10 pitch innings against the heart of your order.

    What are the chances of Volquez throwing a good pitch to hit on the first pitch, not only with his stuff, but knowing you are swinging away like Cano and company? You’re way more likely to get a good pitch to hit facing a guy who is known to be wild at times if you work the count and get in a hitter’s count.

  577. MrMulligan June 20th, 2008 at 9:06 pm

    Well, Moose has really pitched a damn good game…victimized by some shoddy D but still getting thru 7 @ 39 is pretty impressive.

  578. TurnTwo June 20th, 2008 at 9:06 pm

    “As long as the Yankees keep winning series, they will be ok.”

    as always, SJ brings the truth.

  579. SJ44 June 20th, 2008 at 9:06 pm

    If folks don’t think Volquez is a good pitcher, I’m sorry, you don’t know anything about baseball.

    I get being a fan and all that but, come on, the guy is outstanding.

    Put it another way, I’d take him on the Yankees right now.

    If he was in the Yankees rotation, the folks who don’t think he’s that good, would be touting him for the Cy Young.

  580. V June 20th, 2008 at 9:06 pm

    Case in point, Abreu is trying to work the count. What does he get out of it? an 0-2 count, and a groundout.

    STOP WHINING!!!

  581. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 9:07 pm

    Okay, now Bobby’s annoying me.

  582. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 9:07 pm

    Dammit this game is over. Baker’s not pulling him.

  583. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 9:08 pm

    The Reds, the last place Reds, are showing us how it’s done on defense. Even with the bobble he makes the play, which was tough to make even in the first place on the range to his left there. We might be saying “first place Yankees” along with that if they could make routine plays like they haven’t done in almost every game they’ve lost this year.

  584. Astoria John June 20th, 2008 at 9:08 pm

    ok, rebecca, that thing you do with the
    “hey **pitcher** it’s called a strike zone find it”
    i’m going to try with the bats

    ok

    ahem
    “hey yankee bats, it’s the spinning white thing send it to where they ain’t fielding”

    and scene…

    howzat?

  585. MrMulligan June 20th, 2008 at 9:08 pm

    Personally, I’d rather have Moose sitting in his rocker at home than starting the AS Game…we’re gonna need him healthy and effective in the 2nd half.

  586. JoeT 28 in 09!! MO FOR CY YOUNG!! June 20th, 2008 at 9:08 pm

    I bet Volquez is liking being in the AL again – DH means they don’t have to pinch hit for him

  587. V June 20th, 2008 at 9:09 pm

    Excellent at bat by ARod.

  588. BBB June 20th, 2008 at 9:09 pm

    The Yankees WERE working counts in the beginning of the game, but that seemed to go out the window along with their defense :|

  589. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 9:09 pm

    Okay. Let this be the start of something.

  590. V June 20th, 2008 at 9:09 pm

    “The Yankees WERE working counts in the beginning of the game, but that seemed to go out the window along with their defense”

    No, it went out the window when a good pitcher had the lead and was throwing first and second pitch strikes.

  591. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 9:09 pm

    Uh V, my case in point. A-Rod doesn’t help him out by chasing and gets in a hitter’s count where if not for being down 3 runs he just got a groove pitch down the middle. Then he gets another not wanting to walk a guy down 3 and lines it up the middle. Abreu got beaten by good pitches, at least he made him work for the out. Abreu also is a good 2 strike hitter so if he made a mistake and he didn’t chase pitches he would have made him pay.

  592. V June 20th, 2008 at 9:10 pm

    Man, DFA Matsui, he wasn’t patient at all.

  593. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 9:10 pm

    We’re set up for the ‘stache.

  594. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 9:11 pm

    And again, Matsui gets in a hitter’s count by not hacking away at the fastball out of the zone and pulls one through the hole knowing he’ll get a pitch to hit. This team, when it’s consistently patient, always scores runs against any pitcher. The only time it gets shut down is if it hacks away. Now is their chance, time to strike against Volquez.

  595. S.A.- No pain..no gain! Bronson Arroyo will save us!! June 20th, 2008 at 9:11 pm

    can we do something here? hhhmmm

  596. JoeT 28 in 09!! MO FOR CY YOUNG!! June 20th, 2008 at 9:11 pm

    My Dad: “Giambi’s cooled off a little bit”

    Me: “yeah, but look at that mustache”

  597. MrMulligan June 20th, 2008 at 9:11 pm

    Volquez goes 95 to 81…c’mon Yanks chip away, baby!!!

  598. YanksAngel June 20th, 2008 at 9:11 pm

    time for the stache to get it done

  599. BBB June 20th, 2008 at 9:11 pm

    wait a sec….did we really just string 2 hits together off this guy? REALLY?!?

  600. randy l June 20th, 2008 at 9:11 pm

    V.
    how did the yankees beat pedro in his prime on a regular basis?

  601. Anyone but Farnsworth June 20th, 2008 at 9:11 pm

    COME ON STACHE

  602. Wolf In Pinstripes June 20th, 2008 at 9:11 pm

    Well, Brandon – you know Baker’s got a history of not pulling great young pitchers from games. ;)

  603. mel June 20th, 2008 at 9:12 pm

    Let’s go G-string, uh, I mean G-man!

  604. Anyone but Farnsworth June 20th, 2008 at 9:12 pm

    Other way please..

  605. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 9:12 pm

    Fortunately, Runge’s strike zone is back to sane standards.

  606. Angel June 20th, 2008 at 9:12 pm

    haha, true Wolf.

  607. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 9:13 pm

    Damn that was our chance…

  608. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 9:13 pm

    Wow, does Michael Kay think before he speaks? Steal 3rd with a lefty at the plate against a guy quick to home plate? I’d never do that even with the shift on. Giambi just missed it, man.

  609. V June 20th, 2008 at 9:13 pm

    “And again, Matsui gets in a hitter’s count by not hacking away at the fastball out of the zone and pulls one through the hole knowing he’ll get a pitch to hit. This team, when it’s consistently patient, always scores runs against any pitcher. The only time it gets shut down is if it hacks away. Now is their chance, time to strike against Volquez.”

    I don’t think you get it.

    He’s been throwing strike 1. Once a pitcher establishes he’s throwing strike 1? Hitters start swinging at strike 1 and ‘almost’ strike 1. He’s an excellent pitcher. A changeup low can look like a fastball belt high coming out of the hand.

    Abreu was patient, not swinging at tough to hit pitches. All he got out of it was a 3 pitch groundout.

    He got wild on ARod (like he’s been on ARod all game) and Alex put together an excellent AB.

  610. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 9:14 pm

    Astoria John: Nice work!

  611. S.A.- No pain..no gain! Bronson Arroyo will save us!! June 20th, 2008 at 9:14 pm

    Robbie, we need you to do something good here man

  612. Anyone but Farnsworth June 20th, 2008 at 9:14 pm

    This dude has the widest strike zone

  613. Angel June 20th, 2008 at 9:14 pm

    Ack.. i can’t look.

  614. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 9:15 pm

    Robbie. This is not what you’re supposed to do.

  615. Anyone but Farnsworth June 20th, 2008 at 9:15 pm

    See ya Cano.. Strike 3

  616. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 9:15 pm

    That, however, is.

  617. Don Vito A. Bellamo June 20th, 2008 at 9:15 pm

    There is a comeback in these Yankees tonight….I can feel it…Giambi gives it a ride and Robbie does NOT swing at the first pitch…..GO YANKEES GO !

  618. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 9:15 pm

    A-Rod’s mind games do the trick!

  619. Wolf In Pinstripes June 20th, 2008 at 9:16 pm

    Nice! But I think Robbie still needs a ‘stache.

  620. JoeT 28 in 09!! MO FOR CY YOUNG!! June 20th, 2008 at 9:16 pm

    look at Robby stay in there and drive it back up the box…. keep the line moving boys!!

  621. Don Vito A. Bellamo June 20th, 2008 at 9:16 pm

    here we come !!!

  622. Angel June 20th, 2008 at 9:16 pm

    Nice call there, Anyone but Farnsworth.

  623. MrMulligan June 20th, 2008 at 9:16 pm

    Robbie!!!

  624. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 9:16 pm

    that was all Alex, he shook him

  625. Don Vito A. Bellamo June 20th, 2008 at 9:16 pm

    ” Anyone but Farnsworth
    June 20th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
    See ya Cano.. Strike 3 ”
    .
    NOT QUITE, YA DOLT !!!

  626. Stormrider6 June 20th, 2008 at 9:17 pm

    Go Robbie! Let’s keep it going!

  627. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 9:17 pm

    I’m sorry…Dick Pole…

    That’s awful.

  628. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 9:17 pm

    Cano with a huge base hit! V, as much as we’ve been arguing here, you have to admit that the patience is the difference that inning. He didn’t help Volquez out swinging at the perfect pitch on the outside corner and got a mistake pitch and drove in a run. Patience doesn’t have to mean a 5 pitch at bat, it could mean not swinging at the pitcher’s pitch and waiting for your pitch.

  629. S.A.- No pain..no gain! Bronson Arroyo will save us!! June 20th, 2008 at 9:17 pm

    chip away
    chip away

  630. mel June 20th, 2008 at 9:17 pm

    Nice, Robi.

  631. Anyone but Farnsworth June 20th, 2008 at 9:17 pm

    Its called the reverse tatic Angel

  632. Wolf In Pinstripes June 20th, 2008 at 9:17 pm

    Is it time for the Melkman to make a home delivery?

  633. Coach Jay23 June 20th, 2008 at 9:17 pm

    Anyone but Farnsworth
    WAY TO GO CANO 2 hits tonight.. NO strike 3.. take that one ABF

  634. JoeT 28 in 09!! MO FOR CY YOUNG!! June 20th, 2008 at 9:17 pm

    Can Matsui score on a base hit? I wonder how that knee is?? Put one in a gap Melky so we don’t have to worry about it.

  635. Angel June 20th, 2008 at 9:18 pm

    Hey, how’d that beating up Farnsworth thing work out for you?

  636. V June 20th, 2008 at 9:18 pm

    “Cano with a huge base hit! V, as much as we’ve been arguing here, you have to admit that the patience is the difference that inning. He didn’t help Volquez out swinging at the perfect pitch on the outside corner and got a mistake pitch and drove in a run. Patience doesn’t have to mean a 5 pitch at bat, it could mean not swinging at the pitcher’s pitch and waiting for your pitch.”

    This inning? Definitely. He’s been very wild this inning.

    Before this inning? He’s been throwing a lot of strikes.

  637. YanksAngel June 20th, 2008 at 9:18 pm

    In the words of Daughtry, ‘It’s not over’

  638. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 9:18 pm

    He’s getting tired, you can see his changeup isn’t as good. This is their chance.

  639. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 9:20 pm

    Melky, you were not supposed to do that.

    However, a two run deficit is smaller than a three run deficit. Game’s not over yet.

  640. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 9:20 pm

    Okay, we’re within two. That’s doable.

    Impressive change-up past 100 pitches.

  641. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 9:20 pm

    Take out the Damon play that was ruled a double and the Yankees are winning 2-1 right now. Volquez is pitching well, but this team is losing only because of its own sloppy play.

  642. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 9:20 pm

    That last cchange up was filthy

  643. Angel June 20th, 2008 at 9:20 pm

    So much for his changeup deserting him. That was a fairly decent one there. Ugh.

  644. V June 20th, 2008 at 9:20 pm

    On the bright side, that inning spells the end of Volquez for this game. 2 runs in 2 innings is doable, especially with one more run through the heart of the order.

  645. Don Vito A. Bellamo June 20th, 2008 at 9:21 pm

    Totally fine….2 more innings to get 2-3 runs as we SHUT THE DOOR on the DREADS right here…..We can DO IT ! :-)

  646. S.A.- No pain..no gain! Bronson Arroyo will save us!! June 20th, 2008 at 9:21 pm

    Volquez at 103

  647. Wolf In Pinstripes June 20th, 2008 at 9:21 pm

    Crap. Well, it IS now a 2 run game instead of 3. Gotta pick it up in the eighth were we left off.

  648. BBB June 20th, 2008 at 9:21 pm

    Now THAT was a productive inning. But I’m sure he will come back out for the 8th. Hopefully we can get a couple of runners on and get into the pen mid inning.

  649. V June 20th, 2008 at 9:21 pm

    “Take out the Damon play that was ruled a double and the Yankees are winning 2-1 right now. Volquez is pitching well, but this team is losing only because of its own sloppy play.”

    Damon’s play was godawful.

  650. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 9:22 pm

    V IDK about that you know Dusty he’s not a guy that wouldn’t stretch Edison here

  651. Anyone but Farnsworth June 20th, 2008 at 9:22 pm

    Mussina better be out there

  652. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 9:22 pm

    Posada should pinch hit leading off the next inning considering we’re carrying 3 catchers anyway. Top of the lineup and Jorge next inning is our chance to strike.

  653. Fran June 20th, 2008 at 9:22 pm

    Hopefully Baker will go to the bullpen in the bottom of the 8th.

  654. Anyone but Farnsworth June 20th, 2008 at 9:22 pm

    Mussina has not pitched bad, and the Yanks have no bullpen tonight

  655. Angel June 20th, 2008 at 9:22 pm

    He’s at 103 pitchers, I dont see them sending him out for the 8th. It is Dusty Baker though, so I guess they could.

  656. Angel June 20th, 2008 at 9:23 pm

    *pitches

  657. fleas (santana syndrome) June 20th, 2008 at 9:23 pm

    Melky should have been a pitcher, he hits just like one.

  658. V June 20th, 2008 at 9:23 pm

    “V IDK about that you know Dusty he’s not a guy that wouldn’t stretch Edison here”

    I would imagine their front office will be displaying some ‘You better not ruin our young arms’ behind closed doors ;-)

    He’s actually not -horribly- overworked Cueto and Volquez yet this year. Harang OTOH…

  659. Wolf In Pinstripes June 20th, 2008 at 9:23 pm

    How many people saw Moose pitching into the 8th inning going into this season?

    I’m loving the year he is having. Dude deserves it.

  660. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 9:23 pm

    Wow, he called a change up in that same spot a strike last inning.

  661. V June 20th, 2008 at 9:24 pm

    “Melky should have been a pitcher, he hits just like one.”

    Oh look, the Yankees are losing, so guess who shows up!

  662. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 9:24 pm

    Holy innings, Moose.

    You know what? We might not win this game, but Moose has saved the bullpen on a night we really needed it.

    So looking at the big picture, I can’t complain.

  663. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 9:24 pm

    It’s worth noting the Reds pen isn’t nearly as bad as it used to be.

  664. Anyone but Farnsworth June 20th, 2008 at 9:24 pm

    Dunn is a joke… that GM was right but everyone knew that about him

  665. BBB June 20th, 2008 at 9:24 pm

    The key words are Dusty Baker lol…$5 says he will come out for the 8th.

    and yes, I too would PH Jorge to lead off the 8th. IIt’s ‘getting late early’ and every AB counts.

  666. Astoria John June 20th, 2008 at 9:24 pm

    you know what Mr. Edinson??
    Yes you’re a stud hurler and we can only have respect for your excellent stuff.

    But sir you just made the list, yeah thats right, the LIST with that unprovoked glare you just shot at Melky.

    Just letting you know you have joined Beckett, the Rays, and others that you are on notice.

  667. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 9:24 pm

    I feel bad for Moose, if the official scorer had a brain he’d have only 1 ER tonight and his ERA would look much nicer.

  668. V June 20th, 2008 at 9:25 pm

    Man, -horrible- read on the ball by Abreu.

  669. Angel June 20th, 2008 at 9:25 pm

    Me too, Wolf.

  670. JoeT 28 in 09!! MO FOR CY YOUNG!! June 20th, 2008 at 9:25 pm

    who besides Veras isn’t available tonight that you guys are saying there’s no bullpen?

    I realize Giese is going tomorrow but it’s not like everyone is dead tired out there.

  671. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 9:26 pm

    Bobby short arms the ball to brace for the wall

  672. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 9:26 pm

    Edwar’s up.

  673. S.A.- No pain..no gain! Bronson Arroyo will save us!! June 20th, 2008 at 9:26 pm

    come on Moose, please don’t give anything up

  674. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 9:27 pm

    This is an…interesting move with Mussina.

    One more out and it works. If not…well, Mussina doesn’t seem to have really lost anything.

  675. AlbanyYankee June 20th, 2008 at 9:27 pm

    Nice alligator arms from El Comoduce out there. Jesus, stop being a p*ssy, Bobby.

  676. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 9:27 pm

    Corey Patterson’s whiffability is something to behold.

  677. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 9:28 pm

    JoeT: No Veras, no Mo, no Farns.

    Which leaves Edwar, Hawk and O.

  678. Wolf In Pinstripes June 20th, 2008 at 9:28 pm

    Cheers, Angel.

    As unlikely as it is for him to get it at this point in his career, I’d still love to see him finally get a no-no or a 20-win season. He’s been so close before and just has had bad luck.

    Of course, getting him a ring would be nice too, I’m sure.

  679. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 9:29 pm

    One more curve!

  680. Astoria John June 20th, 2008 at 9:29 pm

    thank you Roy Oswalt for holding the Rays down so far tonight and did Tim Wakefield make a pact with Satan. When oh when will his arm fall off?!

  681. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 9:29 pm

    I tip my hat to you Moose

  682. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 9:29 pm

    Moose did his job. Poor guy. He should be in line for his 11th win if not for Damon’s play.

  683. Angel June 20th, 2008 at 9:29 pm

    Aww, is Moose getting a little bit of gray hair like Jorge?

    Good job Mussina.

  684. Wolf In Pinstripes June 20th, 2008 at 9:29 pm

    OK now, offense. Clear the mechanism.

  685. V June 20th, 2008 at 9:29 pm

    Man, 8 innings 1 run would look so good…

  686. V June 20th, 2008 at 9:29 pm

    Man, 8 innings 1 run would look so good…

  687. JoeT 28 in 09!! MO FOR CY YOUNG!! June 20th, 2008 at 9:30 pm

    MOOOSSSEEEE

    I don’t think MO is ever unavailable.. if it’s a save situation he’s coming in tonight

  688. Fran June 20th, 2008 at 9:30 pm

    It was a good outing for Moose. He’s really trying hard to win to get the candy machine back in the clubhouse.

  689. Stormrider6 June 20th, 2008 at 9:30 pm

    Mooooooooooooooooose! I love the year he’s having, too. Let’s get it back!

  690. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 9:30 pm

    Okay. You know what? The Yankees should win this game for Moose.

    And if Moose doesn’t get the comeback player of the year award, I’m gonna be upset.

  691. MrMulligan June 20th, 2008 at 9:30 pm

    Moose, helluva game my middle-aged brother…

  692. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 9:30 pm

    Speaking of being killed by bad hitters, Jason LaRue just went deep.

  693. S.A.- No pain..no gain! Bronson Arroyo will save us!! June 20th, 2008 at 9:30 pm

    Moooooooooooose!
    Can we get 2 or 3 runs now?

  694. mel June 20th, 2008 at 9:30 pm

    Whew. Nice recovery by Moose in the inning and the game. Eight innings!

  695. myrtlebeachfan June 20th, 2008 at 9:30 pm

    Assuming POsada is pinch hitting, we have a chance to do some damage this inning. Last inning was some good stuff, but Melky got fooled on the last pitch.

    Plenty of baseball left.

  696. Joe Mama June 20th, 2008 at 9:30 pm

    Moose deserves a comeback in this inning

  697. TKinDC June 20th, 2008 at 9:31 pm

    Moose really did a great job hanging in tonight – to bad the bats are not putting enough runs on the board.

  698. SJ44 June 20th, 2008 at 9:31 pm

    Yeah, I wish Melky was a pitcher yesterday when he stole two bases and scored a run, without the benefit of a hit, to tie yesterday’s game.

    He didn’t help them win yesterday’s game, did he?

  699. Angel June 20th, 2008 at 9:31 pm

    I’d love to see him get all of those too, Wolf.

    I’ve always liked Moose, his sense of humor has always amused me.

  700. BBB June 20th, 2008 at 9:31 pm

    MOOOOOSE! Great job by him tonight. He may have made a mistake to Cabrera but it is really the defense that cost him tonight. He put the Yanks in a spot to win and has been HUGE for this team all season.

    (and they can still take the lead in the bottom of the inning and get him the win!)

  701. V June 20th, 2008 at 9:31 pm

    Molina double, Damon infield single, Jeter walk, Abreu walk, ARod GRAND SLAM!!!

    Let’s get Moose another win!!!

  702. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 9:31 pm

    So Damon’s mishap at LF and 2 bad pitches by Moose is the bad in this game. You can’t make that many mistakes vs the best SP in the league.

  703. YanksAngel June 20th, 2008 at 9:31 pm

    Moose has done well tonight, only a couple of bad pitches that cost him, epsecially considering he’s had to get quite a few extra outs.

    Come on boys, come back this inning and get him a win.

    Another double by Molina to start it off?

  704. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 9:31 pm

    CPotY: Moose?

    I don’t know. Let’s see if he survives the 2nd half of the season.

  705. V June 20th, 2008 at 9:32 pm

    Ok, replace Molina double with Betemit homer ;-)

  706. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 9:32 pm

    This is the guy Steve Philips loves he has been lights out for Cincy more times than not.

  707. BBB June 20th, 2008 at 9:32 pm

    Wilson Betemit?!? Why no Jorge??

    (oh, and thank goodness this is only the interwebs or I’d be $5 poorer. lol so much for Dusty killing every youngster’s arm.)

  708. Jeff NJ June 20th, 2008 at 9:33 pm

    Oh Cordero is the closer? Good thing the Yankees should have good info on him from his AL days. I like our chances still.

  709. V June 20th, 2008 at 9:33 pm

    BAH!!! I almost called it :-(

  710. jennifer- I got your back Girardi June 20th, 2008 at 9:33 pm

    Moose pitched a heck of a game, it will be really sad if he is on the wrong side of the decision. He deserves this W. He gave the Yankees what they needed length! and solid pitching.

    The old Joe never would have left Moose out there for the 7th let alone the 8th. Nice to see a manger have confidence in someone.

  711. YanksAngel June 20th, 2008 at 9:33 pm

    ok, I guess there won’t be a double by Molina :)

  712. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 9:33 pm

    Wilson JUST missed that. I don’t know if Girardi was playing a hunch or not, but it nearly worked.

  713. Angel June 20th, 2008 at 9:33 pm

    Dammit!

  714. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 9:33 pm

    Can we catch a break in this game?

  715. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 9:33 pm

    Well that sucked.

  716. JoeT 28 in 09!! MO FOR CY YOUNG!! June 20th, 2008 at 9:33 pm

    i ALMOST believed in Betemit for a second.

    If Betemit can give it a ride that means we should definitely score a run off of this guy.

  717. Joe Mama June 20th, 2008 at 9:33 pm

    not the pinch hitter I expected

  718. Wolf In Pinstripes June 20th, 2008 at 9:34 pm

    Rebecca, I hadn’t even thought of that. Moose would be a great Comeback Player of the Year candidate for sure.

  719. V June 20th, 2008 at 9:34 pm

    Ok, ok, we still have a shot at an ARod 3R HR, right?

  720. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 9:34 pm

    C’mon guys, keep this thing going!

  721. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 9:34 pm

    Uh, Yankees. You’re not supposed to go down 1-2-3 in the 8th. That won’t help Moose get win #11.

  722. BBB June 20th, 2008 at 9:34 pm

    UGH Sterling is gonna drive me to an early grave one of these days w/this crap! STFU till you know if it is goin out or not Gramps, daaaamn!!!

  723. Angel June 20th, 2008 at 9:35 pm

    Poor Wilson he looked so disappointed when that was caught.

  724. CaptainsCorner June 20th, 2008 at 9:35 pm

    Where is Posada? What does Girardi think this is the NL with Betemit getting an at bat for the pitcher? That made no sense…He can’t hit and shouldn’t even be on this team.

  725. jennifer- I got your back Girardi June 20th, 2008 at 9:35 pm

    bbb it looked and sounded like it was gone.

  726. Wolf In Pinstripes June 20th, 2008 at 9:35 pm

    Come on guys, win one for the ice cream machine! Donuts next!

  727. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 9:35 pm

    Right now Damon’s mishap at LF and 2 bad pitches by Moose is the bad in this game is why we’re in high probability of losing tonight. You can’t make that many mistakes vs the best SP in the league. I hope this isn’t a common thing.

  728. JoeT 28 in 09!! MO FOR CY YOUNG!! June 20th, 2008 at 9:36 pm

    BBB – I’m sorry that you have to be listening to those two.

    In fairness the centerfielder did kind of coast while looking up like it was going to get out, but John is AWFUL to listen to.

  729. V June 20th, 2008 at 9:36 pm

    “Where is Posada? What does Girardi think this is the NL with Betemit getting an at bat for the pitcher? That made no sense…He can’t hit and shouldn’t even be on this team.”

    Shut up. You’d be cheering if that ball went one more foot and you know it.

  730. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 9:37 pm

    Okay, bottom of the ninth rally, I guess…

    (hey, why not?)

  731. JoeT 28 in 09!! MO FOR CY YOUNG!! June 20th, 2008 at 9:37 pm

    alright no big deal, 3-4-5 for the 9th inning

  732. V June 20th, 2008 at 9:37 pm

    Ok, no more predictions from me, since my last one didn’t work out..

  733. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 9:37 pm

    Weak inning by the top of the lineup there. Damon’s at bat really killed us there. Betemit gave it a ride but Damon had a 2 pitch broken bat groundout while we still could have made something of that inning. Besides last inning they look dead tonight. They have had baserunners, you can’t say they’ve been “shut down.” They’re just having bat at bats in big spots.

  734. jennifer- I got your back Girardi June 20th, 2008 at 9:38 pm

    yeah it is a big deal, Moose should win this game :(

  735. YanksAngel June 20th, 2008 at 9:38 pm

    not the kind of inning we needed

  736. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 9:38 pm

    Where is Posada? What does Girardi think this is the NL with Betemit getting an at bat for the pitcher? That made no sense…He can’t hit and shouldn’t even be on this team.

    He creamed that damn pitch what is your problem ?

  737. JoeT 28 in 09!! MO FOR CY YOUNG!! June 20th, 2008 at 9:38 pm

    “Shut up. You’d be cheering if that ball went one more foot and you know it. ”

    very true – but we’d still be pissed the next time Betemit started/pinch hit lol

  738. Stormrider6 June 20th, 2008 at 9:38 pm

    Heart of the order in the bottom of the 9th. Perfect for a rally!

  739. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 9:39 pm

    Billy Traber?

    Memo to Joe Girardi: The Yankees are still in this game…

  740. V June 20th, 2008 at 9:39 pm

    “Weak inning by the top of the lineup there. Damon’s at bat really killed us there. Betemit gave it a ride but Damon had a 2 pitch broken bat groundout while we still could have made something of that inning. Besides last inning they look dead tonight. They have had baserunners, you can’t say they’ve been “shut down.” They’re just having bat at bats in big spots.”

    D00d, shut up. Please.

    They’re getting beaten. When they’ve had a chance to be patient, they’ve been patient.

    You can’t be patient with a guy like that, who throws a LOT of strikes.

  741. BBB June 20th, 2008 at 9:39 pm

    Yeah, this time it sounds like Sterling’s premature enthusiasm wasn’t as unfounded as usual. I am just so used to him jumping the gun tho, he does it constantly!

    anyway that was a deflating inning. let’s just hope theyre saving themselves for a walkoff.

  742. myrtlebeachfan June 20th, 2008 at 9:40 pm

    Like it often happens, the game will come down to A-Rod tonight. Hopefully he can knock one out for the tie or the down-by-1.

  743. Joe Mama June 20th, 2008 at 9:40 pm

    I guess Billy Traber is going to end up getting the win in this game

  744. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 9:41 pm

    Thundering here.

  745. Wolf In Pinstripes June 20th, 2008 at 9:41 pm

    OK, Traber’s audition starts now. I have to agree with others who have said he needs to get off of the 40-man roster if he can’t prove himself valuable in the lefty specialist role. We could use that roster spot for some bench help.

  746. V June 20th, 2008 at 9:41 pm

    Two good ABs by Traber. Now for the righty.

  747. V June 20th, 2008 at 9:42 pm

    Awesome job.

  748. JoeT 28 in 09!! MO FOR CY YOUNG!! June 20th, 2008 at 9:42 pm

    myrtlebeachfan – come on, everyone knows Abreu, A-Rod, and Giambino are going back-to-back-to-back!!

    way to go BT!!

  749. YanksAngel June 20th, 2008 at 9:42 pm

    not the same Traber we saw before

    which is a good thing :)

  750. Fran June 20th, 2008 at 9:42 pm

    Traber with the nice easy inning.

    Yanks with the heart of the order coming up.

  751. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 9:42 pm

    Damn Francisco Cordero :(

  752. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 9:42 pm

    …Guess Joe Girardi actually did get that memo.

    Nice inning for Traber.

  753. Nick in SF June 20th, 2008 at 9:42 pm

    Wow, Trabermetrics works!

  754. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 9:42 pm

    Funny how that works. You make a strategic screw up and not only does it cost you 3 more runs, but the guy then has 2 terrible AB’s resulting in a K afterwards. We all know it was the wrong move, too bad Girardi realized it an at bat too late .

  755. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 9:42 pm

    Funny how that works. You make a strategic screw up and not only does it cost you 3 more runs, but the guy then has 2 terrible AB’s resulting in a K afterwards. We all know it was the wrong move, too bad Girardi realized it an at bat too late .

  756. Anyone but Farnsworth June 20th, 2008 at 9:42 pm

    Lets look fresh out here in the 9th.. put good abats..

  757. BBB June 20th, 2008 at 9:42 pm

    wow, that was so quick I couldnt even tell if he threw his new pitch?

  758. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 9:43 pm

    Sorry, double post.

  759. V June 20th, 2008 at 9:43 pm

    “myrtlebeachfan – come on, everyone knows Abreu, A-Rod, and Giambino are going back-to-back-to-back!!

    way to go BT!!”

    And Matsui, I presume? ;-)

  760. Wolf In Pinstripes June 20th, 2008 at 9:43 pm

    OK. Well Traber managed to get three outs before I could finish my post. LOL

  761. Jeff NJ June 20th, 2008 at 9:44 pm

    The Yankees will win tonight.

  762. CaptainsCorner June 20th, 2008 at 9:45 pm

    Also Girardi has to stop pitching around guys. It hasn’t worked 1 time this year!!! What is Bruce, Babe Ruth that he gets walked? Cabrera was already 2-2..Let Bruce get a hit there. Girardi loves to pitch around guys but it doesn’t work. His managing “skills” haven’t impressed me at all so far this year.

  763. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 9:45 pm

    People this CL is very good, I really don’t see a comeback here. I’m praying but I highly doubt it.

  764. S.A.- No pain..no gain! Bronson Arroyo will save us!! June 20th, 2008 at 9:45 pm

    miracle here?

  765. Angel June 20th, 2008 at 9:46 pm

    That was a nice inning by Traber.

    *gets down on her knees and prays*

  766. TKinDC June 20th, 2008 at 9:46 pm

    Is this the Cordero that threw the chair at a fan down in Texas or was that someone else?

  767. JoeT 28 in 09!! MO FOR CY YOUNG!! June 20th, 2008 at 9:46 pm

    str8 up…. I really think they have this one

  768. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 9:47 pm

    Abreu had a good AB there. But this just hasn’t been our night.

  769. JoeT 28 in 09!! MO FOR CY YOUNG!! June 20th, 2008 at 9:47 pm

    Why not V… Why not

    except now Matsui has the 3rd one lol

  770. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 9:47 pm

    Frank Francisco threw the chair.

  771. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 9:48 pm

    Is this the Cordero that threw the chair at a fan down in Texas or was that someone else?

    Same one.

  772. JoeT 28 in 09!! MO FOR CY YOUNG!! June 20th, 2008 at 9:48 pm

    haha my fault I was thinking Giambi before Matsui.. my bad

  773. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 9:48 pm

    no my mistake Ron is right.

  774. Nick in SF June 20th, 2008 at 9:49 pm

    This is the Cordero that threw a keg in Milwaukee.

  775. V June 20th, 2008 at 9:49 pm

    Crap.

  776. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 9:50 pm

    ….okay, I did not need to see A-Rod’s gum.

  777. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 9:50 pm

    We cannot catch a break in this game. Bleh.

  778. TKinDC June 20th, 2008 at 9:51 pm

    We need a bleeder and a blast STAT

  779. Stormrider6 June 20th, 2008 at 9:51 pm

    The gum-swat is a universal sign of frustration.

  780. Nick in SF June 20th, 2008 at 9:51 pm

    Matsui is looking a little lost in this AB, tighten up!

  781. BBB June 20th, 2008 at 9:52 pm

    damn. Just not our night I guess. Damon’s misplay earlier certainly didnt help matters but it seems like almost every ball we have hit hard, we came up empty. huge bummer but hopefully we can come back and take the next 2 for the series win.

  782. Nick in SF June 20th, 2008 at 9:52 pm

    Why did I doubt him? Such a pro, works the count full.

  783. Wolf In Pinstripes June 20th, 2008 at 9:52 pm

    Cordero looks like he’s trying to take a $#^& in the woods before his pitch windup.

  784. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 9:53 pm

    Okay, ‘stache time.

    Jason, this would be the best win of the whole stretch.

  785. JoeT 28 in 09!! MO FOR CY YOUNG!! June 20th, 2008 at 9:53 pm

    oh yeah!!

    UPDATE, 9:10 p.m.: Big spot for The Big G here. He is hitless in his last 11 at-bats with six strikeouts. This would be a good time to snap out of it.

    CORRECTION – THIS IS A BIG SPOT FOR THE BIG G.

  786. YanksAngel June 20th, 2008 at 9:53 pm

    Come on stache, do your magic!!!

  787. Angel June 20th, 2008 at 9:53 pm

    The Return of the Interesting Strikezone.

  788. Stormrider6 June 20th, 2008 at 9:53 pm

    Time for some ‘STACHE POWER! Nothings busts a slump like a clutch homer!

  789. S.A.- No pain..no gain! Bronson Arroyo will save us!! June 20th, 2008 at 9:53 pm

    help us stache, you’re our only hope

  790. CaptainsCorner June 20th, 2008 at 9:54 pm

    This umpire is absolutely dreadful….

  791. myrtlebeachfan June 20th, 2008 at 9:54 pm

    This is what I want to see. Giambi up in a clutch situation.

  792. V June 20th, 2008 at 9:54 pm

    Well, can’t win 50 in a row.

  793. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 9:54 pm

    Volquez was a stud, we got beat.

  794. JoeT 28 in 09!! MO FOR CY YOUNG!! June 20th, 2008 at 9:54 pm

    well that sucks…. win the series and all is well

  795. V June 20th, 2008 at 9:54 pm

    This game sits on Damon.

  796. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 9:54 pm

    Learn from this game Yankees, vs a great SP you can’t make that many mistakes.

  797. S.A.- No pain..no gain! Bronson Arroyo will save us!! June 20th, 2008 at 9:55 pm

    Oh well, get them tomorrow.

  798. Ron June 20th, 2008 at 9:55 pm

    I think it’s time to say farewell to the ‘stache.

    We lost one tonight. What will be really bad is if this team cannot regroup. This in an NL team well under the .500 mark. You have to win these series.

  799. Wolf In Pinstripes June 20th, 2008 at 9:55 pm

    OK, we got the loss out of the way. Time to start another winning streak tomorrow.

  800. TKinDC June 20th, 2008 at 9:55 pm

    Any way we can blame this loss on Farnsy?

  801. Don Vito A. Bellamo June 20th, 2008 at 9:56 pm

    OK…we are only losing ONE MORE TIME before we face the BoSux in July….don’t get used to the L on the board folks…this is just one of the few that got away…

  802. Stormrider6 June 20th, 2008 at 9:56 pm

    Awww… Tough break for Moose and the Yanks. Let’s hope they’re just saving the offense for tomorrow night in case they need it to back up Giese.

  803. YanksAngel June 20th, 2008 at 9:56 pm

    now all we can do is hope Boston loses as well as TB so we don’t lose any ground, both are trailing now

  804. Fran June 20th, 2008 at 9:56 pm

    I think this was the toughest game of the weekend for the Yanks. They should be able to win the next 2 games.

  805. BBFan June 20th, 2008 at 9:57 pm

    OK. We lost to a very good pitcher. We can not win them all.

    Let us start a new winning steak tomorrow.

  806. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 9:58 pm

    Tonight was an embarrassing game, the kind that can erase with one fell swoop all the good of a winning streak. I don’t care that Volquez was pitching or that he leads the league in ERA. They played a sloppy game and only have themselves to blame for that. Take out the bad defense and it’s a 2-1 win despite Volquez pitching. Giambi got robbed on the first pitch but then he chased a splitter out of the zone so whose fault is that?

  807. munchabuncha June 20th, 2008 at 9:58 pm

    The biggest reason for today’s loss was Girardi’s stupid call to intentionally walk to bring up a guy who already had two hits off Mussina.

    Unfortunately, we are looking at another good chance at a loss tomorrow, Geise isn’t going to do much and that will lead to the bull pen and Hawkins.

  808. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 9:58 pm

    This loss for some reason feels like a playoff loss, this is how we lose those big games in October. I hope they figure out how not to lose in these types of game.

  809. Nick in SF June 20th, 2008 at 9:59 pm

    This was a tough matchup, but Geise vs. Pitcher-Yanks-Haven’t-Faced is a tough matchup too. Let’s be realistic.

  810. Stormrider6 June 20th, 2008 at 10:00 pm

    Nice outing by Traber, though. Hopefully he’s not a lost cause.

  811. pat June 20th, 2008 at 10:00 pm

    The Jays/Pirates game is 0-0 in the 11th inning. Pitchers duel.

  812. S.A.- No pain..no gain! Bronson Arroyo will save us!! June 20th, 2008 at 10:00 pm

    start a new winning streak tomorrow

  813. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 10:00 pm

    This team has beaten up on weak NL teams but if they want to beat teams that can score runs they have to play a solid game. You can get away with a few errors against the Padres but not with a dominant starting pitcher on the mound against you. Routine plays being made would have won us the game. It’s sad that on a team with this talent and payroll that you can’t make plays like that, but it’s what’s losing us games. This isn’t the first one they’ve lost like this, and it’s too bad, because they should be in first place right now if you count them up all throughout the year, the kinds of games they’ve almost literally thrown away.

  814. JoeT June 20th, 2008 at 10:00 pm

    This was a winnable game. Altough we only scored 2 runs I thought we had some good ABs but hit in some bad luck. What it came down to is Cincy made the plays in the field and we didn’t. Simple as that.

  815. BBB June 20th, 2008 at 10:01 pm

    I don’t suppose there is any chance they will call up a long reliever of some sort for tomorrow in case Giese can’t give much length, huh?

  816. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 10:01 pm

    The biggest reason for today’s loss was Girardi’s stupid call to intentionally walk to bring up a guy who already had two hits off Mussina.

    What sense does this make ? The LHB was Joey Votto, w/ RISP who would you rather face Votto or Jolbert Cabrera ? Johnny missed a ball in LF, and Moose threw 2 bad pitches in 8 IP, the guy on the other side was a legit ace stud, nearly masterful.

  817. Wolf In Pinstripes June 20th, 2008 at 10:01 pm

    TK, who needs an actual reason to blame something on Farnsy? Go for it. :D

    I may be in the minority here, but I would much rather lose a close game against a great young pitcher on account of poor defense than I would if our starting pitchers were getting lit up for multiple runs.

    Moose was awesome tonight. We’ll pick it up again starting tomorrow.

  818. ray (sox fan) June 20th, 2008 at 10:02 pm

    Don’t worry my Yankee friends. Lugo is doing his part to make sure you don’t lose a game in the standings against the Sox.

    Two errors by Lugo in the last inning to help Cardinals go up 2-1.

  819. stuart June 20th, 2008 at 10:02 pm

    Matt an munchhuncha go to sleep you little twerps..

    you guys wither are joking or you are MORONS…

    Yeah Cabrera beat them trying to pitch to him was a mistake, bull cr-p.

    the D killed them tonight.. Damon should have a error on the encarnacion double and his arm killed them on the cabrera double…

    Moose pitched real well, Volquez is good and you need to make the plays when you are pitching against a ace.

    I thought the Betemit out was gone…..the good news is the pen got the night off and Moose pitched really well.. Giambi is quite a thrower.. Cano does not get any credit for the hit in the 7th that as Volquez worse pitch of the night by far..

    Damon again needs to get bats that do not break ALL THE DAMN TIME..

    WOW the yanks were not going to win 90 in a row…

  820. CaptainsCorner June 20th, 2008 at 10:03 pm

    Giambi looks exactly like what his numbers show 0-12 with 6 strikeouts. He saw 3 fastballs right down the middle today and he couldn’t hit any of them. Yanks are lucky that they had won 7 games in a row because they looked like they were sleep walking tonight. Damon can’t catch a ball hit right to him which leads to 3 runs when Mussina decides to throw 2 fastballs right down the middle. Great pitch calling..

  821. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 10:03 pm

    This team needs to consistently play solid baseball. If the Rays had our defense they’d be in last place. They don’t say pitching AND defense for no reason. Our defense turns our pitching, which might be top 5 in the AL kind of staff, into a middle of the pack one when they can’t catch a break behind them.

  822. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 10:04 pm

    Twerp? Wow, that’s real mature. Aren’t you up a little past your bedtime?

  823. Wolf In Pinstripes June 20th, 2008 at 10:04 pm

    Come on guys, let’s not write Giese off so easily. He’s pitched really well since they called him up. If our offense picks back up tomorrow (which I have a feeling it will), all he has to do is avoid giving up more than 3-4 runs. I think he’s perfectly capable of that.

  824. S.A.- No pain..no gain! Bronson Arroyo will save us!! June 20th, 2008 at 10:05 pm

    HR by Lugo

  825. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 10:06 pm

    I seriously believe Alex at 3B faking a sprint effected Volquez on that pitch to Cano, but atleast Cano will have some confidence in big spots because of it. Seriously who would have thought Jolbert Cabrera of all players would win that game for his team. A man Edison Volquez is a STUD, LEGIT STUD

    CASHMAN MAKE SURE YOU GET MICHEL INOA MONEY IS NO OPTION HERE.

  826. Nick in SF June 20th, 2008 at 10:07 pm

    Girardi has to use his Jedi Mind Tricks and make Geise his own long man.

  827. munchabuncha June 20th, 2008 at 10:07 pm

    Anyone named Stuart has issues.

  828. Angel June 20th, 2008 at 10:07 pm

    How about we let Giese pitch before writing him off?

    Novel concept, I know.

  829. Joe Schmoe 2 June 20th, 2008 at 10:08 pm

    The mustache is gone tomorrow, book it.

  830. BBB June 20th, 2008 at 10:09 pm

    Wolf – I have faith in Giese’s ability to pitch well, or at least provide quality starts. A guy his age when he finally puts it together and gets the chance is definitely gonna make the most of it, he’s pitched well all yr & I don’t see any reason for that to stop, but I’m a bit worried about tomorrow in particular b/c, when is the last time he actually pitched? I’m sure he’s thrown side sessions but it isnt the same as getting in a game. Because of his long layoff I would love to see a semi-competent (not Igawa) reliever up just for tomorrow.

  831. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 10:09 pm

    Well, considering Cabrera went 3-3, it was certainly no fluke that he was hitting Mussina. He had grounded one hard up the middle his second AB for a solid single on a first pitch fastball and Moose made the same stupid pitch again to start off the AB and paid the price. But once again, why would you walk a rookie who has had bad at bats leading up to it to get to a guy who has hit the ball hard?

  832. BBB June 20th, 2008 at 10:10 pm

    oh, final in Tampa, 4-3 ‘Stros. So no ground lost there.

  833. CaptainsCorner June 20th, 2008 at 10:10 pm

    Lets see who wins the AAA match up tomorrow..Giese or Thompson..I just read that Giese has never started a major league game before??!! Oh great..

  834. Hobs June 20th, 2008 at 10:10 pm

    I’m pretty sure it was Moose’s call to IBB Bruce…

  835. BBB June 20th, 2008 at 10:11 pm

    oh, and I wouldn’t stop at just shaving the ‘stache, Giambi needs to sport that gold thong tomorrow too!

  836. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 10:12 pm

    Nah keep the Stache but wear the thong tomorrow.

  837. jennifer- I got your back Girardi June 20th, 2008 at 10:13 pm

    Who is this moron on MY9?

    First he says well don’t you expect the Yankees to do better against the last place reds.

    Than his next question is how about that Reds pitcher who might be in contention for the cy young.

    Than another question was do you think Mussina could still go to the asg after todays game? Um did you watch the frigging game?

  838. pat June 20th, 2008 at 10:14 pm

    2 run HR. 4-2 Cards.

  839. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 10:15 pm

    I’m pretty sure it was Moose’s call to IBB Bruce…

    Even if it was Girardi’s that was the right call, Moose vs Votto and Bruce hung some offspeed pitches, you don’t let Bruce beat you, You make Jolbert beat you and he did.

  840. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 10:15 pm

    Maybe they should take some of their $10 million+ salaries seriously and work on fundamentals. How many times do we see these guys not moving runners up, not making routine plays in the field, and being unable to get bunts down in big spots? This team is so talented this year, but then again, most of them lack important fundamental skills that cost the team tremendously in big spots.

    I hate when they make the excuse of “he’s been a #3 hitter in the minors so he doesn’t know HOW to bunt.” Well guess what, you take 15 min on the side before every game, and you LEARN. Even little leaguers know how to bunt, and in Melky’s case, not to slide feet first or at all into first base. Unless he’s hitting 50 HR and winning the MVP for his bat, he’s just as responsible for knowing fundamentals as any other player.

  841. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 10:16 pm

    may god be on Giese’s side tomorrow, oh brother will he need it.

  842. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 10:18 pm

    Jenn I know…breathe

  843. stuart June 20th, 2008 at 10:18 pm

    yeah why pitch to Cabrera he has been so good he is the Reds 5th SS…

    I forgot he is a young Cal Ripken.. Oh my bad he is 35, and back from Japan. You guys are just clowns…….

    The Yanks D played bad, Damon had to lose the ball in the lights that was HUGE..It happens.. Thompson has itched like 4 games in AAA and about 10 in AA, he is not exactly Koufax..But the little nervous nellies on this site are already concerned about the game….

    Yeah the Yanks did not walk Manny and everyone complained they walked Bruce and everyone complained, wow how unusual.. The point is all you guys ever do is complain……

  844. S.A.- No pain..no gain! Bronson Arroyo will save us!! June 20th, 2008 at 10:18 pm

    still scoreless in Pittsburgh? wow

  845. Wolf In Pinstripes June 20th, 2008 at 10:20 pm

    BBB – I totally agree with you regarding the difference between game action and side throwing. I just don’t think anybody should ghet into the mindset of it being a given loss with him pitching.

    What strikes me as odd reading the comments here oftentimes is how much more faith a lot of people have in OTHER teams’ players than our own. For example, against Peavy the other day; Jake is a tremendous CY Young winner – but I’m amazed at how people think that because there’s another star playing for the opposition that we don’t have a chance. Last time I looked, we had a hell of a lot of talent on this NY club. We’re the freaking New York Yankees, with a murderous lineup when things are clicking. I just think we should take pride in our team and not feel the need to fear opposing teams.

    Oh, and that second part was a side thought – not directed at you, BBB. 8)

  846. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 10:21 pm

    Matt what the hell did Melky do wrong, and if the lights are in Damon’s face what is he suppose to do ? We made mistakes but give credit to Volquez he’s a damn best SP in all of baseball.

    All this game shows is that Cashman better get Michel Inoa, Yes Brian get him infact get a guarantee signature :lol:

  847. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 10:22 pm

    Wow Stuart, you continue to amaze us with your stupid flames in every new post:

    “Yeah the Yanks did not walk Manny and everyone complained they walked Bruce and everyone complained”

    Yeah, well maybe that’s because Manny Ramirez has 500 career HRs and is hitting .500 against the Yankees this year with what, like 4 HR’s off Moose ALONE this year? Hmm, that’s a tough one. Walk Jay Bruce, the rookie who is 2 for his last 20 something and has looked uncomfortable both his ABs against Moose before it, or walk Manny Ramirez, someone who destroys Mussina and kills the Yankees?

    Baseball games are not as black and white as you’d like to think. Just because somebody makes a move does not mean it’s right. Everything pointed to pitching to him in that spot and they were overmanaging and paid the price big time, making a huge no-no managing move in intentionally putting insurance runs on base in a close game.

    It’s called analysis. Something that you might need to learn how to do instead of just bashing everyone for the so called “inconsistency” that you claim we have which is actually just using our heads.

  848. BBB June 20th, 2008 at 10:22 pm

    I have the PIT/TOR game on Gameday now, Damaso Marte went 2 scoreless innings for them earlier and Zach Duke, who I had always thought sucked based on prior seasons I guess, started the game and threw 7 shutout innings. I also still like Xavier Nady (tho he isnt in the lineup tonight) to possibly take over in RF next year.

    A trade deadline deal with the Pirates is looking more and more attractive…

  849. Nick in SF June 20th, 2008 at 10:29 pm

    “But the little nervous nellies on this site are already concerned about the game…… The point is all you guys ever do is complain……”

    You’re being deliberately ironic, right?

    Perhaps because the Yankees always destroy pitchers they’ve never faced before and perhaps because Giese has such a robust track record as a stopper, there is no reason at all to assume that the game will be anything but a Yankee blowout.

    The Reds might even consider a pre-emptive forfeit to rest up for Sunday. The Commish might even step in and just give the Yanks the win.

    But just in case they actually have to go through the motions and play the game, it might not be a total gimme. But I hope it is.

  850. jennifer- I got your back Girardi June 20th, 2008 at 10:29 pm

    Dougie lead of inning with a double :)

    And I hope we get to see Andy play tomorrow.

  851. rconn23 June 20th, 2008 at 10:30 pm

    Randy Flores just gave up a hit and walked two to load the bases against the Sox. This chump has walked 14 in 19 innings. How does fodder like this get to the big leagues?

    He wasn’t even close to the strike zone, except for one pitch, whichof course was a basehit. Bases loaded for Manny. No outs.

    Oh, but Manny hits into a double play, run scores. 4-3 sox.

  852. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 10:30 pm

    MAtt walking Bruce was the right decision Moose was struggling to get that offspeed pitch in to the LHB, Votto cranked one in RF, Bruce is a better hitter than Votto you have to walk him, face a slugger w/ RISP or a utility scrub

  853. pat June 20th, 2008 at 10:33 pm

    4-3 sox? 4-3 Cards.

  854. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 10:34 pm

    Still, you don’t put extra runners on base like that in a tie game against a team that can hit a bit. You walk Bruce and you pretty much put the pressure on Moose, where if he makes a mistake the game is over, which it was, because they did not score 3 runs tonight. Bruce had 2 weakly hit fly balls in his 2 ABs. Moose had him out in front on offspeed pitches.

    BTW, Lefites are hitting Moose far worse than righties this year. Look it up if you don’t believe me.

  855. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 10:34 pm

    OMG. Guys.

    I just got a ticket for tomorrow’s game. Section two, behind HP, row A.

    OMG.

    Dan Giese better be good, cos I’ll be watching.

    [/end self-absorbed bragging]

  856. Nick in SF June 20th, 2008 at 10:36 pm

    We have another Molina working for us tonight!

  857. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 10:37 pm

    Mussina vs. LHB- .236 2 HR
    Mussina vs. RHB- .316 10 HR

  858. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 10:39 pm

    Jay Bruce RISP vs RHP

    .417/.462/.500

    in May .308/.400/.308
    in June .308/.400/.308

  859. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 10:40 pm

    Correction :)

    Jay Bruce RISP vs RHP
    .417/.462/.500

    in May .500/.571/.833
    in June .308/.400/.308

  860. Matt June 20th, 2008 at 10:44 pm

    OK but not only is it a very small sample but look at the dropoff in those numbers in June. He’s been in a slump, and the guy on the mound gets lefties out far more than righties.

  861. pat June 20th, 2008 at 10:45 pm

    Yadier is the Name That Molina answer of the night.

  862. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 10:46 pm

    Matt the choice was pitch vs a power hitter, who is dued to break out of his slump. Or against a punchy judy hitter that wasn’t in the majors much of this season, which would you have an easier job at getting out ?

  863. Fredo Corleone June 20th, 2008 at 10:47 pm

    I’m ok with pitching to Cabrera over Bruce there. Bruce is struggling, but the night’s results aside, Cabrera is the lesser of two evils. Better pitcher won. Kudos to Moose for going 8 and saving the pen for tomorrow, but he got the result he deserved.

  864. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 10:52 pm

    Too much of me wonders if Jolbert just would have tried to go for a HR like he normally does that ball is a pop up. It sucks a ball in the lights caused us this gam seriously and a ball Betemit tatooed just couldn’t leave the park and then Brandon Philips did his Chone Figgins impersonation. I really wanted to hit Burton in that inning too. I knew Cordero 2 run lead not easy. We learned how valueable SP is in this league tonight. Edison Volquez just flatout beat us.

  865. Fredo Corleone June 20th, 2008 at 10:54 pm

    Burton has been great this year for the Reds.

  866. Dan June 20th, 2008 at 10:56 pm

    Jolbert got the hit because Mussina flat out missed his location. I have no problems walking Bruce, a much better hitter. Sometimes the right moves just dont work out.

  867. mark June 20th, 2008 at 10:59 pm

    Not a crime for the Yankees to lose a game. If they didn’t they’d go 162-0. Anyone remember the last time a MLB team went 162-0? Me neither.

  868. mark June 20th, 2008 at 11:00 pm

    Molina bros are close. Yadier said “this one’s for you Jose!”

  869. Fredo Corleone June 20th, 2008 at 11:03 pm

    Mark:

    If they were really close, Yadier would have taught Jose how to hit.

  870. Fredo Corleone June 20th, 2008 at 11:04 pm

    McCutchen roughed up again at SWB

  871. rconn23 June 20th, 2008 at 11:05 pm

    David Aardsma just came in throwing every pitch at 97 to 98 miles per hour. Um, that’s interesting.

  872. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 11:05 pm

    ok scratch Dan and he may have just turned into trade bait.

  873. lil' m June 20th, 2008 at 11:05 pm

    Okay, obligatory sloppy loss over, right back at ‘em tomorrow and Sunday. Big G was hilarious on Michael Kay’s radio show – it’s easy to see why he’s one of the most popular players in baseball. Jake Peavy: Yup, a gamer, and quite the cutie too. Gorgeous blue eyes AND a cleft chin . . . not fair . . . He’d look great in pinstripes, but his current team has him locked up, no?

  874. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 11:07 pm

    David Aardsma just came in throwing every pitch at 97 to 98 miles per hour. Um, that’s interesting.

    juiced gun imo, That guy can’t throw that hard anymore atleast not consistantly.

  875. Fredo Corleone June 20th, 2008 at 11:09 pm

    Aardsma throws that hard. Just doesn’t throw it straight. If he had command, he’d be something.

  876. mark June 20th, 2008 at 11:11 pm

    Fredo they’re close but competitive!

    They did share tips on good D behind the plate though.

    I’d like to see Pedroia get decked. He’s a runt.

  877. Mike Mineo June 20th, 2008 at 11:13 pm

    just got back from the game

    Girardi was the most embarrassing manager in the stadium (Dusty Baker was in the other dugout btw)

    runner on 3rd, 2 outs, you intentionally walk a 21-year-old rookie who has seen Mussina pitch twice for a guy who was a snappy 2-2 off of him after 2 extremely hard hits. I was receiving stares in the stands when the intentional walk was being issued for my somewhat inappropriate and boisterous comments regarding Girardi’s LOL factor as an in-game manager, but I could care less because only an absolute idiot would choose to do such a managerial action. seriously, it was as if someone took his manager role in the middle of the inning without seeing any of the prior events that occurred. Jay Bruce is good, yeah, but he’s also inexperienced as hell and looked foolish his next two appearances against Mussina (2 Ks). this led to 3 runs and eventually proved to be the difference in the game, so chalk that up as the 6th or 7th game of the season where Girardi is the primary reason for a loss.

    I loved the guy as a player but this is just absolute nonsense. Fire and determination as baseball player does not always equal the smartest guy in the world, I’m sure we all know by now. I’m too tired to go into why constantly running against Volquez in the early innings and handing him outs is also simply laughable, especially when the Reds have one of the few bullpens in the majors that are actually worse than the Yankees and Volquez has been the best pitcher in baseball.

    other than that, it was fun

  878. ray (sox fan) June 20th, 2008 at 11:14 pm

    The “runt” is having a better year at the plate than “I never saw a first pitch I didn’t like” Cano.

  879. mark June 20th, 2008 at 11:15 pm

    Who asked your opinion?

  880. Fredo Corleone June 20th, 2008 at 11:17 pm

    LaRussa really grinding this closer

  881. mark June 20th, 2008 at 11:18 pm

    HA HA HA HA HA!

    Good job by Youklis.

  882. JoeT 28 in 09!! MO FOR CY YOUNG!! June 20th, 2008 at 11:20 pm

    damn Sox give me a heart attack…. good work Cards!!

  883. mark June 20th, 2008 at 11:21 pm

    Franklin really earned his keep.

  884. Wolf In Pinstripes June 20th, 2008 at 11:21 pm

    Geez, St Louis barely squeaked that one out.

    So the silver lining tonight is that we don’t get more distance between ourselves and either TB or Boston. It would have been nice to win and gain a game, but it could have been worse if either of those teams had won.

  885. JC in Taiwan June 20th, 2008 at 11:22 pm

    at least rays and sox are both lost!

  886. yankee lover June 20th, 2008 at 11:22 pm

    Yes Girardi over managing again. The intentional walk of Bruce was stupid but that move broke the game open for Cincy.
    Girardi is always trying to prove how much smarter he is than anyone else-
    he cost them another one tonight

  887. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 11:22 pm

    Wolf in Pinstripes: I like the optimism.

  888. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 11:22 pm

    Mike Mineo I’m guessing those fans saw the game better than you did and you deserved those stares.

    Jay Bruce RISP vs RHP
    .417/.462/.500

    in May .500/.571/.833
    in June .308/.400/.308

    or

    Jolbert Cabrera a journeyman scrub.

    We loss because Edison Volquez is the best SP in baseball and a flyout went into the lights vs Damon, it’s that plain and simple. Move on and make sense when you criticize a manager who made a decision.

  889. JoeT 28 in 09!! MO FOR CY YOUNG!! June 20th, 2008 at 11:23 pm

    Trot Nixon did some yard work for the Mets

  890. Wolf In Pinstripes June 20th, 2008 at 11:24 pm

    Franklin was the one who was about to give me a heart attack. Aardsma strikes out three in a row in the top of the ninth, and Franklin responds by inviting every Red Sock to join him in the infield on the bases for a “we’re giving it away!” party. Oh well, the end result was good.

  891. Wolf In Pinstripes June 20th, 2008 at 11:25 pm

    Come on, Rebecca. You know you’ll always get that from me. ;)

  892. yankee lover June 20th, 2008 at 11:25 pm

    Giradi over managing again. walking Bruce was stupid – it cost Joe again- he blew this one, he cost them another one by trying to show people how much smarter he is than everyone else

  893. Mike Mineo June 20th, 2008 at 11:26 pm

    those Bruce stats are from a ridiculously small sample size

    Cabrera was 2 for 2 and hit the ball extremely hard off of Mussina (first pitch I believe, both times) each time. Cabrera may be a journeyman but he has a hell of a lot more experience than Bruce

    he was also 1 for 3 vs. Moose prior to this game. Bruce? ah, a rookie with no experience whatsoever

  894. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 11:26 pm

    For you Erick Bedard fans he left the game in Atlanta w/ a back injury tonight.

  895. ray (sox fan) June 20th, 2008 at 11:27 pm

    Do you guys think we will see a Colon/Ponson game????

  896. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 11:28 pm

    he was also 1 for 3 vs. Moose prior to this game. Bruce? ah, a rookie with no experience whatsoever

    A rookie w/ a better hitting potential in that spot than Jolbert Cabrera. A rookie who is dued. Ask yourself this question would you pitch to Jolbert Cabrera or Jay Bruce ?

  897. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 11:29 pm

    Brandon, I don’t pitch to the guy that’s 2-2 off of me already.

  898. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 11:30 pm

    Rebecca so you would rather pitch to the guy that can actually hit the ball 400 feet ?

  899. mark June 20th, 2008 at 11:31 pm

    Don’t know for sure but it seems that Manny being Manny means never being clutch. Dude seems to be really good except when it really counts.

    Course I could have that wrong. I don’t pay a lot of attention to what goes on with them.

  900. Nick in SF June 20th, 2008 at 11:31 pm

    “Do you guys think we will see a Colon/Ponson game????”

    I think that’s the nightly matchup in the fifth circle of hell.

  901. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 11:33 pm

    Brandon: If I’m having success against the guy, then yes, I am.

  902. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 11:34 pm

    this comparison is like saying I’d rather pitch to Hideki Matsui than Homer Bush

  903. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708 June 20th, 2008 at 11:34 pm

    Nick, I thought the gluttons were like the third circle? But maybe it’s the fifth. I just know I’d be in the first one.

  904. Mike Mineo June 20th, 2008 at 11:36 pm

    Brandon, yes. not every pitcher in baseball is the same. Bruce showed no signs of completely owning Mussina at all (as evidenced by his 2 Ks, one prior to the at bat), while Cabrera has.

    if you want to know who is correct in this situation, simply look at the result. it’s laughable trying to defend a mistake that has already occurred

  905. Brandon (Jose Tabata stays) (Johan Santana HR count: 13) June 20th, 2008 at 11:39 pm

    if you want to know who is correct in this situation, simply look at the result. it’s laughable trying to defend a mistake that has already occurred

    Am I the only one sane to understand if the ball doesn’t get in the lights no one is saying a damn thing ?

    Jesus lets see according to people because it already happened and the kid is 21 yrs. old this is why they should have pitched to Bruce, who’s Monday QB’ing now …

  906. Mike Mineo June 20th, 2008 at 11:57 pm

    well, that (his high level of inexperience) and the fact that Cabrera was previously 2-2 against Mussina and solidified his state of domination by going 4-4 before leaving with an injury. it really isn’t rocket science.

    remember Enrique Wilson? yeah, journeyman. remember when he used to occasionally rock Pedro? some bench players have actual EXPERIENCE and can hit well against a certain pitcher (Cabrera’s stats against Mussina are now 5 for 7 lifetime). Cabrera is in the lineup hitting 2nd for a reason tonight.

  907. munchabuncha June 21st, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Girardi has made a number of bad calls this season that has cost games. Its at least 4 games, though by my count a closer one would make it 5, but lets give him the benefit of a doubt. Last year NoM… had been keeping track of games that Torre blew for making bad calls. It was 7 for the whole season.

    Those 4 games would have the Yankees above the Rays right now and one game back of the Sox. Last year the Yankees finished out behind the Sox in the division, yet had it not been for games lost by poor managing of the game, the Yankees would have had the division, and who knows if that would have made a difference to the whole post season.

    What will these 4 or 5 games mean at the end of this season? Who knows, but I’d rather have that cushion, wouldn’t you?

Leave a comment below

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Forgotten Password
Cancel

Sponsored by:
 

Search

    Advertisement

    Follow

    Mobile

    Read The LoHud Yankees Blog on the go by navigating to the blog on your smartphone or mobile device's browser. No apps or downloads are required.

    LoHud TV

    More Videos

Advertisement

Place an ad

Call (914) 694-3581