Game 115: Yankees at Rangers
-
- August
- 7
YANKEES (62-52)
Damon CF
Jeter DH
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Giambi 1B
Nady LF
Cano 2B
Betemit SS
Molina C
Mussina RHP
Mike Mussina (14-7, 3.44) vs. the Texas hitters.
Scott Feldman (4-4, 4.97) vs. the New York hitters.
Notes: The Yankees need a win to split the four-game series. … Red Sox are idle today. The Rays are at the Mariners later on tonight. … Damon is 5 of 13 in the series with three runs scored. … A-Rod is 0 for 10 in the series with 3 GIDPs. … Molina is 4 for 9 since Pudge Rodriguez came aboard.
SO IT SEEMS MELKY HAS BEEN BEEN FIRED: Hmm, very interesting. That’s four days in a row out of the lineup for the Melkman. Guess he’s not getting a rest after all. That’s what being an out machine for three months will do.
THE MOOSE VS. TEXAS: Mussina is 6-4, 3.94 at Rangers Ballpark. He is 17-13, 3.74 in his career against the Rangers. … Frank Catalanotto is 26 of 59 with 10 extra-base hits against Mussina. Think he might be in the lineup?
MILESTONE MOOSE: Mussina needs 4.1 innings to reach 3,500 for his career. He would be the 70th pitcher in history to reach that mark, the fifth active player. Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Randy Johnson and (of course) Jamie Moyer are the others. … Moose has 264 wins. A victory tonight would tie him with Jim McCormick for 37th place all-time.
ROUGHED-UP RANGERS: David Murphy strained a ligament in that collision with Pudge Rodriguez yesterday and went on the DL. The Rangers are also likely without Milton Bradley, who has a hamstring pull.
HUGHES TV: Want to watch the Franchise chuck it for Scranton? I’m told MLB.TV will have the game. Follow this link.
Back later with updates.
UPDATE, 6:38 p.m.: OK, here is what we have:
Pudge: Feeling better, hopes to catch tomorrow.
Joba: On his way to Tampa to because that’s where the trainers are.
Melky: The plan is to play him tomorrow. But Girardi said the complexion of the team changed when Nady was acquired and he has to put the best lineup he can out there. Girardi also said Damon looks good in CF.
ANDY PETTITTE UPDATE, 6:46 p.m.: The Daily News reported that Andy Pettitte could miss his start on Sunday with some manner of arm injury.
“News to me,” Joe Girardi said.
Pettitte also said he would make his start and that he felt fine. I watched him play catch in the outfield before we spoke to Girardi and he looked OK to me.
UPDATE, 7:00 p.m.: Here is the latest from Florida via the AP:
New York Yankees slugger Hideki Matsui began a running program Thursday for his sore left knee.
After hitting 10 home runs on 58 pitches during his second consecutive day of batting practice on the field, Matsui ran about 90 feet six times in the outfield.
“I was able to run and I didn’t have any problems after that,†he said through a translator. “So, in that sense, I’m pretty satisfied.â€
Matsui will face a big test on Friday—seeing how the knee reacts. The designated hitter and part-time left fielder had his rehab program shut down last month when the knee swelled even more after two days of batting practice.
“We did something new today, so it will be interesting how the knee responds,†Matsui said. “If I don’t have any problems, then I think that’s going to be a big step forward.â€
Matsui opted against having surgery last month with the hope of rejoining the Yankees this season.
“I think it was a very good day,†he said.
Also, right-hander Victor Zambrano allowed a broken-bat single over four scoreless innings in his first start for the Gulf Coast League Yankees. The former major league pitcher, recently signed to a minor league contract, struck out three and walked one.
Another former big leaguer signed by the Yankees to a minor league contract, Eric Milton, threw off a bullpen mound and is expected to pitch in minor league games later this month. The left-hander is coming off elbow ligament replacement surgery in June 2007.
UPDATE, 7:35 p.m.: Tony Pena will coach third tonight. Bobby Meacham will miss two games to attend the wedding of his daughter in Colorado. Ally Meacham, a former backup dancer for Rihanna, is marrying NBA player Maurice Evans.
UPDATE, 8:55 p.m.: Phil Hughes is finished in Scranton. 4.2 innings, 3 hits, 1 run, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts. 68 pitches, 40 strikes and he was sitting 93-95 with his fastball and had good movement.
68 pitches means Hughes can get around 85 his next time out. That would line him up for a MLB game if needed.
Carl Pavano is also finished in Trenton. 3.2 innings, 1 hit, 0 runs, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts, 2 wild pitches.
UPDATE, 9:02 p.m.: Nice series for A-Rod, 0 for 12 with four GIDPs and two strikeouts.
UPDATE, 9:13 p.m.: Marlon Byrd is 7 of 13 with six runs scored and four RBI in this series.
UPDATE, 10:01 p.m.: How are the Yankees 2-4 against this team again? Meanwhile, the Moose is putting on a clinic of how to pitch out of trouble. Texas has eight hits and a walk over six innings and hasn’t scored.
UPDATE, 10:27 p.m.: Telling that Texas would choose to face A-Rod with first base open and intentionally walk Giambi. A-Rod was 0 for 14 in the series.
Brian Bruney with a 2-0 lead against the top of the order? Interesting.
UPDATE, 10:37 p.m.: The addition of Marte really changes the way Girardi can use the bullpen. Marte seems best suited for situational work, at least based on what we have seen so far.
UPDATE, 10:52 p.m.: Another briliant play by Jeter. By making the final out of the inning after the RBI single, he allows Mo to get the save. What leadership!
This entry was posted
on Thursday, August 7th, 2008 at 4:40 pm by Peter Abraham.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Print This Post
| 
Email This Post
Peter Abraham
lets go yanks!
Giese, Kennedy, and Rasner in Anahiem?
Ouch.
can we pleaaaase win this game
For those that missed it in the last thread
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/yankees/
Andy Pettitte likely to miss next start with arm stiffness.
I love Damon, but I wish we could, I don’t know, have someone else play center…
No Pettitte now, we better win with our “ace” tonight…
Why not Betemit in center when everyone gets their rest? He seems to be able to play anywhere, average at best, but still a Juan-of-all-trades.
Watch us sweep.
i would rather have justin christian play center and damon or nady dh than have betemit playing shortstop… but at least there’s no melky!
Sidney Ponson is now our #2 starter.
Just let that all settle in for a moment.
Well i guess the Melk is tasting a bit sour. Could it be permenantly expired from center field?
The Melk Man is now missing
“No Pettitte now, we better win with our “ace†tonight…”
Crap with the way the season has been going. Ponson might end up our ACE.
OH LORD WHY DON’T THEY JUST SHOOT ME ALREADY !!! I HATE TEXAS
Pettitte already missed his last two starts…
Well that would explain him getting tattooed his last 3 starts. Let me guess Mussina next week?!! It is just unreal… Good thing we don’t have the pitcher batting 9th for another game. But I am sure he will return tomorrow. A. Jax please hurry up….
I notice Girardi has a soft spot for Wilson Betemit. He seems to play more than he deserves to although he hasn’t been too bad recently. P.S. I know many on this board don’t want to hear this but i believe Kei Igawa has earned the right to get another chance with the big club. Look at his numbers at Scranton. They are pretty impressive if you ask me.
I like what Joe is doing, Betemit isn’t one of my favorites, but hes been hitting the ball well. Melky, I love you but we are doing better without you. I just wish Abreu could get to DH more since he owns as a DH.
I did, then I just realized…
Kennedy (0-3; 7.41) is now our #3 starter.
Give Chase Wright his shot.
That’s what being an out machine for three months will do.
I thought this said “That’s what being an all-out machine for three months will do.”
It changes the meaning completely.
Pete Abe might be called on to throw a few innings in relief this weekend.
Melky’s got a good arm. Why not start him Sunday?
More cheery news: just saw on the YES ticker that the Rays have reportedly picked up Chad Bradford from the O’s. So they just got even better.
P.S. I know many on this board don’t want to hear this but i believe Kei Igawa has earned the right to get another chance with the big club. Look at his numbers at Scranton. They are pretty impressive if you ask me.
I’m mean this in a jokingly manner but
GTFO this blog NOW
….
I…am kind of speechless.
Phil: Well put.
Texas = Bad luck city
Early SuperBowl odds:
Pats 3 1/2 to 1
CBoys 6 to 1
Colts 7 to 1
Giants 15 to 1
Jets 30 to 1
They are not in the business to lose money.
Wouldn’t it be funny (in a tragic) way) if Pavano turns out to be the Yankee saviour in September. Oh God, why?
From the book of Melky,
“And the Lord said Pavano will lead us to the promised land.”
The Melk Man is now missing
Put his face on a melk carton!
Igawa and Chase Wright need to be given consideration.
Aceves has fallen off the map.
Now, how can Girardi not play Melky after saying such nice things about him (sarcasm).
Its why I rarely listen to what managers/coaches say to the media. Actions speak louder than words.
Add CF to the list of needs for the Yankees in the off-season. I hope Austin Jackson has a bang up spring training next year.
Can’t complain about the lineup. You play the guys who are able to play.
As G Love said, Sidney Ponson is now the #2 starter in the Yankee rotation.
At this point, you just hope they finish the year fielding a team.
What a disaster from an injury standpoint.
It’s a trade-off, Damon’s bat wins over Melky’s arm.
he’s not the franchise.
“Andy Pettitte likely to miss next start with arm stiffness.”
Well I only have 29 innings pitched this year, I could spot start lol. Seriously, this is crazy now. Moose is the ace and Ponson is #2 LOLOLOL…see you in 2009 folks.
Moose
Ponson
IPK
Giese
Rasner
Your starting rotation. Wow $200mm buys a lot of spares.
Chet
Seriously, are we were being punk’d?
I can’t take these injuries anymore. Wrap everyone up in bubble wrap and away we go!
I’m eager to see Rafael Chavez work his magic on Hughes.
From last thread… about K-rod
SJ,
I think K-rod could sign with the Mets. Their bullpen is awful so making K-rod the closer with Wagner as the main setup man would improve that area quite a bit. Also Wagner is never very good in a big spot and K-rod could fix that for them. And of course we know how much Omar loves Latino players.
Peter, the Scaranton game is on Milb.con, not Mlb.com You have to pay to watch it
Well, you can forget about Pettitte coming back next year now, I’d imagine.
it’s going to be a tough stretch
let’s get it on
I hope Cashman was secretly scouting the Old Timers game last weekend.
I’d go with a Leiter, Jim Abbot, David Wells, Jimmy Key and Scott Kamemiecki rotation in a heartbeat right about now.
How’d Whitey look?
Melky Fans: Don’t Cry Over Spilt Melk
Hughes should get the start after tonight for the Yanks…. If he has a 85 pith limit so be it.. He can go 5 innings….
Not to worry, I have a feeling that Geise, Kennedy, and Rasner are just going to make them look stupid.
typo, sorry, Milb.com
“EdFL.
August 7th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Wouldn’t it be funny (in a tragic) way) if Pavano turns out to be the Yankee saviour in September”
savior from what? Last place?
The way Hughes through earlier this season 85 pitches should get him cleanly out of the 2nd inning.
I have to ask: Who honestly thought that at this point of the season Mike Mussina would be the last man standing?
I almost think the Yankees should keep him from pitching tonight…
At the very least they need to do as SA suggests and wrap him in bubble wrap.
That ‘franchise’ nonsense was giddy over-hype when it started. Now it’s just embarrassing.
good lord good lord ….
I really think we need to retire the whole franchise BS until the guy…oh i don’t know…proves he can go half a season.
Jarrod Washburn sounds pretty good right about now…
Dare I say Bronson Arroyo? Yes, I dare.
Ok, Cashman— go get Paul Byrd.
Nick,
LOL. Rebecca, ironic, isn’t it? Remember all the talk in the spring about where Joba would “fit” in the rotation?
Moose was the guy most people connected with the Yankees thought would pitch himself out of the mix once the season began.
There wasn’t a lot of belief he had a lot left in the tank.
Now, he’s not only the last guy standing, he has been their best starting pitcher all season. Amazing.
“August 7th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Add CF to the list of needs for the Yankees in the off-season. I hope Austin Jackson has a bang up spring training next year”
SJ: I know you’re connected. And i’m not. However, i do expect we will remain with internal options (Gardner, or others) until AJax is ready. Provided, Cashman remains (which i hope)
i agree moose has saved us
i’m hoping for another to save us – i still believe
“I have to ask: Who honestly thought that at this point of the season Mike Mussina would be the last man standing?”
Would have bet my mortgage on him not even making the rotation in February. Now he’s the ace…lol. Not our year obviously, regroup and regain the empire’s power in 2009.
What are you crying about? Pettitte was absolutely BRUTAL last 2 starts, BRUTAL! He’s a great pitcher but hey, put Kennedy & Hughes back in action! With no Joba, no Wang there is barely other option (while I’m still kind of sure Cash will pick up Washburn from waivers). Give Ian & Phil another shot. Look at Ponson! Would you expect it? He was really good yesterday, if you don’t expect too much from pitcher like he is than you can say he was awesome! Job well done Sir Sidney! GO YANKS and kill Tex tonite.
Patrick,
I don’t see Omar outbidding the Tigers for KRod. That is, if Omar is even employed by the Mets after the season.
They won’t move Wagner out of the closers role. If they were ever to sign KRod, Wagner would demand a trade and they would accomodate him.
Teams don’t commit that much money to two veteran closers and then ask one of them to move into a setup role. That’s not how it works in the game.
Closers go to the HOF and saves are a big reason why. Guys aren’t giving that up to move to a setup role.
SJ44:
Weird sport, isn’t it?
I guess you gotta play the games for some reason…
I bet Wade Boggs can still throw a filthy knuckleball…
BTW – what are the chances for A-JAX for making a team next year?
SJ, I just read your 4:55 post. Frankly, I’m offended by your sarcastic cynicism. It’s what Girardi says that matters, not whether a particular person is in the lineup or an injured player returns in 2 weeks or not at all.
I’m assuming this his pronouncements will be delivered via stone tablet once the new stadium operation is up and running.
stf: slim as anything other than a September call up.
He’s got to get through AAA first.
This has been pissing me off for a long time. Can we STOP with the nickname abbreviations?
The most creative thing people can come up with for Austin Jackson is “Ajax”? Really? What happened to real nicknames? I swear it’s a dumbing down of our society that has lead us to consider this cool or creative.
I hope the bench inspires some hitting for melky, maybe he needs what Jeter’s got. I mean seriously he’s got an edge, and got it with a sunroof too.
Did you ever stop to think Pettitte was brutal because he was hurt? Not too big a leap to make, is it?
Vinny,
Depending how the team is re-shaped in the off-season, and depending on how he plays in the Spring, Jackson could be an option next year.
If there is enough offense to absorb his bat (while hitting 9th) as he learns at the big league level, it could be a possibility. May be too early for him but, who knows. Sometimes, players are just ready. Even at a young age.
When you have almost 40 x-tra base hits as one of the youngest players in the EL, while also playing an excellent defensive CF, you have to say he’s in the discussion now about 2009.
The Eastern League is known as a pitchers league. What he has done this season is very, very impressive.
Poo-poo on Feinsand…Post says Pettitte is good to go on Sunday.
So you do have to pay to see the Hughes game? I got excited for no reason.
http://blogs.nypost.com/sports/yankees/archives/2008/08/pettitte_says_i.html
Chobba: we did have a nickname for him: Action Jackson
he didn’t like it, tho.
Incredibly, Jeff Karstens would be the Yanks #2 starter if he were still here.
girardi just said to dog that andy was going on sunday
What a wacky season this has been.
“Closers go to the HOF and saves are a big reason why. Guys aren’t giving that up to move to a setup role.”
Yes but Wagner wouldn’t really have a choice unless he flat out refused to pitch. If Wagner was a true team player like he constantly claims to be then he would be happy to become a setup man.
I’m not saying K-rod to the Mets will happen, I’m saying its a possibility (IMO). Tigers sound like another good option, they are another big market team with a terrible bullpen (and no closer).
“The most creative thing people can come up with for Austin Jackson is “Ajaxâ€? Really? ”
it could be worse. i think i remember people wanting him to be called “action jackson”, along with the 3124982735982743897489574893 others with that nickname
SJ: interesting. I hope Ajax forces the issue.
I don’t know, I’m disappointed with the 2008 season to date, but still think that Kennedy and Hughes will give us a boost provided they get some runs to work with.
I’m hoping Moose gets to 20 wins, and then there could be a Pavano sighting in the next few weeks.
So from a entertainment perspective, there could be some this next month. Maybe a few surprises.
I’m sure not ready for football.
There is a large “X” over Melky’s name until such time as Nady cools off, and hopefully, that won’t happen.
I don’t want Damon in CF.
Jeff Kartsens is easily the best pitcher on Pittsburgh’s staff, but is Sir Sidney tops on ours?
Yeah ZMAN – How about Jeff Karstens?! WOW! Good for him.
Eh, Action is marginally better, but still, the only draw there is that it rhymes. But I don’t think you can give someone a nickname until you’ve seen them play.
I’d promote Jackson to AAA for at least a month or two in 2009. Once he demonstrates he can hit well there (and I expect him to do exactly that) he can get a call-up. In the meantime Melky or Gardner can play CF. Nady can be the fulltime RF, Damon is the fulltime LF.
The brilliant Cashman had better find some quality arms for next season to offer fans a reason to pay $1000 per seat. A declining Andy Pettitte, Methuselah Mike Mussina, deer-in-the-headlights Ian Kennedy, and oft-injured Phil Hughes will not cut it. Even the Aruban Aristocrat can’t justify those prices.
I am guessing “blackjack” is too offensive.
Girardi on WFAN is denying Pettitte is going to miss a start –
Here comes another ugly situation
Stupid question: Are we going to re-sign Abreu? He’s HOT!
lol @ “Aruban Aristocrat”
If you think those $1000 seats are going to be empty, I have a bridge to sell you!
“I am guessing “blackjack†is too offensive.”
offensive? yes.
but also awesome? YES
probably Chobba, but you made me laugh
I’m not so sure having Pettitte miss a start is even that bad. He’ll likely suffer through his usual 4-run inning at some point. Of course, he’ll then tell us all how he stunk up the joint during the postgame to make us feel like he truly cares.
IMO there is nothing wrong with ‘A-JAX’.
What if AJax wore #21 – then the other nickname would be irresistible!
Yes, this.
Sometimes I don’t get Girardi, we need to make a RUN, not REST players…
A lot of times I don’t get Girardi. Like every other day?
Ah so now that the “Pettitte is done/The team is done/The rotation is AWFUL” hyperbole has died down, this thread can go back to what it is supposed to be: a place for people to complain/whine/gripe about the lineup.
Who is he resting that should play?
Why does everyone need a nickname? How about Austin or the young man with the big bat. Also can anyone clarify if I can really watch the Hughes start or was Pete just gassing us.
stf -
Nobody’s resting, though. I don’t think we can characterize Melky’s situation as “resting” anymore, and even if I-Rod is healthy enough to play, Molina always catches Moose.
Any chance we can see Nady playing center next year with Damon/Matsui platooning in left/DH and Abreu in right?
source
My foot in someone’s a** at the end of tonight.
…and place with tons of cynism… Andrew?
Abreu wants to stay with the Yankees (who doesn’t?)
link:
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080807&content_id=3269288&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy&partnerId=rss_nyy
Girardi is a LIAR!!! EXECUTE HIM!!
How long do we have Nday under contract?
“Any chance we can see Nady playing center next year with Damon/Matsui platooning in left/DH and Abreu in right?”
If Nady could play center, he’d be there today over Damon…
I thought it was funny a few years ago when the Twins had Jacque jones, Torii Hunter and Shannon Stewart in the OF they called those guys “The Soul Patrol” that is a tad offensive but then again I am not a person of color so my opinion is from a distant vantage point.
The only problem I have with the A-Jax nickname is the demise of the mythological Ajax.
Snippet from wikipedia:
“..When he wakes up, he is under the influence of a spell from Athena. He goes to a flock of sheep and slaughters them, imagining they are the Achaean leaders, including Odysseus and Agamemnon. When he comes to his senses, covered in blood, and realizes what he did, with diminished honor he decides that he prefers to kill himself rather than to live in shame.”
But pre-demise Ajax is cool.
Am I missing something or Girardi rests Jeter? Who else, despite having a great game day before was rested? Nady? Giambi? …
Asked how his left, pitching arm was feeling, Pettitte replied, “I’m good.â€
Sounds ambiguous to me. I bet there was truth in the original article and he is feeling tightness but he plans on pitching through it.
I believe we have Nady through 2009.
Just wondering— Was Ponson an international FA when he signed 10 years ago? How did they find him in Aruba? Did he deflect to the DR or something?
I agree Jackson has to be in the back of the organization’s colletive mind for ‘09 but it would be ideal for him to get in half a season of AAA, but SJ is right, his play in Trenton in a strong pitching AA league is exceptional.
Right now Damon in CF makes sense, but we’ll see Melky again. He just has to keep at it and take advantage of his next opportunity.
I think Hughes is on a 65 count tonight, then 85. Those two will likely both be in SWB and if they go well he’ll join the bigs. None too soon as far as I’m concerned.
The idea that the Mets would pay $ 26 M to two releivers is pure insanity. Also, the Dodgers’ owner is not a big spender and only agreed to the Manny deal because the Sawx are paying the entire salary through the season. I predict Manny will be with the Sox in ‘09, not the Sawx, but the Sox! Playing for Ozzie Guillen is the only way for Manny to look like a regular guy.
TK in DC — Those seats will most assuredly not be empty in ‘09. However, if the Yanks string together a few 75 – 85 win seasons, the notion of fiscal prudence and maximizing the value of every contract might actually become en vogue. Maybe 36-year-old catchers won’t fetch $13M per, and talented, but poor-in-the-clutch, third-basemen might not be paid the equivalent of the GDP of some countries. And on what other planet could Andy Pettitte get what he’s getting here?
I think Nady has the arm strength for center, but is he speed the question mark?
“Sounds ambiguous to me. I bet there was truth in the original article and he is feeling tightness but he plans on pitching through it.”
I think things are getting a little out of hand in terms of the general theme of “everyone is a liar and everything that members of the Yankees organization say aren’t really what they mean or totally the truth” that surrounds this board. I’m sure someone will say Pettitte is lying now like he has in the past, but whatever, let him pitch, him at 80% is better than anyone coming to replace him. It’s not like he’s a rookie that needs coddling, he’s been pseudo-retired for 2 years straight.
If memory serves me (from my years living there) looking like a regular guy is not especially relevant in Los Angeles. McCourt might not like spending money but he loves making it, and the Dodgers might as well be printing it the way the Manny merchandise is flying out the door — maybe he stays?
Am I missing something or Girardi rests Jeter? Who else, despite having a great game day before was rested? Nady? Giambi? …
He needs a rest, if you saw pregame you’d notice Jetes was worn out all day, first the funeral and then the flight, no sleep and was a little sore. His range is hurting us a bit, so a day off from the infield doesn’t hurt him. Besides he’s in the lineup tonight so what’s the problem ?
Nady is a COF period.
Nady’s catch yesterday was SO underrated. Was that even a web gem? I really hope it was because he deserved it.
Nady said himself that he can’t play CF because he doesn’t have the speed.
anyone have Brett Favre’s email address?
like to tell him, he should check out Dutchess county. Mountains, the hudson, farmland, woods, and lots of wild animals. And only 70 miles north of the city.
Nady can play CF, the question is can he play it well? I would answer, “No he can’t.” Nady is good but he’s best utilized in RF in my opinion.
Nady is under contract thru next yr..
Jeter is playing it is over 100, the guy is DH’ing
enough with the lineup complaining….
Yeah Girardi on Mike the maddog said Pettitte is pitching on Friday???
nady is too slow for CF, let it go man……..
Favre will likely stay in Northern New Jersey–closer to the Jets stadium and their new practice field.
Lots of athletes or former athletes live around these parts, including Willie Randolph, and, for a time, Bucky Dent and Don Zimmer.
Jorge — I believe the Ponson story is as follows: A baseball scout was vacationing in Aruba. As he was sunbathing, he heard a loud noise. He looked up to see a rotund, rather inebriated young man throwing Corona bottles at jet skiers. The scout couldn’t believe the arm strength of the young man, who repeatedly knocked person after person from their perch at a distance of over 200 feet. At that point, a legend was born, and a contract signed.
If the Yankees want to keep Abreu next year, they will have one outfielder too many. If it were up to me, I’d keep Abreu in RF, keep Nady in LF, use Matsui as the full time DH and move Damon to 1B (if we don’t get TEX, which is a possibility). If we do get TEX, then I’d trade Damon.
Pretty Soon guys we will be putting Mo is center field you have said everyone else play there…lol
ZMAN7777
– post of the day!
Damon should be playing CF everyday. melky is just flat out terrible. He should be the 4th OF and defensive replacement.
Mo could play a mean center field.
Problem is, his bat’s worse than Melky’s.
Ah. The insightful Stuart is back….Let me find my translation book so I can try to figure out his language and retoric
“If the Yankees want to keep Abreu next year, they will have one outfielder too many. If it were up to me, I’d keep Abreu in RF, keep Nady in LF, use Matsui as the full time DH and move Damon to 1B (if we don’t get TEX, which is a possibility). If we do get TEX, then I’d trade Damon.”
Because players never, ever get hurt especially one’s in their 30’s, right?
And having a deep bench really stinks too.
ROG:
You ever have anything to say that isn’t directed at making fun of stuart?
“Take your meds and chill out.”
SJ44. Promise I will do that the first time there is ever evidence here that you have done the same thing.
Thanks saucY. I’ll treasure that, along with my lifesize Sir Sidney bobblehead doll. Tweak his head, and George Thoroughgood’s “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer” plays.
soul patrol isnt offensive because they made it up. austin jackson said he prefers ajax. blackjack is HIGHLY offensive unless he decided to call himself blackjack. which i dont think he would because the whole world can see he’s black. speaking of which, who was the last prominent african american player drafted and developed by the yankees, other than jeter of course?
now you people want to make nady a centerfielder. oh boy.
so utterly clueless most of you are.
trisha do not take crap from lightweight quitters like SJ44.
He can’t stand the fact that you are so positive and usually right. It burns him up inside.
“Moose was the guy most people connected with the Yankees thought would pitch himself out of the mix once the season began.
There wasn’t a lot of belief he had a lot left in the tank.
Now, he’s not only the last guy standing, he has been their best starting pitcher all season. Amazing.”
I believed Moose was going to do well. So did some others. Looks like we “guessed” well!
Eric, I am actually at the point of writing to Pete about SJ44 seeing his disrespect in addressing me is a direct violation of forum policy.
Austin Jackson’s new nickname. Not Melky.
Trisha can you start supporting A-Rod in hitting with runners on in your handle. You have been 100% on every player you have included this year. You have made Farnsworth and Ponson good. You are a miracle worker.
trisha-
Are you serious?
How’s Pudge?
Breaking News……… Bret just tok his first crap as a Jet
Trisha may be a little off her rocker but I’d much rather listen to her be positive about the Yanks than the blowhard SJ rip into every Yankee. Like he knows anything.
I don’t know but it’s been awhile since the Yankees drafted and developed an African American player.
jeter is black?
More bad news. This just in…
Girardi to the 15-day DL with a serious headache and excessive gray hair.
Buddy yes I am serious. I purposely do not respond to stuff he says because I don’t want to get into a cat fight with him but his “take your meds and chill out” is getting very old, especially when I am not ever posting to him and have to read that.
He is all over me like a cheap suit because 99% of the time my thought processes are not in agreement with his and instead of drinking the kool aid he puts I stick to my guns. I could care less is someone disagrees with my takes. My opinion is just that. But when someone has to be personally demeaning about it I do care. It’s one thing when someone makes a comment about the forum in general – it’s quite another when someone comes after you personally.
I’ve actually heard that Mo is the best center fielder on the team.
lindenhurst –
Well I’m happy to try it to see if we can give him good luck but I don’t know if the results will be there. With Farnsworth and Ponson I was at least going on things I was able to observe!
is sj44 the original stalker that trisha had here?
ZMAN7777: “The brilliant Cashman had better find some quality arms for next season to offer fans a reason to pay $1000 per seat. A declining Andy Pettitte, Methuselah Mike Mussina, deer-in-the-headlights Ian Kennedy, and oft-injured Phil Hughes will not cut it. Even the Aruban Aristocrat can’t justify those prices.”
Ummmm… Wang and Joba?
watch out for the sj44 negative brigade trisha. They are relentless and spare nothing defending their quitting leader. Be careful
Don’t sell yourself short, Trisha. You singlehandedly saved Kyle and Sid. You can help Alex out in the late innings.
yanksince57 -
No that person was a Sux fan from another forum who used to trash me on the forum and email me behind the scenes asking me out. No lie. Definitely wasn’t sj44, at least not at the beginning.
“is sj44 the original stalker that trisha had here?”
Probably. The guy is kind of a jerk. I wouldn’t doubt it.
Mike If you dislike SJ44 just ignore him. Your obsession with him is getting too creepy for this blog
It only took 100+ games for them to sit Melky.
Mike I already have scars from members of the brigade. But it hasn’t happened in a while so I’m hoping they got over that need.
lindenhurst I don’t know if you’re goofing on me but all I did was pointed out that both Kyle and Sidney had been very effective. I think people were so down on them because of their past they weren’t really willing to give them a chance. (I tend to be more patient than the average bear).
I’m also superstitious so maybe some positive energy can help Alex. I will add him to my handle.
Could they demote Melky and promote Gardner?
Lax Guy: “It only took 100+ games for them to sit Melky.”
No it didn’t. It took them almost 3 seasons of offensive futility.
The sj44 negative brigade shows up in Yankee tech. Shocked. Pointing out the obvious tech. Deal with it.
promote gardner? i guess your in the mood to watch a slightly older player strike out a lot?
LET’S GO DR. PHIL!!!
I’m hoping he has a dominating start.
Another craptastic pitcher the Rangers send out there. Maybe we can hit this one like last nights crap starter.
Okay, new handle.
Gardner is a solid 4th Outfielder. Same as Melky. But at least he has wheels.
Favre’s wife went condo shopping and turned down a sweet buy in Bushwick. She fell in love with a deal in Bed-Stuy after calling Riverdale a slum.
I could understand that trish has had her disagreements with sj44 and they don’t like each other very well. However, the only difference between her and you is that she isn’t a troll looking for trouble like you are.
Trisha not goofing at all.
Giving some credit where some is due.
When Alex gets a big hit with runners on tonight you can keep taking credit.
Trisha -
His Holiness Poop SJ XLIV responds with his entire arsenal of put downs to anyone who disagrees with him as follows:
1. You are a troll
2. You are a 12 year old
3. “take your meds and chill outâ€
These gems tell us a lot about the man. He needs to cull better material from some stand-up guys the sa
What toppings were on Favre’s pizza today?
Typical sj neg brigade tactic. Call who disagrees a troll. Obv I’m not tech since you notice me all the time. Im myself But keep at it.
… same way he gets most of his info from other Yankee blogs.
I always laugh at people who put the fragile label on Hughes.
Keep in mind, Josh Beckett landed on the DL nine times with an assortment of ailments with the Marlins.
Yes, nine times – with the Marlins alone.
2007 was the first time he played an entire season.
GAS-
Where’d you hear that about Washingmachine?
Favre is a Jet??
lindenhurst, well okay but we have to at least give him a little time for the magic to work! Cool if it works fast.
Southern Yankee – thanks. And thanks to anyone else who at least understands where I’m coming from with that.
Check you all out later.
And who’s part of this negative brigade ??? The more knowledgable posters ???
Don’t let people get you down, Trisha. Most fans here support you. You’re a real fan.
A ROG post without bashing stuart!!!
I wouldn’t believe it if I didn’t see it.
Obviously, it is ripping on someone but hey you can’t have it all!
Everything in little steps for “ROG”.
Mike August 7th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Typical sj neg brigade tactic. Call who disagrees a troll. Obv I’m not tech since you notice me all the time. Im myself But keep at it.
Honest Question-do you ever feel like coming here and posting anything Yankees game/player related other than coming here and stalking SJ44? A least a “Let’s go Yankees” post? “Nice AB Nady”. Anything like that?
You can you know..
Carl, you been living under a rock?
“Southern Yankee
August 7th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
… same way he gets most of his info from other Yankee blogs”
did SJ travel south, and kidnap your dog?
Didnt take long for SA to come out for the sj44 neg brigade. U almost had ne worried there SA.
Mussina adds to the Cy Young resume tonight. He has a legit shot to win the award.
# Rebecca–Optimist Prime August 7th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Carl, you been living under a rock?
I take it women here don’t get a thing called “sarcasm”.
I’ll try to post s warning next time.
Betemit is a butcher at SS. You may see some angry stares from Moooooose towards him tonight.
Carl: Hard to pick it up on the net, but I get sarcasm fine.
Hughes needs to come back. Fast.
I like to think the “Favre is a Jet???” thing was self explanatory since it is on ESPN since midnight and the cover of every tabloid and even women know it. But you can never tell.
The late starting time of the game means I can watch Hughes throw. Which is nice.
I like Stuart, very entertaining, very funny…Especially when he gets excited and becomes longwinded and just rambles on with sheer nonsense….
Hughes really needs a nickname. Franchise is ludicrous. He hasn’t earned that.
Mike August 7th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
Didnt take long for SA to come out for the sj44 neg brigade. U almost had ne worried there SA.
LOL
How about “rehab” for Hughes? since he spends every summer in Tampa rehabbing.
Everyone figured this season would come down to how good Hughes and Kennedy are. Now it really might.
Melky should be plying his trade in Minnesota or Oakland right now as part of a starting pitcher package. Now we couldn’t get 5 maple bats for him in any deal.
Poor Britton… he had to fly all the way from Scranton to Dallas and unless Mussina bombs today, it would have been for nothing.
Now watch him fly back to Scranton tonight, then have to fly out to LA on Saturday morning because Kennedy got shelled on Friday and we need a “long man”.
AB — The Franchise moniker cuts both ways. If he can’t stay healthy, he could find himself owning/running a fast food franchise in the future.
my homer predictions for today are…abreu and the X-man
-Hopefully Arod can at least get 1 hit this series.
“Carl
August 7th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
I like to think the “Favre is a Jet???†thing was self explanatory since it is on ESPN since midnight and the cover of every tabloid and even women know it. But you can never tell”
o sh*t. Here we go…
Dude, Joe, I’m all for optimism, but try nont to get delusional on us, okay?
yeah you’re right, AB. what about pavano jr? hows that? you like it better?
He said Damon looks good, he didn’t say anything about Damon having an arm like the wing of a pidgeon.
ESPN’s Chris Mortenson is reporting that Brett Farve, Deanna Farve, and Jets brass are headed out to Ruby Tuesdays in downtown Cleveland after the press conference. NFL Live has planned a live remote from outside the restaurant. Sal Paolantinio will give us the inside scoop. Stay tuned to ESPN for further developments from this story.
I really haven’t even posted today yet but thanks for the mention..
Hey guys how about a win tonight for the Yanks???
They need to hit Feldman tonight and pay him back for the last time… They need 8 runs tonight and bury the Rangers early.
Hopefully Hughes will get his game in tonight and pitch well…I see him helping this yr. may be wishful thinking but what the heck.
“Melky: The plan is to play him tomorrow. But Girardi said the complexion of the team changed when Nady was acquired and he has to put the best lineup he can out there. Girardi also said Damon looks good in CF.”
This isn’t a Girardi move.
This has to be someone else in the organization.
Clap, Clap to whoever that is. It’s about time.
He looked better with long hair.
I just bought an MILB subscription I must see Phil pitch.
ANDY PETTITTE UPDATE, 6:46 p.m.: The Daily News reported that Andy Pettitte could miss his start on Sunday with some manner of arm injury.
“News to me,†Joe Girardi said.
Pettitte also said he would make his start and that he felt fine. I watched him play catch in the outfield before we spoke to Girardi and he looked OK to me.
Sounds good.
I still think we need to wrap up everyone in bubble wrap to protect them from harm.
“ESPN’s Chris Mortenson is reporting that Brett Farve, Deanna Farve, and Jets brass are headed out to Ruby Tuesdays in downtown Cleveland after the press conference. NFL Live has planned a live remote from outside the restaurant. Sal Paolantinio will give us the inside scoop. Stay tuned to ESPN for further developments from this story.”
I hope they let us know which appetizers Brett orders.
seriously, I’m not trying to cause any race issues here but do the Yankees scout in inner city neighborhoods? Maybe they’ve started to now perhaps? I did see that they drafted that black kid from Calif in this year’s draft and all, but isn’t their record on drafting and developing African American ballplayers a little dispicable? New York has a ton of inner city schools that play baseball are the kids there just not as good at baseball? Does anybody know what the deal is with the Yankees drafting policy? Again I’m not looking to be offensive but I’d truly like to know what’s up. Pete, I apologize in advance if you’d rather I keep this race stuff to myself.
Is it so hard for everyone here to call Austin Jackson by the nickname he likes?
AJack!!!!!
For those of you who want to know about Phil’s start I’ll be live blogging on here for the duration of his start.
raymagnetic: Latino players are cheaper.
which, coincidentally or not as much, maybe be one of the reasons or the scandal brewing right now.
Ground out to SS for Hughes’ first batter.
Ground out to 3B for second batter. 12 pitches, 7 strikes for Hughes.
Trisha- Listening to facts and logical analysis puts me to sleep. Enough of that already. I am ready to join your team of positive people!
i know a girl who worked for Harlem RBI last year and she said the Yankees were cheapskates while the Mets were always offering stuff and had players volunteer to talk to the kids.
Not to start a conspiracy here or anything.
Single against Hughes.
I miss the days where Rebecca would lead as the Queen of Optimism!!! (ah the glory days of last year’s blog during the summer)
Phil, I just got back from visiting a dying relative.
Forgive me if I’m not the queen of optimism right now.
Hughes: 1-2-3. 2 gbs, 1 K. Hit 95mph.
K for the third out.
Sorry, forgot about infield single, another gb
21 pitch 1st inning for Hughes, but no damage.
***HUGHES 1ST INNING WITH SWB TONIGHT*** Hughes allowed one hit an infield single. He struck out the final batter on a nasty slider. He had decent control got ahead on all four batters and his breakings tuff got better as the inning progressed. His velocity was good 93-96.
Rebecca, I’m so sorry.
I didn’t mean to call you out, I was just speculating as to the “days of yore.”
Hughes new nickname is Hugo.
Hey, how do you watch the video of the Scranton game? Is it indeed free?
“Hey, how do you watch the video of the Scranton game? Is it indeed free?”
I had to pay but it was like 6 bucks well worth it.
Phil: It’s okay.
I’m certainly not saying the Yankees are done or anything like that. They can still win this season, but they’ve got to make their move and win games they should win
Al-
You sure it was a slider? He was said to have given that pitch up some time ago. Also, did he actually hit 96 or just 95?
raymagnetic:
Cheaper to sign a kid in latino countries(not counting Puerto Rico) at 16 rather then a inner city kid at 18.And inner city kids play football and basketball more.
That why they aren’t also too many Puerto Rican ball players like 10 years ago because Puerto Rico is subjected to the draft.Which sucks.
Hughes threw both his change up and slider in that first inning.
Very good sign. Hughes change is a good pitch. He just hasn’t used it much. And in the first inning he usually sticks exclusively to his fastball and curve.
Small fee at MiLB.Com for Scranton game.
That’s weird–from what I’ve heard, Hughes hasn’t thrown the slider in a long, long time. His repertoire is fastball, curve, change. Maybe he added the pitch back? I’m still skeptical.
Announcer said 95. Looked like a tight curve or slider
And out other super prospect Carl P has pitched 1 inning 1 hit 0 er 0 walks and 1k for the Thunder.
The MiLB Gameday layout is much better than the MLB one – with better info and more options.
What is up with that?
Jettman- It appeared to be a slider and the broadcaster called it a slider so I would say he was looking to surprise the hitter. It was called at 95 that was a typo my bad.
4 pitch walk to 1st batter in 2nd
Hughes walked lead-off man on 4 straight.
dp on 2nd batter 4-6-3
fly ball to end inning
Is Hughes wearing the glasses?
These injuries have driven me so crazy that I’m praying for Pavano or Paul Byrd!
“I’m not trying to cause any race issues here but do the Yankees scout in inner city neighborhoods? Maybe they’ve started to now perhaps? I did see that they drafted that black kid from Calif in this year’s draft and all, but isn’t their record on drafting and developing African American ballplayers a little dispicable?”
What team does?
This is not a problem specific for the yankees. The lack of african-american ball players is an enormous problem for baseball as a whole. Huge problem. And there’s been lots of speculation as to why.
That’s the whole reason baseball set up their RBI program – to try to get more African-American and kids living in cities playing baseball.
Go back over the first round of each draft for the past several years. There are only 2-3 african-american players drafted in total.
This has nothing to do with kids from other countries being “cheaper.” Teams want to win and want talent.
There’s just a real problem that has gotten worse over the years of there being fewer and fewer african-american players.
One of the best sign in this years draft was how many players drafted had once been in the RBI program – I believe Aron Hicks, Anthony Hewitt and Zach Collier were all in RBI.
It’s a general problem. It’s far from a yankee’s specific one.
Wow Mark really dropped the ball on this one!! THANK GOD!
Hughes is wearing Contacts, he looks good so far
Phil wearing contacts?
I think Hughes is indeed rocking the specs but I’ll have to wait til next inning for sure.
Oops. I see that he is.
Thanks guys. I kind of figured it was a money thing which is even more disgusting in my opinion being that the Yankees make a ton of money, but I guess it is what it is.
“Maybe he added the pitch back? I’m still skeptical.”
He’s started throwing his slider again. He never completely scrapped it. He just made his curve ball this primary breaking pitch.
Andy 18-19 year old in the minors is going to be trying to master only 1 major league quality breaking pitch. It’s just too much to try mastering two off speed/ breaking pitches at that age.
He started throwing the slider a bit more when he went to AAA last year.
He’s got 4 pitches. The change up is a good one. Now it’s just a matter of him feeling confident enough in them to throw to major leaguers.
Double for Cody Ransom.
Ben Broussard 2 run homer SWB up 2-0.
Update from Scranton–
Phil Hughes just laid a golden egg
CB,
I know baseball as a whole has a problem as far as African Americans go. I just figure since the Yankees have more money than everyone else they should have more scouts in inner cities. Maybe they do, I honestly do not know. It is a good sign however that it seems like more black kids are getting drafted now.
Maybe “Send ‘Em Home” Meecham may find himself out of a job when he gets back.
Our new third base coach?
Maybe Bobby Meachem should stay in Colorado.
Let’s hope Tony Pena has lots of company at 3rd base tonight.
HUghes Rocking with 65 again
who’s coaching first
GB out to start 3rd
Very nice zip on his fastball. Control is ‘eh’, however.
Pop out to 3rd for 2nd out
Some very nice curves, too.
9 pitch 3rd. He needed that.
GB out to ss to end 3rd (though it was well hit)
1,2,3 inning for Hughesy.
He’s throwing 100!!
Ally Meacham is one beautiful young woman.
Joe is changing things up a bit, no first base coach.
Hughes will be nice to have but he won’t beat out Ponson or Rasner yet.
Hughes line so far:
3 1 0 0 1 1 – 42, 26 strikes
HOW HARD IS HUGHES THROWING? I HOPE MORE THAN 91 MPH GARBAGE’
He looks like a guy that is rehabbing and struggling with his control.
Nothing to worry about.
Well Rasner has been beaten out already by Giese.
So I guess Hughes has to work on his control a little?
Hughes is throwing well topping out at 95 mph. However his control is a bit suspect.
well i heard rumors that his injury was fake… is it true?
“He’s throwing 100!!”
Don’t even say that. You will get everyone here believing it.
“well i heard rumors that his injury was fake… is it true?”
I call troll. No one is legitimately this stupid.
SOx homer Peter Gammons strikes again. On is ESPN blog today, he notes the “one teams stats and scouting sysytem” rates Jed Lawrie as the 5th best SS in baseball (John McDonald #1). That is laugable since virtually every scout rates him as a borderline major league SS and better fit for 3rd. Sure enough I checked the comprehensive data summarized at Baseball Analysts and there are fully 40 players who’ve logged 100+ innings at SS with better overall stats than Jed Lawrie, including Dereke Jeter who Gammon’s claims was “in the low 40s” according to his inside guy.
Heard they sent Kennedy down because he couldn’t take it. It meaning NY and the pressure. Not because of any real serious physical injury. I still can’t find why he actually was sent down.
Hughes shutout through 3…. Pavano shut out through 2….. good night so far for the Yanks….
Moose on the mound, Molina behind the plate, Damon in center, and Bobby Meacham isn’t here to mess things up. The only problem is WB at SS. Should be an automatic win, but i bet they make it interesting.
sorry for asking =(
Pena will become our next third base coach when they realize he’s better than Meacham.
Whos on first?
Gammons was talking defensively. You realize that Lowrie has played 25 games in the majors? Pretty small sample size to proclaim him top 10 in the game.
the rotation will be: mussina, pettitte, hughes, ponson, pavano…
“I just figure since the Yankees have more money than everyone else they should have more scouts in inner cities. Maybe they do, I honestly do not know.”
First off – the yankees amateur scouting infrastructure was a joke before 2005. It’s only gotten better recently – very recently.
And it has nothing to do with money – nothing. They signed Jesus Montero for $1.6 M in 2006 – originally they offerred him $2M. Last year I believe they gave Kevin DeLeon $1.1M in the Latin American market.
In comparison Austin Jackson was signed for $800,000 in 2005 – and that was the money needed to buy him out of his basketball scholarhip to georgia tech. CJ Henry was drafted in 2005 in round 1 – he signed for less than what Montero got and much less than the $2m Montero was initially offered.
This is a general issue for baseball – just look at the first round of every draft for the past decade – even past two decades.
And on the yankee scouting of inner cities – Chris Smith was a very surprising pick in the 5th round of the draft. BA only had him rated as the 105th best prospect in the state of California. That’s 105 in the state – and the yankees wound up taking him as the 170th overall pick in the draft.
Why is that? Because their scouts must have really been impressed with what they saw. S. California may be the best high school ball in the country. Smith played at Centennial high school which is in no way a baseball powerhouse. And centennial is in a league that isn’t considered very good.
Despite that – the yankees scouted him and drated him very early. They clearly saw things in him that most other evaluators didn’t. That happens in the baseball draft when one team scouts a player that most team don’t scout real aggressively.
It’s a baseball issue. And its a big one. But it’s not the yankees.
Shelley Duncan RBI Double!!! 3-0 Scranton over the Pawtucket PawSux
Double for Shelley 3-0 SWB.
why isnt hughes getting any Ks? you guys sure his fastball is 95 mph?
Gammons is funny, I also remember him proclaiming Craig Hanson as “the best 8th inning guy in the AL” as soon as Joba became a starter.
How does anyone know if Pena can coach 3rd?
We got spoiled by the great Bowa.
Tonight’s pretty much a must win. In the Arlington bandbox, pitching 6 innings and giving up 3 runs should be good enough for a win. Yanks need to score 6 or so.
Hughes doesn’t throw 95.
He is at 92 tops. Don’t buy the gun there.
tampa got chad barfrod
scouting has nothing to do with money? i think you’re wrong because the yankees flex their power in latin america by bribing young players. they host many camps that showcase the yankees franchise and it makes a twinkle in the kids’ eyes… its like this $_$
Delcarmen is the best set up man in the AL.
i really that one of tampa player is injured (LONGGORIA! *cross fingers)
Enough with the offense SWB – We want Phil back on the mound before he cools off! Pull a Manny!
“scouting has nothing to do with money? i think you’re wrong because the yankees flex their power in latin america by bribing young players. they host many camps that showcase the yankees franchise and it makes a twinkle in the kids’ eyes… its like this $_$”
I don’t think its camps that put a twinkle in the eyes. And it’s not bribing players. Maybe its being the most popular team in the world and also able to PAY the most. They don’t need to bribe any player to secure the best.
CB-
Just curious as to why you think it is a “huge, league wide problem” regarding African Americans in major league baseball. If the inner city or urban kids choose to play some other sports instead why does baseball (or society as a whole) really care. I mean its not as if we are in pre-Jackie Robinson days where there was some structural institutional bias against them.
I’m sure there would be a lot of great black swimmers, figure skaters, golfers, hockey players etc if there were millions of $$ spent on outreach programs for those sports too but what’s the point?
Devern “no hitter” Hansack is getting lit up tonight…. 4-0 Scranton in the 3rd with a chance for more with 2 outs…. giving Hughes a nice cushion
All in favor of leaving Tony Pena at third??
“Hughes doesn’t throw 95.
He is at 92 tops. Don’t buy the gun there.”
Hughes does touch 95 on occasion – but you are right about not buying the gun – last start they had him hitting 100.
Pete posted the next morning that the Yankees’ radar gun had him maxing out at 95.
“i really that one of tampa player is injured (LONGGORIA! *cross fingers)”
Get a life. No one with half a brain should wish harm to anyone else. That for one is terrible karma you fool.
FYI: MLB Extra Innings has both broadcasts.
Speaking of Manny: Another HR today. Hitting a respectable .565 with LA thus far. Not that Boston needs him .
4-0 SWB. Hughes coming back out.
“August 7th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Benny
Hughes doesn’t throw 95.”
Uh yes he does. Especially when he doesn’t have a broken ribcage. This isn’t from radar guns moron, actual scouts whoare paid to you know, scout, Hughes, said he was throwing 93-95 mph as did Nardi Conteras – the yankees pitching coordinator – who tends to underestimate velocity
TKinDC:
Did you ever see Hughes throw 95+ in the majors?
Because he didn’t. He suddenly developed after recovering froma rib injury??
Been to Scranton. Gun seems pretty accurat and not inflated. Charleston gun had him topping off at 95, so it is consistent. May be the high socks but he looks stronger.
Nanuet-
“Gammons was talking defensively”. I was talking defensively too and those were the stats I was referring to. I thought it was apparent from the original post but I guess not.
Scouting reports rate his bat as average to better than average for a middle infielder the whole issue is whether he has the glove to play everyday SS (putting aside Gammons’ guy who rates him already among the best in all of baseball even relative to the no-hit guys like Everett and McDonald).
GB out to ss to start 4th
“Hughes doesn’t throw 95.
He is at 92 tops. Don’t buy the gun there.”
Hughes sits 92-93 but hits 95 not infrequently. Cashman said the yankees scouts clocked hughes hitting 95 in his last start at Charleston as well – and that was only his second rehab start.
who got hurt on tampabay? i didnt hear anything about it.
I’m not going to be fooled by Scranton’s gun. Hughes isn’t a mid 90’s thrower. Never has been. Never will be. He even said so!
pop out to 2nd for 2nd out in 4th
hughes sucks if his fastball is 88-91. seriously, that’s stupid. when he was dominating against the rangers he was throwing 92-95.
I guess we’ll find out in 3 weeks when Hughes i back in the Bronx if hes throwing 95.
I don’t mind being wrong but I highly doubt it.
benny, you’re right that he shouldn’t have asked for harm on another player by hoping for an advantage, because that’s just punking out. I’d like to beat the best team with both of our strongest players out there. However, you are acting like a little sis by saying he shouldn’t wish harm on anybody. Wishing or praying won;t get him very far, so let him do what he wants. You also seem like those type that would get made fun of in school, and did nothing about it, saying “oh well, it’s better to not defend, than to defend if it means any kind of physical confrontation.”
Anywho..
…Let’s go Yankees!!!!
What’s Hughes’ pitch count thru 4 or so ip?
I’m both slightly offended and slightly intrigued that you’re all watching Phil pitch on the Milf network. I guess I would too but I don’t want that charge showing up on my credit card statement.
Ian Nobody is a troll.
BB to 3rd batter with 2 outs
Hughes control this inning is terrible. Just walked batter with nobody on and 2 outs in 4th.
Low 50s I think. RBI double for next batter
Hughes and Joba switched places.
“J-Z August 7th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
TKinDC:
Did you ever see Hughes throw 95+ in the majors?
Because he didn’t. He suddenly developed after recovering froma rib injury??”
I saw Hughes pitch in 2006 at Trenton, sat right behind the scouts and saw him hit 94-95 a bunch of times. So there you go. Hughes throws low-90s to mid-90s fastballs.. he doesnt sit 95+… he throws 91 or 92 to 95.. He threw harder when he was yougner and topped out at 97mph but that was when he sacrificed location for velocity.. Now that he understands the importance of command he doesn’t throw AS hard as he used to.. but the results speak for themselves..
so now you can stop trolling kido
2b was to right center.
how do I get to the mlb.tv broadcasts? I can get the MLB games but how do I watch Hughes?
Hughes just got whacked for a run scoring double 4-1 SWB.
2 out walks from Hughes?
It’s like he never left the team in ‘08!
hard hit gb to 3rd to end 4th. he should come out for the 5th
With Mussina on the mound, today’s game is a must win game.
If he threw harder when he was younger, than wow. He’s still only 22 yrs old and he’s on the velocity decline already?
Inning over Hughes needs a few more starts not looking crisp tonight.
Michael T,
In order for inner city kids to play baseball they need fields, equipment etc. You do not need a field to play basketball or football. It’s much easier to round up a few friends to play a game of basketball or two hand touch football as well. It’s a MUCH higher cost when it comes to playing baseball and getting good at it than other sports.
Also, what inner city kids do you know that can afford to go on a golf course regularly to get good at it?
CB,
I did mention that the Yankees had signed that Chris Smith guy from Cali, but what about the years before that? It may not be about money, but then what’s it about? I also don’t believe just by checking out the 1st and 2nd rounds of the draft you get a good picture of how many African Americans are being drafted into MLB. As you said Austin Jackson was a later round pick and got paid serious money to skip college. I’m sure other teams have drafted African American kids in later rounds as well.
Don’t rush this kid we need him for 09.
Jeter homerun, nice piece of hitting
Do you guys think now that hughes is equal to kennedy???
that a boy Jeter!!
Wow, Jeter hit that one hard. I thought he didn’t have any power?
The CAP
yeah, Derek! way to go!!
We have the DH of the future!
Al From BK
stop trolling you’re obviously a Red Sox fan trying to stir some $*** up.. go home you loser.
are you watching him on MiLB.tv right now? Cuz i am and he’s inducing groundball after groundball..
Hughes line now:
4 2 1 1 2 1 – 55, 32 strikes
El Capitan!
Nick — we have a lot of DHs of the future
You sat in the stands 3 years ago so we should take it as fact that Hughes throws in the mid to upper 90’s? Sure thing. Forget the fact that he didn’t touch 95 once this year or last year. But he definitely throws 97 because you watched him at Scranton. He dials it down because of command? Really? Where was that when his whip this year was a solid 2.14?
He never rared back once the pat 2 years to throw hard? Not once?
Sure thing.
Wow jetes seems like a diffrent player the last two games
Okay, Alex needs a hit today.
Real Yanks leading 1-0 thats good.
The Yankees seem to have their power back, a home run in the last few games. Maybe what Joe is doing with Betemit giving him time and others DH’ing will start to pay off.
Shutup August 7th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Al From BK
stop trolling you’re obviously a Red Sox fan trying to stir some $*** up.. go home you loser.
are you watching him on MiLB.tv right now? Cuz i am and he’s inducing groundball after groundball..
And you’re not???
Wow, I never knew how close Jeter was to A-Rod and Giambi on the all-time Yankee homerun list. Giambi and A-Rod have been on the Yanks for 7 and 5 years respectively, and they’re nearing 200 Yankee homeruns. Granted, Jeter isn’t a homerun hitter, but you just have to laugh at that.
How do Phil’s mechanics look – does he have the 06 look going?
Jeter is a different player since the morons here said he should be traded during the offseason or dropped to 7 in the lineup.
Thank god for Meacham’s daughter.
A few days without ole windmill arm will be a bonus.
Poor Alex! This has not been his week.
Arod k’s on a good change up
Arod sucky right now – really sucky
he needs to get his sh&* together quick.
Come on A-Rod, don’t go O-for-Texas
Johnny shouldn’t even try to get on base. He’s a magnet for the GIDP.
Ian Nobody?
Umm yea. Trashing one of our better prospects. Smart.
“Matt – NYY fan in Boston August 7th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
If he threw harder when he was younger, than wow. He’s still only 22 yrs old and he’s on the velocity decline already?”
Hey retard. go back and look what I wrote. He isn’t “declining” in velocity, he chose to sacrifice velocity for command.. Which is something you saw in a guy named Justin Verlander.. Instead of pumping 95+ and not knowing where it went he chose to take something off his heater for the sake of command.
But I guess I wouldn’t think you’d recognize that bc you either know nothing about baseball or you troll Yankees websites b/c you have nothing/nobody else to deal with in your pathetic world hahaa
“Al From BK
stop trolling you’re obviously a Red Sox fan trying to stir some $*** up.. go home you loser.
are you watching him on MiLB.tv right now? Cuz i am and he’s inducing groundball after groundball..”
I am the troll I have never seen your name on here before today. I have been here for most of the season and I am on everyday. I am indeed watching Hughes on the MILB broadcast and he needs to work on his control in the major leagues those groundballs that he is inducing turn into line drives.
Moose should just walk the Cat.
Believe it or not that ties Jeter with Bill Dickey as the 12th most HRs (202) for a Yankee. He is 1 behind Roger Maris and 3 back of Dave Winfield.
Posada is 9th with 221 HRs.
“Just curious as to why you think it is a “huge, league wide problem†regarding African Americans in major league baseball.”
I personally care because I love the game and I want to see the best possible players playing it.
And just to give you some context on this issue – for years baseball was scared stiff that they were losing the interest of young people as a whole – regardless of race. Through a lot of the 80’s and early 90’s it seemed like kids as a whole were rapidly becoming less interested in baseball and more interested in football, basketball and soccer.
Football was replacing baseball as the most popular sport in the country.
For any sport – losing the interest of young people is a death knell. That’s not something I want to see.
Over the past decade it seems like baseball has righted itself. But it still needs to do more to attract the interest of kids as a whole. Unfortunately, this disconnect has been worse with african-american kids.
A big reason why people think African-American kids are playing baseball less is because they have no place to play. So it’s not some explicit choice they are just making. In a lot of city neighborhoods now there are no ball fields. There is literally no decent place to even play and learn the game.
As a fan of the game I think that’s terrible and only hurts the sport as a whole.
And baseball as an industry sees this as a huge problem. That’s why they set up the RBI Program to increase interest in the game in inner city kids. That’s why they’ve tried doing things like the Negro League Draft before this year’s amateur draft. Baseball as a business sees the lack of african american kids playing the game as a problem.
I want to see as many kids as possible play baseball and hopefully enjoy it. I also want to see as many kids as possible be able to learn the game. And I want the best possible players playing the game. That’s why I think the entry of players from latin america is great. Makes the sport better and gives kids from all over a chance.
GB out to ss to start 5th
A-Rod is terrible lately. He’s the softest 300 hitter I’ve seen in a while.
For those watching Phil, looking good?
CB,
Leave the lectures to some other sites. Most of us care about the game and Hughes and don’t really care about why black kids don’t play pro baseball.
Thanx.
Kinsler looks like those GEICO cavemen.
K for 2nd out of 5th
J-Z is a troll. you can tell because hes very defensive.
And he IS throwing sliders and curves
How am I a Red Sox fan for telling the truth he hasn’t looked crisp likely because he is coming off injury I didn’t say that he stinks and that Clay Buchholz is better how about u GTFO I am just trying to let my fellow fans know whats going on Phil isn’t a groundball pitcher he is a strike out guy and now hes mot getting those results it just fact.
Who said Hughes threw in the upper 90s?
He hit 97 when he was a kid in Charleston.. And he hit 95 in several games this year. Go check MLB Gameday..
Why are you so obsessed with his velocity anyway? You’re obviously a sad Bosox fan. As long as Hughes pitches like he already did LAST YEAR, I’m happy with that.. But I guess yuo’d rather have him throwing 97 mph fastballs into dugouts and giving up 10 runs per nine
“Hey retard. go back and look what I wrote. He isn’t “declining†in velocity, he chose to sacrifice velocity for command.. Which is something you saw in a guy named Justin Verlander.. Instead of pumping 95+ and not knowing where it went he chose to take something off his heater for the sake of command.”
And you were proven wrong by that. How is he sacrificing speed for command when his WHIP was 2.14???
You make no sense. And not one time did he dial it up to blow away a hitter. Like Verlander does all the time.
Use your nasty language and go troll someplace else.
No, I just did not know what you meant in your post. Out of curiosity, how fast does Daniel Cabrera of the O’s throw? Everyone knows he’s wild, but if he throws mid-90s than we could be ending up with someone like that (but with plus secondary pitches). Instead, we have Hughes who will be like Verlander, dropping a little velocity for more control, which I would rather have.
Pavano done
3 2/3rds 1 hit 0 er 2 walks 4k’s
“Leave the lectures to some other sites. Most of us care about the game and Hughes and don’t really care about why black kids don’t play pro baseball.”
This is a free blog and as long as he/she isn’t using profanity, they can say whatever they want. If you don’t like what he/she has to say, don’t read his/her posts.
Terry –
Is it that your computer doesn’t have a page down button or a scroll bar or are you just too slow to figure out how to use it?
If you don’t like someone’s posts – skip’em.
Gotta get that ball Cano, another one under your glove.
raymagnetic-
I understand that it costs money to build fields and play baseball in the inner city. That is probably why more intercity kids play basketball and football. Just like more kids in Montana (where I grew up) wrestled and played basketball because it was too cold to have high scholl baseball.
My question was why is this a “problem” rather than simply a demographic fact. Maybe its an opportunity for individul teams to exploit by setting up camops, etc but hard to do other than as charity given the US draft rules. That is why they are spending money on development overseas because identifying players at a young age is beneficial. Even if you consider it a zero-sum game which I don’t) why should we care or baseball care that poor Latinos are getting an opportunity that might otherwise go to a US inner city black, who has many other overall opporunities via sports, education, music etc anyway.
I hate when losers come on for one day just to call people trolls then leave and never defend their ridiculous accusations.
single to center. that is it for phil. now phil coke (the other guy who did not go to pitt)
Efficient DP by Moose, nice.
Great inning — 11 pitches
Nice double play!
Terry,
I responded to a question directed to the board and then responded to a question that was specifically addressed to me.
I was responding to raymagnetic and to Michael T. Not to you.
If you want to read a comment not directed to you go ahead.
But otherwise – don’t read my comments. Doesn’t bother me at all either way.
Phil Coke coming in for those who care.
J-Z is a blatant troll.
Names we haven’t seen before telling good posters on here what to write=Troll.
Seems to be a lot of them in here tonight.
Its that deadly combination of school being out and the Red Sox being off tonight.
J-Z you are the troll.
Question: What was Hughes’ WHIP last season when he wasn’t pitching with a stress fracture in his ribcage?
(Hint: It wasn’t 2.14)
Keep em coming though buddy. You realize the Red Sox have blog forums to go on too right?
In 2006 at Trenton 10 and 3 with a 2.09 ERA 116.0IPs 32 walks 138 K’s
So you’re telling us he took down his velocity to get some control??? He already had pinpoint control! He’s always had that. It is what he known for.
He’s never thrown hard. I respect you trolling in favor of Hughes but you don’t have the facts to back you up.
don’t bring hughes up until his strike out rate improves
Time to beat up on Corey Feldman!
Hughes pitching line update:
4.2 3 1 1 2 2 – 68, 40 strikes 9GO/3AO (responsible for man on 1st)
Lefty Phil Coke now pitching.
Another Nady hit
Alright lets put this one away early
“Names we haven’t seen before telling good posters on here what to write=Troll.
Seems to be a lot of them in here tonight.
Its that deadly combination of school being out and the Red Sox being off tonight.”
Great point. No Sux = more trolls in here.
I think Phil is still a few weeks away at best. Once he’s up this time, he needs to be up to stay. He’s not ready yet.
If the Yankees don’t make the playoffs this year, it’s not the end of the world. If they mishandle their greatest asset and do no better next year, that’s serious cause for concern.
I’m slightly amused but not very surprised at the amount of Hughes bashing going on in his 3rd rehab start.
another dp
That first pitch hacking is absolutely pathetic.
Unreal
Cano over rated like a mofu.. geese does this guy not get it
Petty name calling doesn’t change the facts, Ump Nice whatever Guy.
Hughes doesn’t throw mid 90’s.
Bernie mac up in a RBI situation I smell K.
Uh.. J-Z..
Hughes had good command as a prepster and he improved on it at each level of the minors. He began perfecting command in Charleston (that’s two levels BELOW Trenton smart guy)..
And by the way. He threw upper 90s fastballs and touched 100 while in high school. Go look it up if you like, but next time do some homework before you spend a Red Sox off day pretending to be a Yankees fan
OK?
Hey, another strikeout.
I just don’t know what to make of Cano. Maybe this is just a really bad year. But his approach is the same as it’s always been. But the results are not there, at all.
ugh, Betemit is always a strikeout waiting to happen. What’s his K rate?
That’s our offense! Making us proud!
For those talking about Hughes’ velocity, you should remember that the first spring training he attended Posada said he threw harder than anyone he had ever caught. This from a guy who caught Clemens and Johnson albeit late in their careers.
another SUPER managing job by Girardi pays off…..Don’t bunt Cano….Don’t even make him take a pitch….let him swing at the first one and get yerself a GDIP, BOY ! Y’all are sum smart Yankees ! NOT !
no championship as long as cano is on the team. this guy has NO PLATE DISCIPLINE! NONE! WHAT A LOSER
“Hughes doesn’t throw mid 90’s.”
This is something J-Z prays to be true. Not something he knows to be true.
Thank you and Good night RSN
We may look back at this second inning as the turning point. What a wasted opportunity. Feldman has a high walks ratio to begin with. Why not have him throw a strike? Pathetic.
Hughes pitches 90-95 when healthy, sitting around 93-94 with good command and a little movement. With his curveball, that’s plenty good.
I’m sure he’s thrown 95-97 in the past. But in short spurts. In any case, why bother arguing it?
raymagnetic,
Here are some of the teams that are probably considered to be the best drafting/ player development teams in baseball besides the yankees:
tampa
boston
dodger
angels
texas (more recently)
Just check out how many african american players any of these teams have drafted over the past many years.
How many african-american players has boston drafted? The angles?. The dodgers have kemp, loney and ethier – but just look at how many total african americans they’ve drafted. Even tampa – besides the kids they took with the plethora of top 5 picks they’ve had they havne’t drafted many african american kids either. Boston – forget it. They have the second or third best system in baseball and they have very, very few african american prospects.
It is an industry wide problem. You hear older players like Mays,Aron and even Gwyn and Winfield talk about it – and they all discuss it as a general issue in the industry.
CB,
When you’re comments take up full pages everyone has to see them. Send them an email.
I think it’s getting close to time to consider Cano a lost cause. That carry the team hot streak that everyone said was coming, just isn’t going to happen. He’s a fine talent, but a dumb hitter who takes terrible approaches at the plate.
I wish I could push an easy button and make the trolls go away.
The combination of Cano totally lacking any kind of discipline at the plate plus the fact that he has the most pathetic speed of any second baseman in baseball makes him overrated.
I don’t like the first-pitch hacking of Cano, but you can’t blame him for that one. It was really hit hard. So much so that the 3rd-baseman had to double-pump.
That inning is on Cano. Girardi needs to smack him upside the head with a maple bat and then with a water cooler until he understands that swinging at the first pitch is an inning killer.
Officially killed the Yankees rally. Thanks Cano, you can ponder your discipline during October when you are sitting around watching teams that made the playoffs.
CB-
Sorry to get you in trouble with the scolds. Iguess since the game starts we can only discuss such interesting topics such as how much we hate those rally-killing GIDPs in the 2nd inning.
Betemit almost has more K than total bases.
This team could do without Melky and Wilson.
Can’t believe I’m arguing with a Red Sox troll. I’m sure I’ll find “Nice Guy Ump” on the Sox blogs.
“Ron (Wants to Be One of Max Kellerman’s Much-Maligned Interns) August 7th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Hughes pitches 90-95 when healthy, sitting around 93-94 with good command and a little movement. With his curveball, that’s plenty good.
I’m sure he’s thrown 95-97 in the past. But in short spurts. In any case, why bother arguing it?”
AMEN
End of conversation please.
I love the people whining about Cano’s DP. Cano -smoked- that ball. Unfortunately, the 3B snagged it. If that was a weak grounder, it’s only one out, but he absolutely SMOKED it.
That’s a bad break, NOT a bad swing.
Matt — Betemit has struck out 41 times and walked just 4 times. He has 141 ABs. So, he’s strikes out a whopping 28.3% of the time.
Cano needs to be traded this winter while he still has some value. A .300 OBP is horrendous.
Deric McKamey of Baseball HQ and he said that past reports on Hughes’ velocity, as is often the case with pitching prospects, were greatly exaggerated. Deric said that he personally timed Phil Hughes while he was in the minors, and, while Hughes was able to touch 95 MPH “maybe a handful of times,” that Phil’s fastball was in the range of 89 to 92 MPH and that was “pretty much what he threw.”
JZ, your joking right? We all already knows your a RSN spokesman
What the heck is it with Marlon Byrd? This nobody has feasted on Yankee pitching.
Marlon Byrd can’t be that good.
I’m glad what Girardi is currently doing with Melky. He is now a 4th outfielder. Not only has Damon been playing CF, but also Christian is getting opportunities to hit and he’s giving other players a chance to get a 1/2 day of rest by letting A-Rod and Jeter DH.
And thank god for Abreu’s arm, held Marlon Byrd to 3rd
Hughes strikes me as a guy who will live and die with his superb breaking pitches and his fastball command. His fastball velocity really isn’t that important. He doesn’t have Joba’s fastball.
“Deric McKamey of Baseball HQ and he said that past reports on Hughes’ velocity, as is often the case with pitching prospects, were greatly exaggerated. Deric said that he personally timed Phil Hughes while he was in the minors, and, while Hughes was able to touch 95 MPH “maybe a handful of times,†that Phil’s fastball was in the range of 89 to 92 MPH and that was “pretty much what he threw.—
Did he specify how often/when this ‘timing’ occurred?
Some scouts I respect -very- well had him at 95-97 at the low levels, then 93-95 as he matured.
How is it that Texas’ .240 / .250 hitters can reach base??
Enough with the lack of African-American players in baseball. Maybe this disparity is caused by the massive amounts of young black men wanting to play basketball or football instead. I saw some statistics that said African-Americans represented over 80% of the NBA and over 65% of the NFL. I believe this change has occured because more and more boys growing up in the inner city prefer basketball and football because it is more accessible and more popular. That is my honest opinion think of it what you may.
DP!!
Another DP for Moose, even nicer than last inning.
Double Play, pitcher’s best friend.
I posted an entire statistical/analytical treatise on it last year, but we should get off Robbie’s case for swinging at the first pitch, especially if its a strike. The guy is frigging Roy Hobbs (.353 BA/.535 SLG) when he puts the first pitch in play and its downhill from there. He doesn’t hit better than that when he works a hitters count and is brutal (.352 SLG) with 2 strikes so whats the point? Bobby Abreu he ain’t. Hack away Robbie.
But not into DPs.
Another nice double play!
Moose getting a lot of ground balls
MOOOOOOOSE!!!!
Nice! Doing it the dangerous, Sir Sidney way!
“Enough with the lack of African-American players in baseball. Maybe this disparity is caused by the massive amounts of young black men wanting to play basketball or football instead. I saw some statistics that said African-Americans represented over 80% of the NBA and over 65% of the NFL. I believe this change has occured because more and more boys growing up in the inner city prefer basketball and football because it is more accessible and more popular. That is my honest opinion think of it what you may.”
It might have something to do with the fact that you can play hoops in a parking lot or football in a small empty plot, but need a bit more space to play baseball.
At least, that’s how it was where I grew up.
Keeping it down is the key to winning here. Good job so far.
“When you’re comments take up full pages everyone has to see them. Send them an email.”
Terry,
You really don’t know how to use a computer keyboard do you?
Scroll down. It’s the little arrow. Use it.
It’s a forum about baseball – I’ll discuss what I want.
In the meantime – skip any post that says CB.
That’ll save you the trouble.
Whiff, yes it is on Cano who habitually swings at 1st pitch. But we all know from LL that a manager can put on a take sign or at least coach him a bit between games about patience and situational hitting. That is on the manager, the same one who pinch hit Melky while pinch hitting Pudge. Unbelievable. Wish Donnie had gotten the job (and I didn’t think so last winter to be honest).
“It might have something to do with the fact that you can play hoops in a parking lot or football in a small empty plot, but need a bit more space to play baseball.
At least, that’s how it was where I grew up.”
I think that’s the biggest single factor. Baseball equipment is expensive and you need a lot of it. You need a ball and a hoop for a pickup game of basketball, and just a football for a scrimmage.
Hughes is a two pitch pitcher with an average fastball and a great curve that he can’t control. If he doesn’t develop his change and slider it won’t matter. He won’t be a good major leaguer pitcher anyway.
You guys bashing every fan that admits that Hughes is not Nolan Ryan with a better curveball are just making the case that Yankee fans are classless idiots. I don’t think that’s the case much of the time. But you aren’t helping.
Hughes can be a No. 1 pitcher. I firmly believe that.
Whiff/Waffle, you’re aware that Cano hits about .370 swinging at the first two pitches right, and his average after one strike is about .260. which one do you prefer?
The GIDP is such an enigma.
Do you hate it more when it kills the Yankees than you love it when it saves the pitcher, like it did right there?
Since I’m a high-scoring guy I’d swear off the DP on D, if I could trade it against the Yanks never hitting into one. (Of course, then we’d need more Jobas who can strike guys out and would have to get rid of Wanger entirely).
“a great curve that he can’t control”
Now this is blatantly false, and better describes Tyler Clippard than Phil Hughes.
Michael T,
No problems. You asked a question and we discussed it. That’s what this blog is for. That’s the good part of it – how people have discussions about baseball. There’s a lot of noise on the board but it’s discussing the game – and all of its different aspects that makes it worth posting here.
For those who say Hughes only has 2 pitches, should he be the set up man, like Joba was last season?
I believe Hughes’ role is a strter and will remain a starter.
Just think what the cost of golf is
McKamey did that in 2006. A pretty trusted scout from Baseball HQ.
From Jim Callis from BA:
Interesting to see Hughes confirm what I thought all along about 2006, that he wasn’t 100 percent physically and that led to decreased velocity. He pitched just fine anyway, of course. As for last night’s start, it’s one start, it’s early in the year, it wasn’t warm–I don’t think this means we saw what his velocity is going to be from here on out. And even if he sits at 90-92 mph, he has good life on his fastball, he commands it well–it will still be a good pitch. As for how well he maintains velocity in the long run, a lot of that has to do with how hard he works and how healthy he stays–hard to project with much accuracy at this point.
At least Kennedy gets to face Weaver.
Hughes could be a nasty set up man. If he doesn’t develop that change or slider he will be in the pen pretty quick. He doesn’t have the pure fastball to miss location.
“You guys bashing every fan that admits that Hughes is not Nolan Ryan with a better curveball are just making the case that Yankee fans are classless idiots. I don’t think that’s the case much of the time. But you aren’t helping.
Hughes can be a No. 1 pitcher. I firmly believe that.”
The people (trolls) calling Hughes the second coming of Brandon Backe are the ones being bashed, actually.
I see him as a Cole Hamels type, actually.
Cano had a bad break. He scalded that ball. It’s frustrating, but if that shoots into the outfield and loads the bases, none of you are complaining about Cano’s first-pitch swinging.
First pitch pop-ups are one thing. Hard grounders are another.
Feldman has thrown 40 pitches and 21 of them to Damon. Maybe everyone can take some pitches?
J-Z morphs into Dave NJ now. Sweet, two trolls for the price of one. BTW, who the hell is Deric Mcnamee..
Check out what Baseball Prospectus wrote about Hughes’ last rehab start.. BP uses scouts to compile their info and is a bit more credible than some moron nobody’s heard of who wrote a blogpost 3 years ago
“Philip Hughes, RHP, Low-A Charleston (Yankees)
Technically, he’s not really a prospect any more, but he’s still a young unproven player. Based on what Hughes showed on Saturday, though, he could be a factor in the post-season race. Once the top pitching prospect in the game, Hughes made his second rehab appearance since coming back from a rib injury, absolutely dominating Sally League hitters on Saturday, allowing one hit in 3 2/3 shutout innings while striking out five. More important was how good Hughes’ stuff was, as his fastball sat in the low 90s and consistently touched 94-95—the kind of velocity he showed frequently in the minors, but rarely with the Yanks. While neither he nor Ian Kennedy have played the expected roles at the big-league level this year, they both might come September.”
SOURCE:
http://www.baseball-analysis.com/article.php?articleid=7901
Whiff/Waffle, you’re aware that Cano hits about .370 swinging at the first two pitches right, and his average after one strike is about .260. which one do you prefer?
For his career or just this year?
either way I don’t care, it is poor hitting to swing at the first pitch unless you know you are getting something in “your zone”.
Guy who throws breaking stuff and cutters is not the person you swing at the first pitch when the two hitters before got on base.
And you guys have got to stop quoting career statistics when a player has been in the league for 3 years only. The first two years he was still new, not they have figured him out.
Texas pitching staff looks absolutely great against the Yankees. Full of Cy Young worthy candidates.
Neil, nice post there. Damon averages 11.5 pitches per at bat tonight; everyone else averages a little more than 2 pitches per at bat. Wow
“The people (trolls) calling Hughes the second coming of Brandon Backe are the ones being bashed, actually.
I see him as a Cole Hamels type, actually.”
Decent comp. Hopefully he doesn’t give up dingers by the bucketful. Obviously Phil’s not lefthanded, but Hamels relies on devastating offspeed and breaking stuff after he gets ahead with a good fastball and “get-me-over” breaking stuff.
Another point on Cano. His career slugging % with 3 balls is .378. On a 2-0 count its .442.
The risk reward for him taking first pitches just to “take a pitch” just doesn’t make sense.
can the trolls shut up now?
CB, Your postion on the state of baseball concerning the Black Ballplayer is very enlightening….Sometimes the simple truth is unsettling for those who choose not to see what is obvious……
Wow, Giambi just gave up on that. He had a chance but just gave up. That was a disaster waiting to happen
I think I’ll end this with Phil Hughes’ own words on it. Maybe that’ll put an end to the trolls.
“I never threw that hard, even when I was going good at Trenton (Double-A), I looked at the reports and it was 93. There were three times all year I touched 95,”
“It all comes back to command, command, command,” Hughes said. “It all stems from the command of the fastball. You have to make them put the ball in play, use two or three pitches.”
As for the slow start, Hughes pointed to the calendar.
“It’s early, if it’s August and I am having the same problems I probably wouldn’t be here,” Hughes said. “I have to pitch well and everything else will take care of itself.”
You guys realize that the average major league starter pitches more than 3 innings per start, right? I mean, the Yankees have never lit up a pitcher after seeing him a few times.
Can we just be happy with a win? I love stats as a way of analyzing the game, but I don’t need the Yankees to win every game 11-0. They need wins right now, no matter how ugly.
Mussina is going to win the Cy Young. He has been that good.
J-Z you just proved what that other guy said. He sacrificed velocity for “command, command, command,” haha
Waffle, That’s this year and in his career, it’s more of the same. You’d be the only one that would be happier with a .260 hitter that sees a lot of pitches over a .370 on a couple of pitches.
Whiff-
Since you asked, Robbie’s hitting does indeed suck in 2008 even when he puts the first pitch in play. But then again its only 76 PAs, and also sucke when he gets into a hitters count and pretty much just sucks overall in 2008.
lol the trolls are after CB now.
Suzyn Waldman just said that Hank Blaylock won’t be able to play 3B anymore b/c of a shoulder injury. They are going to look to trade him during the off-season.
So – do we want him to replace Big G? He’s making $4.8M this year.
Um, where was that?
wow – those two were there
lets just weigh the two reports here..
Some old quote from Hughes that’s a year old or a report from actual scouts from YESTERDAY.
Tell David Ortiz we all said hello
“So – do we want him to replace Big G? He’s making $4.8M this year.”
Hank Blalock is an average hitter. He’s been amazingly mediocre over his whole career, especially outside of Texas. I don’t want any part of him.
c’mon Moose
Yankees’ pitches never throw strikes according to that FSN tracker. On the other hand, Rangers’ pitchers always throw strikes. Absolutely amazing.
Also, from all accounts Hughes is anything but arrogant and overconfident. He’s cocky to an extent, but nothing remarkable. So he might not be the best to trust when asked how his stuff was. The scouts and the numbers tell the better story.
nice change by mussina to get out of the inning
Pat M,
Phil looked good tonight. Still not there completely – but given that it’s only his third rehab start after being out for so long it’s very, very encouraging.
His command wasn’t all there but that’s to be expected.
I’m cautiously optimistic that he getting back to the form he had before the hamstring and the rib fracture.
I still remember last year when you told me how an area scout had told you Phil was one of the five best S. California right handed pitching prospects he’d ever seen. One of the other five was Tom Seaver.
Phil’s going to be a good one.
How many more minor league starts before Hughes can join the rotation. Two?
TK, I would be wary of signing somebody to play 1B when an injury preventing them from playing 3B exists.
I could be wrong but signing somebody with an existing injury would not be what the Yanks would prefer. In a bind, maybe.
Moooooooooooooooose
Nice pitch by Moose, and now he gets HAmilton leading off a inning–which is much better than him hitting with men on base.
“Hank Blalock is an average hitter. He’s been amazingly mediocre over his whole career, especially outside of Texas. I don’t want any part of him.”
I just checked his numbers – basically 2 good years and the other 5 were below avg. I guess I just remembered him homering against the yanks a few times.
here the thing on cano, when he swings he makes contact and with a young hitter thats all you can hope for. he only strikes out 50 times a year, not 100+ like other young players
Don Drysdale was the other he acknowledged….I wish he had more time so I could have asked who else he had in mind…
“I just checked his numbers – basically 2 good years and the other 5 were below avg. I guess I just remembered him homering against the yanks a few times.”
I will never, ever forgive Joe Torre for allowing one of them to be a game winner in the 8th inning against Wayne Franklin.
dp arod, nothing new.
wow – real nice play there by MY
…
Wow, Alex hasn’t just taken lessons from Jeter, he’s schooled him.
Honestly what can A-Rod do? That’s a shot.
of course a rod hit into a double play… of course
A-Rod 0 for 12 4 GIDP this series
Rodriguez is simply awful
he should give back $1 mil for every GIDP. (If Jeter did that, he’d be broke this year).
ARod isn’t the same player he was last year.
What the hell is up with Arod. Whatever it is I hope it is out of his system bt the time we get to Anaheim.
Another DP ball squanders a potential rally.
You think A-Rod, being a former local – would be able to locate a slump buster.
Yeah that was really A-rod’s fault. He RIPPED the ball, it was right at the fielder.
another dp for arod god damn
and J shows his stupidity again on Rodriguez’ rocket to shortstop.
Hey Pete – has Arod commented on his crappy outtings so far this series?
he hit the ball hard…he didnt roll over or try to pull and outside pitch…it happens
Yeah, this is probably the worst stretch of games in Alex’s career. He’s been truly dreadful. That’s probably the hardest ball he’s hit.
It doesn’t change the fact that he’s been the only consistently excellent hitter on the entire team, and done a pretty good (if not great) job in the field.
A-Rod smoked that ball, get over it.
Michael Young made that play, how about giving the defense some credit instead of bashing our player?
A-Rod has double his GIDP for the year in 4 days. That was a shot he just hit.
O/T if anyone is upset about the African Americans playing baseball topic you can direct your anger at me since I started it. I can handle it, I’m a big boy.
my god… Arod has become Cano/jeter/posada….
See if he can’t be in the limelight he pouts… So how does he get in the limelight, start hitting like the rest of his team.
i will say this again, i understand that Arod is a good baseball player but the 30 million a year could benefit the yankees in so many other ways that his stat padding production could be replaced.
If the Yankees were down by 6 runs he would have hit a HR. if the yankees were up by 7 runs he would have hit a HR. But when a single is needed, he chokes.
Ok…I hate to do this, but I’m out of the loop and out of the state, with no game. How are the Yanks doing?
Additionally, is Pettite really missing a start? And is this Joba injury a future rotator-cuff tear waiting to happen? What’s the consensus?
Just curious, but are most of you people ripping him just there watching via Gameday?
Because if you actually saw that out, I can fathom why you would post in that manner.
“stat padding production”
Honestly, I prefer the stat-padding production of Alex to the no-production of the rest of the offense for large stretches of the year.
That field has to be like playing on concrete. This would kill Wang, pitching in Texas.
*can’t
the out was hard hit but he should know better than to pull a sinker.
are you guys seriously blaming a-rod for that DP?? I don’t think it’s possible to hit a ball harder then he did.. acknowledge the top 10 play that Michael Young did.. don’t jump on A-Rod for doing his job – hitting the ball real hard
Both teams are hacking away let its gettaway day (which it is).
Hey thats a couplet:
Let’s hack away,
Since its gettaway day
Who cares if he hit it hard? He hit it right at Michael Young. Young barely moved, it was a textbook double play ball. A double play is a double play, there aren’t good ones and bad ones because he hit it hard.
well Giambi didn’t fare much better. If Arod didn’t GIDP and popped out instead, Giambi would have ended the inning with a GIDP anyway.
Who is having a worse yr? A Rod or Cap?
Wil Nieves hitting .278/.327/.367 90Abs for Nats. Higher OPS than Cano, that makes me really sad.
I’m sick and tired of all this misinformation about Phil Hughes. Here is the true scouting report on the guy:
He has 5 pitches: 4 seam fastball, 2 seam fastball, curveball, change-up, slider. He throws his 4 seam fastball at 92-94 but he can touch 95-96, his 2 seamer sits around 91-92.
Hughes’ curveball is his best offspeed pitch but back in high school his best offspeed pitch was a slider. The Yankees made him stop throwing the slider to protect his arm but in 2006 they gave him the green light to start throwing it again.
Hughes’ third best pitch is the change-up. He hasn’t worked on it a ton but it is improving and is already probably an average offering with the potential to be above average.
The best asset Phil Hughes has as a pitcher is his plus command. Throughout the minors his fastball command was incredible. I believe one year he threw the fastball for a strike over 80% of the time.
I’ve followed this kid from the time he was drafted because for awhile he was one of the only legitimate prospects the Yankees had. He will be a very good pitcher in the majors.
Also just so you goofballs don’t think I’m pulling this stuff out of my ass, here is an interview from back in 2006 where Hughes talks about his pitches: http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/features/262427.html
“Don Drysdale was the other he acknowledged…”
Just amazing. Seaver and Drysdale. That’s some elite company for Hughes to even be mentioned in.
The angels came very, very close to drafting Hughes. In the end they decided to take Jered Weaver.
“Who cares if he hit it hard? He hit it right at Michael Young. Young barely moved, it was a textbook double play ball. A double play is a double play, there aren’t good ones and bad ones because he hit it hard.”
Sometimes you hit the ball well and get a bad result though.
Jeter is definitely having the worse year.
A-Rod isn’t having a bad year outside the DL stint, but after what he did last year, it makes this year look almost downright awful.
Jumping all over A-Rod is just like looking at a box score or an espn.com play-by-play. Michael Young made a great play and that is undeniable.
Angel I understand, but sometimes you hit the ball weakly and get a bloop double. It is what it is, a double play. No need to sugarcoat it.
Marlon Byrd thinks he’s Chone Figgins.
Marlon Byrd, absolutely amazing.
After tonight’s outing, does Phil have one more start before being called up ???? Yanks need a healthy & an effective Phil Hughes if they plan on playing in October…Truth is, Kennedy needs to come back to his Sept. 07 form as well…..They’ll manage to pull it off and make the Postseason….
No need to annihilate him for it either.
The baseball must look like a basketball to Marlon Byrd right now.
Good analogy Laura. This is ridiculous.
my friend explained it to me this way once which I think helps with the understanding of the whole black/white/latino debate. Inner city kids, more often then not, don’t have much money. All it takes to play football and basketball is the ball and people. Baseball you need more people, gloves, bats, balls…. Hockey you need more equipment (and per person, baseball you can share gloves and bats with the other teams).
“Marlon Byrd thinks he’s Chone Figgins.”
I was going to say Aubrey Huff or Millar.
A-Rod and Jeter are like the Kings of GIDP.
Jyust for you whiff since you love stats so much. (I also used 2008 only).
Arod OPS, game margin greater than 4 runs: 1.385!!!
Arod OPS, game margin with 2 runs: .875
So you have a point there. But the reality is that he has been simply very good in tight situations this year and has been absolute monster in blow outs. I’ll still take his production in close games relative the the rest of our line up though, including Captain Clutch’s sub .747 OPS overall.
BaseballReference.com. Embrace the power.
Strikes Moose
Neill, that has got to be in the running for “Most Ignorant
Post Of The Night”. You’ll need to do better because you have some tough competition.
We need to start doing that {running to avoid the dreaded DP}.
“Who cares if he hit it hard? He hit it right at Michael Young. Young barely moved, it was a textbook double play ball. A double play is a double play, there aren’t good ones and bad ones because he hit it hard.”
You’re a dope. Have you ever swung a bat? You can control the general direction of the ball but you can’t WILL it to avoid fielders.
“I was going to say Aubrey Huff or Millar.”
They usually get us with the long ball. This guy & Chone, not so much.
Weaver was a seasoned and dominant pitcher for Long Beach State and was MLB ready or real close….USC had their eye on him as well…He would have joined Ian ….Had he went to SC, he would have just graduated….I agree, he’s going to be very special….
GreenBeret7A
August 7th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Waffle, That’s this year and in his career, it’s more of the same. You’d be the only one that would be happier with a .260 hitter that sees a lot of pitches over a .370 on a couple of pitches
Huh? So every batter who takes pitches becomes a .260 hitter. Sorry i guess I missed something. I went back and i guess I did say that I would Love a line up of .260 pitch taking hitters versus free swinging hitters who have .370 averages. Seriously. it makes no sense.
But here is the question, if he is so good on 1st pitches, keeps swinging at them, why will he never see .260 this year?
A-Rod is great everyone. No one should ever say anything negative about him or his lack of production in the most crucial time of the season. Who cares if he hits into double plays, he is the best player ever and should never get any heat for coming up short in a big spot.
Chone Figgins, Millar, Jose Guillen, Aubrey Huff, Jonny Gomes, Alex Rios guys I wish could be sent to mars never to return.
Patrick TM – thank you for supporting what I was saying for 10 minutes on here. Bout time somebody else spoke the truth and showed that troll the door
Take a look at my comments and you’ll see what I’m saying
MOOOOOOSE!
Patrick – if I could tell the ball exactly where it should go, I think I would hit 1.000. A-Rod drilled that ball, you’re right, whoever said that a “dp is a dp” hasn’t played much ball
Dear New York Yankees offense,
It would be very helpful to Mussina if you could spot him a few more runs. Thank you!
Signed,
Frustrated Yankee fans
“Chone Figgins, Millar, Jose Guillen, Aubrey Huff, Jonny Gomes, Alex Rios guys I wish could be sent to mars never to return.”
TB sent Gomes to AAA so we don’t have to worry about him for the moment. Rios is having an off year so we might catch a break with him.
You people are so naive. Arod’s current woes are deliberate; he’s protesting Phil Hughes’ perceived lack of velocity. Get the truth to Arod and the results will be instantaneous.
Pat M,
I think he’ll need at least two more starts. Next time he’ll be up to 80-85 pitches and then I’d like to see them given him a 100 pitch start at AAA. Don’t want his first full game to be in the majors. Ideally he’d get 3 more starts but they may not have time for that.
They have around a 15-20% of making the playoffs mathematically – that was with Joba.
They’re going to need Hughes and Kennedy at their best. Kennedy especially – he was just fantastic last year when he got the call up. The talent is in their. Hopefully we’ll see it.
Brandon Laird is having a very nice season in Charleston. Really picking it up. I’m surprised to see him hit for that much power (little surprised to see him not hitting over .300). He’s turning himself into a legitimate prospect. I know you liked Ian Stewart more than Laird – but Laird has a shot to be a productive professional.
Yes, everyone should be overly critical of A-rod when he doesn’t consistently hit homeruns in big spots. What were we thinking?
weaver lackey and suanders vs the yanks. 2 out of 3 hopeful thinking?
Giese vs Lackey on Sat. Have you ever seen a matchup that one sided.
I’ve got a feeling that this upcoming LAA series is going to be brutal. The LAA & Minny series will either make us or break us.
Michael T…. good website. love stat geeks.
But – and i will look it up after I post this – but OPS can be raised by getting on base and still not driving in runs or even moving up a runner. So i need to see how he is with getting on base in tighter games and the results that come from getting on base.
While I agree with you that his production is better than Captain DP and the Whiff twins – free swinging Cano and Cabrera, it really comes downs to the perception that ARod is not clutch. That is unfortunate for him.
well thats is deja vu all over again
Nick: Post of the night…..
Did Cano just get a hit?
My God he took a pitch and then got a hit…. hmmm.. that will drop his 1st pitch batting average. What is Cano thinking. He does that 2 more times tonight he will become a .260 hitter instead of .370. What a dork.
Last time it was Rasner against Lackey.
Guess what?
We won that game.
“Captain DP and the Whiff twins – free swinging Cano and Cabrera”
Neither one of them has high K rates. Neither one has been hitting, but it’s not because they are swinging and missing.
Wilson is so brutal he makes Cabrera look excitingly efficient.
“Giese vs Lackey on Sat. Have you ever seen a matchup that one sided.”
Rasner vs Lackey at the stadium. I actually think Giese will throw a pretty good game.
Melancon just entered the game in the middle of an inning.
giese will be fine vs lackey. giese relies on deception and the angels swing at anything and everything.
“Chone Figgins, Millar, Jose Guillen, Aubrey Huff, Jonny Gomes, Alex Rios guys I wish could be sent to mars never to return.â€
********************
Add Garrett Anderson to that liat. He’s done serious damage to Yankee pitching forever.
Does Meacham have any more daughters he can marry off? How about some sons? Nieces and nephews? Can he start attending stranger’s weddings?
“A-Rod is great everyone. No one should ever say anything negative about him or his lack of production in the most crucial time of the season. Who cares if he hits into double plays, he is the best player ever and should never get any heat for coming up short in a big spot.”
What the hell kind of response is that? Someone disagrees with something you said, and you turn it around in to saying something that was never said, so it looks like what you said wasn’t unreasonable and silly to start with?
And that’s how you avoid DPs.
3rd time through the order hopefully they get to him
i hope melky starts all three games in la. that outfield is huge and we need a fast outfielder with a strong arm. any contribution at the plate will just be a bonus
Hey look! An insurance run!
add ortiz to that list
ARod’s is in a slump right now and hasn’t been very good with RISP.
That’s said he is not the problem with this team and he’s having a very good year.
He’s been the second most productive player in the AL this year. 43 runs better than a replacement level third baseman. Only Grady Sizemore has been better.
You can say statistics are misleading – but they cannot be that misleading. ARod is having a very good year. As good as last year? No. But last year he had one of the great seasons of the past 40 years.
http://www.replacementlevel.com/index.php/RLYW/comments/american_league_run_value_leaders_through_august_2_2008
“Melancon just entered the game in the middle of an inning.”
I assume thats a first, Patrick?
A 2-out RBI! Who knew something like that existed…
“Last time it was Rasner against Lackey.
Guess what?
We won that game.”
Rebecca, we don’t like your kind around here. Logical arguments are not acceptable. Stop making sense, its hurting my head.
Betemit is faster than I thought he’d score a lot more if he got on base more
thought bobby meachem was out tonight:0
Right call though.
Nice – Damon is locking in!
That run thingie is good. Get some more.
Read the SWB Yankees Blog (link on Pete’s site) for authoritative analysis of Phil’s start tonight from Chad Jennings.
Timmy Lupus – I was going to say the exact same thing – Raz vs. Lackey is worse then Geise
Wow, Betemit is actually pretty slow.
More please.
“I assume thats a first, Patrick?”
I’m not positive but I think so, yeah.
Yankee coaches were saying earlier this week they wanted to get him in a game in the middle of an inning a few times.
Bobby Meachum is out tonight.
It’s Tony Peña at third.
““Last time it was Rasner against Lackey. Guess what? We won that game.â€
The Lackey game doesn’t worry me. I’m more concerned about the Saunders game. Andy has been dreadful of late and Saunders is a lefty. The boys don’t typically do well against lefties.
Comon Jeter, those last two pitches were right down the middle.
jeter just deked a walk from the umpire
Ok, so agree with these Texas announcers. Enough with that redneck Farvera… farvv… Farve…
Graziano reports a scout had Hughes 94-95 in the first few innings. HUGHES IS BACK BABY
http://tinyurl.com/6yvmuc
Laura I though your started a blog I was gonna check it out… but I like the go yankees fake url lol
I assume thats a first, Patrick?
That means Melancon is a few days away from MLB debut.
This is the first time all season that Melancon is entering the game in the middle of an inning.
The last step he would need to take is pitching back to back games.
I’m looking forward to seeing Melancon pitch, actually. Almost as much as I was looking forward to seeing Joba and Phil first pitch.
I hope they don’t embarrass A-Rod by giving Bobby a free pass!
what does this say about the Yankees season.
Mussina and Ponson are their 2 best pitchers right now. Wow, baseball vortex of weirdness.
Like what Rebecca said earlier about the pitching match ups for the Angels series. They are so lopsided we probably would sweep….. just that kind of year.
I don’t follow football, but I have to believe that there is no way in the world that Favre is good enough to deserve the amount of coverage that he’s getting on ESPN. Is he paying them or something?
Is Melancon going to come back out.
Here’s what I hate about the way the umpiring is run – if Laird gets up and tells the umpire to get out of his face (because he was right in his ear there) Laird gets ejected and suspended probably 2-3 games…. the umpire – absolutely nothing
“Laura I though your started a blog I was gonna check it out… but I like the go yankees fake url lol”
Yeah, I got scolded yesterday for that by DFox. Something about me putting my name in bold because I think I’m more important than everyone. Pure nonsense.
“Graziano reports a scout had Hughes 94-95 in the first few innings. HUGHES IS BACK BABY”
That can’t possibly be true because J-Z didn’t see it.
(i kid)
abreu is really getting fooled by low pitches. have to watch that.
I meant to include – you go to the games/watch the games on TV to see the players, not the umpires
“That can’t possibly be true because J-Z didn’t see it.”
HAHA. well played sir
Favre is good enough to deserve the amount of coverage that he’s getting on ESPN. Is he paying them or something?
He got a secret Red Sox tat on his ass. Peter Gammons just reported.
It would be really nice if they could win tonight. I know personal milestones aren’t as important as gaining games in the standings, but I’d love to see Mussina win 20 games.
haha – Laura if that’s your reasoning.. i am more then fine with it
Love how Melancon attacks the zone. Health permitting, he could be the Mo successor in 2 years. And very useful until then. He is a fearless bulldog. No nibbling.
“I meant to include – you go to the games/watch the games on TV to see the players, not the umpires”
Angel Hernandez disagrees. And he has ejected you from your couch.
Moose only at 60 pitches.
How did Melancon do?
Ok, this could go down as the stupidest post of the night but I am just building off of what somebody else said:
I’m not hating on Arod but could you imagine if there were 2 outs, bases empty, down by a run and they walked Damon, Jeter and Abreu to get to Arod.
I think that would be the ultimate kick in the stomach.
“How did Melancon do?”
Strike out, ground out, 8 pitches, 6 strikes, 2 balls
I’m guessing he’ll finish the game.
CB, Brandon was a top tier HS player and the few times I saw him you knew he was going to be an upper level prospect as he had all the tools…That being said, Ian Stewart was simply an amazing talent….He pitched behind Kennedy in the rotation at La Quinta HS…..But he was pounded the baseball, his dingers cleard fences by 75 feet easily…He was sometning to behold as a prep player…By the way, Hughes faced him when he was a Sophmore at Foothill….Hit him, and then whiffed him the next two AB’s….
Heh, Ron.
My husband got ejected from one of those video baseball games for throwing at someone when he was pitching.
How do you tell the “umpire” your finger accidently slipped on the control?
Dear Yankees offense,
Thanks for the one run. A few more would have been nice, but beggars can’t be choosy. Keep up the “good, but not great” work.
Thanks.
Signed,
Still frustrated Yankee fans
Patrick: Thank you.
JoeT, I have no problem with what Drake did with Laird. He told him to calm down and keep his yap shut without ripping off his mask and getting in face. Others have followed players to dugouts and tried baiting them. Drake gave Laird a chance to back off.
LOL, they actually have two runs, Laura. I know its not much better than one, but lets not be shortchanging them when they’re so hard to come by at times.
i got to see pavano pitch tonight, here’s what i saw:
he started out great, getting ahead and throwing his fb and curve for strikes, struck out bronson sardinha with a nice curveball at 79mph. he broke off one 94 mph fastball but the rest were 90-92. he threw 26 pitches in his first 2 innings, 19 for strikes.
in the 3rd he began to tire after striking out the leadoff batter he seemed to tire walking one and throwing a wild pitch.
in the fourth, walked two more and his night was done. he left a runner on who kevin whelan stranded.
pavano’s line: 3.2 1 0 0 2 4 , unofficially 67 pitches. 39 for strikes.
“Marlon Byrd is 7 of 13 with six runs scored and four RBI in this series.”
I predict a 2 of 14 performance against his next opponent.
Another mediocre player that kills Yankees’ pitching, R. Vazquez
Moose is on Fire. He is dealing.
“LOL, they actually have two runs, Laura. I know its not much better than one, but lets not be shortchanging them when they’re so hard to come by at times.”
Actually, I was only referring to the run they got that inning. But yes, we should thank them for both runs because they are very hard to come by this season.
good to see arod isn’t letting his hitting effect his fielding
Man, the Cat totally owns Moose. Very strange!
cano should have had that one!
And yet another one under Cano’s glove. He doesn’t hit and now he’s not fielding either, that’s not good.
MOOOOOSE!
Wow Melancon just K’d some guy real hard to end the game hes really good.
WOW he made the toughest out in the majors chase crap
atta baby Moose!!!!!
Mussina is soooo good today!
Moooooooooooooooooooooooooooooose
GreenBeret7A – I agree.. that was handled the right way for the most part, he didn’t need to get in his ear though.. I’m a catcher, I do a lot of talking with umpires at times when no one knows except me him and the batter. That was more of a general statement of how it works with umpires, they are never held responsible while the player gets ejected, fined, and suspended.
Anyone watching gameday, what’s Mussina’s pitch count?
Any chance we can get another couple of runs against Cy Feldman?
ARod is up with no one on…he will:
a.) HR
b.) Single
c.) K
d.) Ground out
e.) BB
f.) Pop up
Girardi and Torre being Cano’s managers are really going to hurt his career. 1st and 2nd and he swings at the 1st pitch off the plate for a DP. In the field he has been a little slow or lazy for about 2 weeks now. Bobby Cox would teach him how to be a complete player.
Wow Young has looked awful at the plate with some ackward looking swings
b
Bet you all Alex has a monster series in LA.
“WOW he made the toughest out in the majors chase crap”
When did Albert Pujols start playing for the Rangers?)
Yikes! I can’t believe that A-Rod is going to leave Texas w/o a hit.
Congratulations Brandon on the correct answer…d
Here’s hoping Alex wakes up from his coma.
Greeberet7,
Who is the better prospect – Suttle or Laird? Which guy do you like? Suttle will also have to make it as a 1b if he’s not traded.
Moose at 78 pitches.
Not sure if you guys saw this, but here is a very good, and funny interview with Moose. Here is my favorite Q and A.
Q: Why don’t people go to Orioles games anymore?
MM: I don’t think fourth place every year really brings in the fans.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Answer-Man-Mike-Mussina-talks-New-York-Orioles;_ylt=Ajc8aWJjY4MTXppQ_DbAkLERvLYF?urn=mlb,99203
Daver
If the game is still in doubt. Pick any out off of your list, that’s what he’d do. If the game is out of reach one way or the other, choose HR.
Arod go home and come back when you ready to play. He makes me sick. DPs, pop ups..how useless. Maybe Girardi should sit him for a day or 2.
Yay offense, get Moose right back out there, he’s our star now! Hurry up X-Man, we want the Moose!
thanks Y’s guy – it sounds like he wasn’t as sharp as the line looks, hopefully that’s rust – i’m a fan of blowing out him arm to help us this year (not literally but use whatever we can out of him, and not get him ready for another team)
What kind of stuff does Melancon have??
has arod even hit the ball out of the infield in this series?
Somebody needs to send A-Rod’s offense to the West Coast. He seems to have forgotten it back home in NY.
“Wow Melancon just K’d some guy real hard to end the game hes really good.”
He’s really good. Really good. They yankees have a very special talent in Melancon. Just amazing he could come back from TJ like this – as good as it looked like he could be in college. It’s as if the injury never happened at all.
Good job guys, way to make their pitcher work and give Moose a breather.
When did Albert Pujols start playing for the Rangers?)
I was talking about Micheal Young
Alex should get one more at bat.
Magneto got the best of the X-Man.
Okay, that was lame!
arod hit a ball to CF to advance a runner last night I think.
Coke and Melancon got 9 outs tonight combined, and 7 outs were k’s.
“has arod even hit the ball out of the infield in this series?”
Yes
I never thought the Yankees would have such a hard time scoring off this crap rotation. Feldman – Mr. 4.86 ERA. Should I say Mr. Cy Young?
“has arod even hit the ball out of the infield in this series?”
He must have…I think.
CB: Think Melancon’s utterly untouchable at this stage?
BTW like I suspected Hughes has gone to the 06′ mechanics and it’s showing w/ topping out once at 96 mph tonight.
I love Melancon’s delivery it is herky jerky but has a great affect on hitters. I would save him for next season unless the Yanks get close in the division. If the Yanks are 10 out on Sept. 1 he should be kept at AAA IMO.
Let ARod get this out of his system now. Turn it on against Angels and Minnesota.
Give these guys a break–it’s like 96 in the shade out there.
Can this umpire please call a pitch a strike when it is a strike…
Arod – Giambi – Nady
0-3 with a K on what, 7 pitches?
This team’s offensive problems are as awful to watch as they are impossible to fix. We turn more awful pitchers into knockout aces than any other team in baseball.
Let’s call tonight’s act the “Two Run Tightrope”. It’s the act we ask our pitchers to perform night after night. The act where if they give up more than two runs, they lose.
We’re pitching as well as predicted (though without the pitchers we predicted would pitch). We are not even CLOSE to hitting where we should be. Can’t just get rid of Damon, Arod, Jeter, Cano, Giambi, Abreu etc…which means we will just have to suffer the whole year while they don’t change their approach and continue to fail.
What’s the hitting coach’s job again? Does it have something to do with the hitters approach to hitting?
Moose got Hamilton looking…love it.
Marlon “I’m going to go back to sucking against the next team” Byrd.
Scott, Nady has a hit tonight and Giambi has reached, though I don’t remember if it’s just walks or not.
Hank & Hal are nothing like the father. A vibrant George would be livid with A-Rod in his heyday and demanding that he get his money’s worth.
Marlon Byrd. LOL.
Man this Marlon Byrd is pissing me off.
CB, Suttle had the sexy name coming through the draft, but, I really like Laird playing first base, but, that bat is his ticket. Suttle struggled early with the bat and glove, but, over the last have of the season, he’s turned it around on both ends. If I had to pick, though, I’m going with Laird. I think Suttle could play both corners well, eventually. Just doesn’t seem to be a spot for him, though with Rodriguez holding down third base. Perhaps, by the time that Suttle and Laird are ML ready, Rodriguez would be conducive to moving to a corner outfield spot, probably left field.
Why not walk him? This is pathetic.
“What’s the hitting coach’s job again? Does it have something to do with the hitters approach to hitting?”
Dude, I’m 100% sure that Kevin Long is telling them not to swing at bad pitches, not to swing at first pitches and to try and work the count. Apparently, when they get up there in the box, they forget.
“I was talking about Micheal Young”
I know, I’m joking. But how is Michael Young the toughest out in the majors?
***last half of the season***
I hope he keeps on a hot streak, lol. I think the Rays see them in the next few days.
SWEET PLAY !
Mussina scared of throwing inside like Molina called and it costs him a double. It could of been fielded but ofcourse the Yanks have a statue at 1st.
That was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen.
That was a funky play.
Well, that works for me.
Wow, they are dumb.
This is unbelievable!! Mussina!
well theres a 2-5-4-6 double play
That was really sweet. Now can we just concede the top of the 7th and bring the Moose right back out there? Or maybe 3 quick check-swing comebackers?
web gem tonight.
The real idiot is the hitter trying to go to 2nd.
Beautiful. Just beautiful.
well theres a 2-5-4-6 double play
Defensive IQ HALLELUJAH !!!
Great heads up play by Betemit there.
RIDE, RIDE THE MOOSE…. YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE MOOSE!!!!!!!!!
wow that was bad baserunning
“BTW like I suspected Hughes has gone to the 06′ mechanics and it’s showing w/ topping out once at 96 mph tonight.”
Brandon you saw his mechanics tonight? If so, did he really lower his arm slot?!? B/c if you’re right than you just made a ton of Yankees fans happy Phil finally went back to the mechanics that made him who he is,.. Forget this overthetop tall and fall crap!
Nice play..Ofcourse you would only see that with a terrible team like Texas…
Rebecca
It’s not just Nady got a hit, or DJ hit a solo home run. Giambi was HBP in the first inning.
That’s not the problem. You watch alot of games, I do too. They do this every night. Every night it seems like if they need 3 runs, it may as well be 8 runs.
This is the same problem we have had in the postseason for the last couple of years. I’ve never seen it this bad in the regular season. Guys who we should be lighting up make our hitters look like fools.
Well, if we needed any evidence that the Baltimore game was an aberration, we’ve got it.
That was actually a pretty good pitch, Captains Corner.
“Think Melancon’s utterly untouchable at this stage?”
Yes. It’s very rare for a reliever to enter elite prospect status. But Melancon is very, very close to being that kind of talent.
They would only move him in a really exceptional deal – to get a Halladay. Something like that.
my mistake its a 2-5-6-4 dp lol
Well, I guess he shut up all of the “don’t swing at the first pitch, Robbie” people. LOL!
1st pitch swinging and a hit. Complaints anyone?
Long whispered to Cano, “Feldman’s looking cocky but tired, jump on the first pitch!”
Let me also say:
Thank god for Mike Mussina. He does absolutely everything right on the mound, anything that he can do to help himself win. Works fast, throws strikes, fields his position, is never caught napping.
Every one of our young pitchers should take note of how he does things.
Well, there’s three hard-hit balls. Always a good sign.
Can they actually score another run against this garbage pitcher??!!!
It was actually a 1-5-6-4 DP (Moose-Rodriguez-Betemit-Cano)
who else watches this on mlb.tv? the rangers fans are like a circus act….painted bodies, horse masks, superheroes….tacky.
Yeah, Pat, I do. It’s pitches taken that help win games…not hits. Everyone knows that.
Moose at 89 pitches.
Melancon has real dominant closer potential. I can’t say that about any other Yankee reliever, and I love the whole bullpen.
Evening all, just caught up on the posts. Good game tonight, I actually rested Mussina in my fantasy league thinking he would get hit hard in Texas. Guess I made the mistake that ESPN and all the Yankee haters have made, that 2008 Moose would turn into 2007 Moose. The double palys are helping, but man Moose is definitely impressing tonight.
i’m pooped. night – GO YANKS!
CaptainCorner
I am an optimistic Yankee fan. I am almost never a negative type guy but this offense is just wearing on me.
(naturally as I say this, the bottom of the order strings together two hits)
I was just checking some news and apparently some Swiss research lab built a particle collider and plans to show it later some time after a court dismissed a civil lawsuit saying that the device could destroy the world. The scientists actually had to argue a case and this would be funny if anyone ever read Angels&Demons by Dan Brown.
Defensively, Moose is the Greg Maddux of the AL
“who else watches this on mlb.tv? the rangers fans are like a circus act….painted bodies, horse masks, superheroes….tacky.”
The Texas feed is brutal. Thank God MLB Extra Innings is offering both. Of course, they are also offering the HOU/CIN game in HD. Who in the world needs to see those two teams in HD?
Can’t FINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNND a Betemit
Scott, next someone is going to hit into a DP, bet on it.
nice play by davis
molina made a mistake. rare.
Goodnight Sunny!
Yankees always find creative ways to suck with men on base. Absolutely horrible.
The clubhouse at PNC Field is a swanky place. A large oval room done up in Yankee blue and white, it puts some of the older big-league clubhouses to shame.
Big, cushioned recliners form a wide semicircle around a large-screen TV in the room’s center. And in the dull, rainy hours leading up to Thursday night’s game, the Scranton Yankees lounged and watched the PGA Championship.
Phil Hughes fits in here. For all that’s been said and written about him, for all he’s already been through, he’s still just 22 years old. He’s perfectly at home in the middle of that room, where teaching English profanities to Kei Igawa ranks among the most popular activities.
http://www.nj.com/yankees/index.ssf/2008/08/cityslick_new_york_yankees_kee.html
So Igawa is also being taught curse words in English? Oh fun.
Now he will know what everyone is screaming at him means.
Brandon did you see my question?
27
When I was reading your post I said “Wow, that sounds like Angels and Demons!” LOL!
Nice play by Molina….Yet another example of this team not getting simple things done to help them score runs…
they should have every hitter practice bunting every day. is there anyone on this team besides damon that can lay down a bunt?
Oh wow,lol.
man that was just awful.
27
I’d say that was prophetic but it happens so much that you couldn’t get odds on it at a casino.
Wish I could say I’m shocked, but I’m not.
Now that was pretty obvious. What a joke.
man how many dps have they hit into this series?
Pathetic..
“they should have every hitter practice bunting every day. is there anyone on this team besides damon that can lay down a bunt?”
Jeter.
“…some Swiss research lab built a particle collider and plans to show it later some time after a court dismissed a civil lawsuit saying that the device could destroy the world.”
Apparently Arod is under the impression that a hit with RISP could also destroy the world.
Wow. In a matter of about 30 seconds the Yankees went from 1st and 2nd, no outs, to being out of the inning. Funny how fast and unexpectedly disaster can strike.
kabballah is killing ARod.
maybe he should put a red string around his wrist and “use the force” more.
And now Damon wants to be part of the party – 1 pitch hitting = GIDP.
Jeter is going to rip some ass in the clubhouse that these guys are stealing his thunder.
Do you think that if we all agree to go out and buy a Ford Edge that they will stop showing that damn commercial??!!
add the rangers commentators to the annoying list.
Wow. That’s really something, then.
Now, I’m playing total Devil’s Advocate here, and this is NOT what I think they should do…
…but if they could trade for a young, elite bat like, say…Hanley Ramirez (yes, I know Hanley is not trade-able, but someone with similar talent)…with Melancon, and then sign K-Rod…
…Would they bite?
Just Devil’s Advocate here…
Now I don’t think I’m being pessimistic here the Yanks have to be in the top 3 GIDP.
Hey
It’s not unexpected. When there is a rally to be killed, the Yankee lineup will kill it.
Is there any chance we see Melancon this season?
Sorry, Laura, but, Jeter’s ability to bunt has disappeared over the years. He’s forgotten the difference between sac bunts and bunting for hits. Large difference in techniques.
Yea, about the article, the first thing that popped up in my mind was the book and the company in the book CERN is the name of the company that actually created teh device. That is why I like Dan Brown, fictional adventure with everythign else being real.
Still love the court case. I sue you because I think you are going to destroy the world.
Hey, anyone watch Pavano’s start? What was his velocity like?
Laura
But…he’s got an Eeeeedge…baby-by.
I swear, I hear that in my sleep. Every time I see a new commercial on YES I say to myself “I can’t wait to see that 1000 more times!”
Moshe, small chance but maybe.
What the heck is wrong with the Yankees’ offense. I’m tired of mediocre pitchers shutting us down like they’re Cy Young. The Yankees blow more opportunities to score runs than any team in MLB. I wonder if they need a new hitting coach. How many times do they have runners on first and second with one out and hit into a double play? It happens all the time.
What kind of stuff does Melancon have?
“That was actually a pretty good pitch, Captains Corner.”
Except the fact that the previous 2 pitches where in that same location…so hall of famer Byrd knew exactly where the pitch was going to be. That is why Molina wanted to change the location.
K-Rod wouldn’t sign with teh yanks because of Mo.
huby,
you think the offense is bad now…imagine with melky in there!
7 shutout innings!!!!
A-Rod should apparently have an opt out clause every season.
Brandon you saw his mechanics tonight? If so, did he really lower his arm slot?!? B/c if you’re right than you just made a ton of Yankees fans happy Phil finally went back to the mechanics that made him who he is,.. Forget this overthetop tall and fall crap!
It’s more a 3/4 angle and a drift slide step off the mound, like 06′ Futures Game. He threw alot of fastballs early and mixed get this the slider, he struck someone out w/ his change up, location was a bit raw but expected. He was squeezed at the plate but battled. He looks like he’s taking the mound w/ something to prove. Announcer had him topping out at 96 early. Two pitchers come to mind when I watch him Volquez and Cueto and he still has much more potential.
P.S. who told Bet he could field
Laura
A friend bought an Edge. Loves the car but regrets buying it because of everyone saying “Robin, she has an Edge” to her.
Jeter is going to rip some ass in the clubhouse that these guys are stealing his thunder.
With the DP’s they are just following the Captain’s lead
I’ve heard contradictory info, Moshe, about the likelihood of a Melancon promotion. On the one hand, I’ve heard the Yankees still consider him recovering from Tommy John surgery and thus would never risk him hurting himself by throwing in the majors. On the other hand, I’ve heard that the Yankees may reward him September with a promotion, especially if the bullpen could use reinforcements.
So you figure it out.
Pavano was throwing high 90’s according to the Scranton gun.
Corey,
I’m with you! The “Melkman” never delivers!
Byrd is killing us but Moose has shut everyone else down. By the way, anyone look at Moose’s numbers. Opp BA 1st time through .306. 2nd time .268. All others .240.
Stronger as the game goes on.
huby
It’s been happening all year. I don’t know what the hitting coach’s job is, specifically but I imagine it has to do with hitting.
He needs to go. That these perennial All Stars get shut down every two out of three nights is a disgrace.
I’ve never called for anyone to be fired before but if the pitching were pitching as poorly as the hitting is hitting, Dave Eiland would be history.
Moooooooooooooooooooooooooooooose
What a great job by him tonight
I agree on the Edge commercial……….make it stop!!!
PA, we all know that is not true.
We’re not seeing Melancon this year. The Yankees stick to their plans with these kids especially ones coming off major arm surgery.
In a post-George world I guess we need to learn not to expect anything in Yankee land.
pavano is pitching in trenton.
“A friend bought an Edge. Loves the car but regrets buying it because of everyone saying “Robin, she has an Edge†to her.”
Glad she’s happy with the car. I don’t see too many of them here.
We’re not seeing Melancon this year. The Yankees stick to their plans with these kids especially ones coming off major arm surgery.
Trust me we will.
im ready for a lineup of….
CF: Damon
SS: Jeter
RF: Abreu
3B: Rodriguez
1B: Giambi
LF: Nady
DH: Matsui
2B: Cano
C: Rodriguez
whens it happening?
Oh good another chance for an Arod DP….
“How are the Yankees 2-4 against this team again? ”
Pete, when you find out, be sure to let us know.
27:
One of my closest friends is a theoretical physics PhD student. He’s explained anti-matter to me, and basically, even a tiny tiny tiny bit of it could take out the world.
It’s pretty crazy.
“Texas has eight hits and a walk over six innings and hasn’t scored.”
Ranger fans, welcome to our world.
“In a post-George world I guess we need to learn not to expect anything in Yankee land.”
Maybe on the field but Cash made a bunch of moves so you cant say that the Yanks ares stagnating. Please no one bring up Johan he has been ok in the NL, not great.
Our season will eventually be in the hands of the Raja of Rehab.
Pinch me.
“CF: Damon
SS: Jeter
RF: Abreu
3B: Rodriguez
1B: Giambi
LF: Nady
DH: Matsui
2B: Cano
C: Rodriguez”
You’ve got Matsui too low. I’d put him behind A-Rod, followed by Nady and Giambi.
Bruney against the top of their order?! This 2-run lead does not feel safe at all. This has disaster written all over it.
Wow, Jeter started his slide wayyyy too early
Never seen a line-up with so many people who can get on base but can’t get runs in.Overrated.Hopefully next year we can get rid of the dead weight.
I’ve seen a few Edges here. They’re all out taking advantage of being able to use the Vista Roof while the weather is still nice, lol.
I dont know Laura….Matsui hits into alot of DP’s also…i think it would be good to not put him in cleanup
Well, at least ARod will need to hit a line drive that gets Jeter doubled off 2nd.
That’s harder to do, at least.
At least Bobby moved him up.
Bruney against the top of their order?! This 2-run lead does not feel safe at all. This has disaster written all over it.
Nope this is what they need it’s called building all around confidence in that bullpen. Our bullpen is going to be the most important part of our team.
Arod! This is your moment! A mere fly ball will suffice!
“I dont know Laura….Matsui hits into alot of DP’s also…i think it would be good to not put him in cleanup”
He does hit into his share of DPs, but I think that pitchers fear him more than they do Giambi.
Let me guess a ground ball in the infield or a pop up…..
Here comes the last chance for A-Rod to have a hit in this series.
c’mon arod nows as good time as any to get your first hit of the series
Think ARod is thinking “just hit a fly ball” here?
That’s all he should be thinking. In a close game, get the run in.
I guarantee he is thinking “drive the ball”
That’s the problem.
ESPN.com did an analysis about the best bullpens of contending teams, and the Yankees’ bullpen was 7th best, ahead of the Rays and the Redsox. Obviously the Angels were #1.
Yes! Getting this run in on a 2-strike count will only make it sweeter. The stage is set!
Alex Rodriguez got a big hit… just kidding.
Sigh….
So0o clutch.
If they were going to bring Melancon up they would have done it by now.
He’s on a program and will be an option next season.
he looks like Soriano in the playoffs this series
Alex can not get out of this state fast enough. Yikes.
A-Rod, so predictable, so pathetic.
Great job moron….When he is lost he look like Melky up there…2 pitches 50 feet off the plate.. He makes me sick…
Someone tell A Rod he can opt out after this year. He needs the motivation.
X-time boys and girls.
Alex should be embarrassed that they didn’t walk him, but IBB’d Giambi.
walking Giambi to face Nady…. Thanks Ron Washington!!
Arod, you’ve made a fool of me. The nerve.
Big hit Nady coming up.
K-rod strikes again.
he needs a batman cape or something.
Interesting move to walk Giambi here. R-L matchup even though the lefty is struggling, choose to pitch to the hot right handed hitter.
Hopefully Nady hasn’t drank the Kool-Aid that’s affected the rest of the team.
COME ON X-MAN!
We have our own K-Rod.
Hit the ball in the air.
Poor Melky. Relegated to pinch runner status.
Thanks guys for the responses. I hope he gets a shot in September. A-Rod looks awful. He is in a bad slump, which he is not allowed to have ever, apparently.
A-Rod is a complete joke.
Name me a time when he’s even got a hit in a close game.
arod never comes through.
Alright, Nady up in the late innings = a blessing
Now, Melky is the PR for Giambi. Either Damon or Nady will be out of here after this inning.
That had to be the worst AB by Alex all season… he chased the sinker inside and low, layed off the high pitch that would have given him a sac fly… Alex we don’t need a godd*** HR all we need is you getting ready for a high pitch mistake, not a low one.
I don’t think “slumping” is the right word to describe what Alex is doing.
It’s more like…run shaving.
“Think ARod is thinking “just hit a fly ball†here?
That’s all he should be thinking. In a close game, get the run in.
I guarantee he is thinking “drive the ballâ€
That’s the problem”
Ummm…isn’t driving the ball moderately deep to the outfield exactly what he’s supposed to do?
Now that is interesting and is just fascinating.
Pitch to ARod and intentionally walk Giambi.
this season is officially bizzaro world.
Or not.
I would have pitched to Giambi.
A-Rod looks like he’s reverted back to his 2006 self when he was striking out on breaking balls way outside in the dirt. Let’s hope he snaps out of it, or we are probably doomed.
The X-Man hath failed us. Sad.
Why did we sign A-Rod to a 10 year deal?
“August 7th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
walking Giambi to face Nady…. Thanks Ron Washington!!”
YOUR WELCOME!!
not a good combo. we didnt score that 3rd run, and bruney is coming in. bruney has been wild. not good.
A-Rod usually cleans up in Texas.
When we need him to start carrying us he retreats like a lil pup.
He is lucky these at bats aren’t at YS he would be booed off the field…Bruney in the 8th?!! Girardi is REALLY taking a chance. He has looked awful since coming back from the injury.
Hey, don’t get mad if we don’t score.
It *IS* Cy Feldman and Jamey “Big Train” Wright out there. Can’t be expected to push across much against them….right?
“arod never comes through.”
This is not a true statement.
Is there a worse situational hitter who bats clean up?
How far out was that pitch Alex k’ed on? They’ve all got the book on Alex.
Poor Jeter. Now he knows how lonely it is on the basepaths. Left out in the cold.
And the comments get sillier – which is quite an achievement.
Bruney? Giardi is f-ing nuts.
Bruney, here? Why? Has he warranted that kind of trust or confidence the 2nd time around? No, he’s still too susceptible to walking runners.
What’s wrong with using Veras here? He’s been the most reliable reliever.
veras cannot go 3 days in a row..
he faced 1 batter yesterday.
arod is a total wreck.. this is the detroit playoff series all over.
I cannot believe how bad arod is playing..
bruney, just pray……
This year is proof that A-Rod can only hit on a contract drive.
He buckles under any pressure except money. Someone tell him there are greenbacks on base and he’d get a hit.
I don’t like this Bruney decision. Prove me wrong Brian.
“He has looked awful since coming back from the injury.”
Again, another false statement. He has looked awful of late. He wouldn’t have 20+ HRs if he looked awful since he returned.
“Is there a worse situational hitter who bats clean up?”
I mean, I know you are new to baseball, but there’s a reason David Eckstein doesn’t bat 4th.
Ron
All he needs to do is hit a fly ball. A popup gets Jeter home, he knows it.
He’s thinking “Drive a line drive to the gap, hit a home run”. It’s obvious by the way he swings. He does not adjust to the situation. When all you need is a single, he’s still swinging as hard as he can, trying to hit the ball hard somewhere.
It’s all about approach, and ours in general(specifically, ARod’s) is terrible.
Rebecca,
For an elite bat I could see them moving melancon, in theory. The issue there is the perceived value of minor league relief pitchers. It’s not that high. Teams want to trade for starters. That’s why the yankees sent Ohlendorf down and had him start – so they could showcase him and show that he still could start.
In that sense I couldn’t see Melancon being the first player in a major trade. He’d have to be the second player – in this sense I think his value in keeping him would be higher than trading him as a minor leaguer.
Bruney is a guy I think they very well could trade for a bat this winter. Bruney, Scott Patterson, TJ Cox, Stephen Jackson, Anthony Clagett – I could see some combination of them getting dealt this off season.
You know, when Girardi pitched Farnsworth in a 2-1 pre-Wang-injury game in Houston, we were all biting our nails, and Farnsworth came through.
Just sayin’, is all.
““arod never comes through.â€
This is not a true statement.”
OK Laura…when was the last time we got a key hit from ARod?
I really can’t remember.
Bruney did his job.
Here comes Marte
Its extremely hard to find guys who are clutch and we just happen to have a team of 25 non clutch guys.
stuart please rage about that multi millionaire a-rod.
Laura
Just a question:
How many of ARods home runs have come when the game was within two runs, either way? Any way to find that out? I’m guessing if he hit 20 home runs that 18 of them had no affect at all on the game.
Well, mixing and matching isn’t normally how you play it in the 8th, but whatever works…
Wow, Arod is in one of those slumps where he’s just lost at the plate. Completely got himself out by swinging at two pitches not even close to the strike zone. It amazes me what a head case he is. How can someone with so much talent not be more confident.
Like whom, CB, any ideas? Holliday is the only guy who immediately comes to mind and the Yankees can’t afford to trade prospects for him b/c as a Boras client he wouldn’t forgo free-agency.
“He is lucky these at bats aren’t at YS he would be booed off the field”
Because that would relax him? Booing a guy who is too tense to start with may make you feel better but it’s not likely to get the result you want.
As soon as A-Rod gets 2 strikes I completely lose confidence in him. You can tell he is pressing and putting too much pressure on himself. He has reverted to his back to bad habits of chasing balls out of the zone. Oh well.
arod 1 out man at third 41%… The best player in baseball.
I forgot it is a small sample size and a statistical anamoly not that he tries to damn hard..
the yanks should hang a sign in the lockerroom.
“No need to try to be a hero, just play “….
Also, notable clutch A-Rod hits:
-Walk off GS in April of ‘07 vs the O’s
-Walk off 3-run homer in April of ‘07 vs Cleveland
-GW solo homerun in a 5-5 game (at the time) vs Jon Papelbon in June of ‘07
-Walk off 2-run homer in June of ‘06 vs Atlanta
I can remember some others, but those just come to mind.
If Girardi wants to play his best defensive team late in a close game that’s reasonable.
But I have no clue why that means removing Nady from the game. No idea.
Abreu is the defensive liability in the outfield. Over the course of this year he has deteriorated into a horrible defensive player.
Nady should be playing right field and Abreu should be on the bench if you want to play defense at a premium late game baseball.
“Again, another false statement. He has looked awful of late. He wouldn’t have 20+ HRs if he looked awful since he returned.”
Nor would he have a .300+ BA.
Need more fact smackdowns here, apparently.
Marte in the 8th again…Can’t he prove that he can get people out in the earlier innings before he is used in the 8th inning?!
“OK Laura…when was the last time we got a key hit from ARod?”
To me, all hits are key hits. But if you are asking me when was the last time A-Rod had a hit that won the game — it was several games ago. He had the go ahead single in a game; can’t remember the opponent.
After reading the reports on Melancon tonight, when does he arrive in the Bronx….I have to believe we’ll be seeing him in September…
“Laura
Just a question:
How many of ARods home runs have come when the game was within two runs, either way? Any way to find that out? I’m guessing if he hit 20 home runs that 18 of them had no affect at all on the game.”
10 of the 24. Shut up.
no one on base, 2 run lead – Bruney could’ve faced the lefty
CB: Thanks for that response and not ripping my head off
Craig
It has nothing to do with his pay scale. It has everything to do with our cleanup hitter hitting .220 or so with RISP.
I wouldn’t care if he made the league minimum. The production he has given from the spot in the batting order is unacceptable.
“How many of ARods home runs have come when the game was within two runs, either way?”
10
“I mean, I know you are new to baseball, but there’s a reason David Eckstein doesn’t bat 4th.”
Actually it was a pretty straight forward question. Cleanup is for the RBI hitters. Like supposedly, Mr Rodriguez. Most of the time it is situational hitting. Like say man on 3rd and 1 out. When you need a ground ball or fly ball to get him in. You know. Plating runs. You know. The point of the game.
Let me know if this is too hard for you, Ron. Max Kellerman doesn’t deal with nimrods like you.
Man, Marte has some nasty breaking stuff.
Catalanatto had no chance…
Joe G sure does like his new toy.
Can somebody please give me one good reason why we shouldn’t flip Jeter & A-Rod in the 2 hole and cleanup spot. A-Rod has twice the steals Jeter does, his OBP is 70 points higher, and his RISP AVG is 70 points lower. It might sound counterintuitive to have Jeter (or Nady) hit cleanup, but what really doesn’t make any sense at all is why all the high OBP guys that can’t hit in the clutch hit in the middle of the order, and the clutch guys hit 1 & 2. Girardi should be fired for playing this Torre lineup one more day. I would practically give my right arm to see a new lineup it is driving me crazy eddie insane.
“OK Laura…when was the last time we got a key hit from ARod?
I really can’t remember.”
Also known as a characteristic of the garden variety what-have-you-done-for-me-lately Yankee fan.
I’m just wondering when GI Joe sees Alex swinging w/ a man on third, what is he thinking w/ the results… is he saying to himself..geez can this ****er give us a flyball and stop trying to hit the top of the fence or is he thinking damn nearly got that..or is he thinking good AB get em next time or is he thinking should I bench him tomorrow ?
P.S. I’m never buying a FORD EVER EVER EVER EVER !!!
DRob might pitch the 9th hmmm…
“Craig
It has nothing to do with his pay scale. It has everything to do with our cleanup hitter hitting .220 or so with RISP.
I wouldn’t care if he made the league minimum. The production he has given from the spot in the batting order is unacceptable.”
Then stamp your feet and yell until your throat is raw. We still won’t care. And Alex will still be signed through 2017 or so.
Oh “The Edge” is the name of the car that Jeter has. Wasn’t that the name of a guy in U2 also?
i have seen that jeter ad a million times now. why cant they put another ad?
Girardi should tell A-Rod the score is 7-1 when he’s up.
He is sure to homer.
CB, you don’t think that they’d move Veras before Bruney? Personally, between the two, I’d keep Bruney, but, that’s why I’m the GM behind a monitor and I still haven’t received my paycheck from the Steinbrenners. Do you think that they are trying to tell me something?
I left you a response at 9:59 PM to your Suttle/Laird question earlier, if you haven’t seen it.
“How many of ARods home runs have come when the game was within two runs, either way? Any way to find that out? I’m guessing if he hit 20 home runs that 18 of them had no affect at all on the game.”
It’s possible, but how does that diminish what he did? I don’t understand why people are so quick to throw away his hits that didn’t win the game or weren’t walkoff HRs. Since when is A-Rod singularly responsible for this team winning games?
It is unfair to hang every loss on his head just because he makes more money than God. He is not the only person failing in clutch situations.
IMO, the entire team is to blame for their horrible, horrible, horrible hitting this season. Not just A-Rod. All of them!
Ron
Lets be a little more specific then?
Of the 10 HR that have been within the two run barrier either way, how many came after the 5th or 6th innings? Hitting a solo home run in the 1st inning to go up 1-0 is not exactly a big spot in the game, ya know?
A-Rod’s having a really, really bad series. Get over it.
I guess we’ve become that fearful of Frankie from LI. He has killed the Yanks, I grant, but he’s hardly a power threat.
Interesting decision by Girardi.
I swear to God, if I ever have the opportunity to regulate the cable industry I’ll ban every corporation from running an identical commerical more than a set number of times during a single programming.
Three things I’ll never buy because of being inundated with their commercials during Yankees broadcasts.
1) A Ford Edge
2) Heineken Light
3) A Jaguar (That Hush commercial)
“You morons. SJ44 is at least honest.”
Umm, just so you know, a lot of us like reading what SJ has to say on things. Some of us are even mature enough not jump all over him for posting stuff we don’t necessarily agree with, because we’re mature enough to accept anothers point of view.
the thing with Arod is he is 32 has been in the majors for 13 years has he figured out when you try to hard, grip to tight, etc. you never get the results.
Baseball is a game that you cannot physically overpower things…Trying to hit a HR never works….
The good news is if they win with the Arod disaster that is good news. The problem is if he is a disaster is for to long they will not be able to overcome his slump.. He is too damn important to these terrible offense….
We may need a new left side of the infield. Age has caught up to them.
Matt
Yankees bullpen #7. I think they were 2nd in AL about a week ago before the bullpen started giving up runs and were horrible in 4 out of 5 games, starting with the Rivera loss.
“Wasn’t that the name of a guy in U2 also?”
Dave “the Edge” Evans is U2’s current lead guitarist.
“Ron
Lets be a little more specific then?
Of the 10 HR that have been within the two run barrier either way, how many came after the 5th or 6th innings? Hitting a solo home run in the 1st inning to go up 1-0 is not exactly a big spot in the game, ya know?”
Your ignorance is breathtaking. If the Yankees win 3-2, and A-Rod hit a three-run homer in the first and struck out with the bases loaded every other AB, those three first inning runs still made the difference.
another run or 2 would be nice..
Nice at-bat by Cano, 9 pitches and gets a double.
Robbie so earned that.
Signs of life from Cano.
Ca-No, Can-Do.
Brandon – D Rob was warming up in case Young and Hamilton reached to finish out the 8th.. def not the 9th
Nice at-bat there by robby, earned that doub
One hell of an at bat by Cano right there
Never gonna buy a Ford, never. Ever.
A double!! Now we can go 0 for 3 with RISP in this inning.
There is middle ground here.
Yes, Arod is a good hitter and has helped this team win games. But also Yes to the fact that he is slumping badly and struggling mightily with RISP.
why does it have to be all or none? To deny either statement is just false.
Scott, Rodriguez has 10 homer and 39 RBI with the score of 2 runs or less…285 average.
Cano puts together a good game.
awesome AB by Robbie
This team is a big laugh.
Cano taking more pitches then getting a hit… WTF!!!!!!!!!
I’d keep Veras over Bruney any day of the week. He has much better breaking stuff and is not as dependent on locating his fastball. When Veras is off, he can still be wildly effective. Bruney does not have that going for him. His location is off, you are in a lot of trouble.
…
And then ruined it.
bad base running by cano
That is the second time that Betemit hit the ball to the pitcher. You guys want to complain about A-Rod; what about that loser? He’s wasting a roster spot.
KS,
Good question. I think a lot of it depends on what happens the rest of this season.
The team that I’d like the yankees to make a trade with is Milwaukee. The yankees and brewers match up well and the Brewers bullpen is terrible – horrendous. The yankees minor league relief depth would have to be very attractive to the brewers.
The issue there is that the brewers are going to lose both Sabbathia and Sheets this off season. And the Sabbathia trade right now could be a disaster for the brewers – if they don’t make the playoffs that becomes a horrible trade. So I think the brewers may need to trade hitting for starting pitching.
Another team is the cubs. If they don’t win the world series good chance it will be due to their bull pen.
In the AL I could see the yankees and Tigers putting together another trade. Just guessing but I think the tigers would/ will consider moving Carlos Guillen for relief pitching this off season. Not sure if I like him at first base for the yanks.
…and it’s completely wasted. Didn’t he watch Byrd do that like 20 minutes ago?
“UPDATE, 10:37 p.m.: The addition of Marte really changes the way Girardi can use the bullpen. Marte seems best suited for situational work, at least based on what we have seen so far.”
Only if you take the past two weeks as the end-all-be-all of what a guy can do, instead of, I don’t know, his entire career.
is this a contest on whom can be dumber and more incompetent offensively???????
LOL
Always creative when killing rallies! That’s our ‘08 Yankees!
To the Steinbrenners-
Before it’s too late you need to consider moving back the wall in the outfield to make the new Yankee stadium a pitcher’s park. This would allow our young staff more room for error, and force some of our overpaid hitters to not swing for the fences!!
ok now that I have never seen
How many chances to score an easy run can the Yankees squander in one game?
LMFAO, wow. Mistake
Well that was certainly textbook base running.
all youngsters watching…. that is how you keep yourself in scoring position.
Alex is hitting something insane with the margin greater than 4 runs (.412/.474/.922). But that’s really just a creation of the sample size.
Alex also has his highest OPSs by inning in the 6th and 7th. There is no real reason that he doesn’t hit well in the 5th or the 8th. It’s random. Completely and utterly random.
Cano really should be traded in the off season.
rangers make a bunch of stupid plays
bizarro baseball
We’ve seen some very interesting plays all night. Can’t say that these Rangers are boring.
I don’t think anyone is denying he’s been struggling lately, RSM. Its just the amount of people who are arguing the other point of view, are so silly in some of their comments, that it doesn’t even become about acknowledging that he’s not had a good series anymore.
Arod 0-14 in this series. If there is a time to be clutch UUUMMMMMMM it might be know?
“You morons. SJ44 is at least honest. He’s not a homer with blinders on. You’ve got to be a fool to not see that this team has problems”
It is impossible to agree with you because you simply disregard the fact that everyone who posts here is 100% aware that SJ44 labeled the Yankees season as “over” and that they should start rebuilding TWO MONTHS AGO. DO you realize how dumb that looks now?
It’s one thing being realistic, it’s another thing labeling a team as done with months left in the season.
OK, I have never seen that before. Never.
My head is spinning.
ok now that I have never seen
I did that to someone in H.S.
cano is again a retard.. last night argueing before he makes the play.
his base running.. he is not a smart chap……
this game is not for watching, ugly…….
now
You really can’t blame Cano. I mean how can he be expected to see that the pitcher had a play at third while his head is completeley inserted up his @$$ ?
Facts
A-Rod can’t hit with RISP
Cano is clueless and lazy
Melky should never get 4 at bats a game
Seriously does Cano have any brain what so ever? He really has the brain of an absolute moron. I am sure yet another play that Girardi wont say anything to him. Has another player on the team made as many bone headed plays on the team without the manager EVER taking him out of the game or calling him out for it? It is pathetic already. Too bad Bobby Cox is not the manager of this team. Cano would know EXACTLY what he did wrong when he did it.
Everybody can relax, Mo is coming in for the 9th and its NOT a tied game we got this!
Ron
I’m not trying to start a fight with you – calm down.
The point I’m trying to make is that when ARod hits home runs, they generally do not directly affect the game result.
You listen to Max Kellerman – you hear him talk about “high leverage situations”. Well, in high leverage situations, ARod does not hit home runs. He did last year. He hasn’t this year.
To answer my own question:
5th inning or later home runs that brought the game within two runs either way:
3 – all came in the space of a week in June vs. KC and Houston.
Every other home run he has hit – 21 of them – either came when there was a lot of game left to play, or the game was 3+ runs either way after he hit it.
“Cano really should be traded in the off season.”
He was running on contact, blame Pena on that since Meachem is away. I’m sure you would have done the same thing of you were the runner
“That is the second time that Betemit hit the ball to the pitcher. You guys want to complain about A-Rod; what about that loser? He’s wasting a roster spot.”
He’s still better than Miguel Cairo. And Enrique Wilson. And Luis Sojo, most years.
And Cody Ransom, who failed to stick with the Giants, is the best alternative.
As long as he doesn’t embarrass himself in the field, he’s on the roster.
Do you also want Rodriguez’ numbers when he’s chewing gum on the right and left sides? Look the numbers up yourself or quit complaining.
“Cano really should be traded in the off season.”
Cano is going to be a great baseball player. I think that the Yankees are going to stick with him to see that pay off.
Outside of Mussina’s gem this has been one truly ugly game.
How many tack on opportunities have we blown tonight?
I have had a bad feeling about the bottom of the ninth for some reason.
cano would have scored on that damon hit
“You morons. SJ44 is at least honest. He’s not a homer with blinders on. You’ve got to be a fool to not see that this team has problemsâ€
I guess you’re objective when you call the team dead and buried in May. The way not to be a fool. Say the teams dead when they are now 2 games out of the playoffs!
SJ has some good points now and again but he is also someone is wrong a lot. More often than not actually.
Hey, Jeter can’t GIDP here!
I almost wish the Yankees were losing this game just to see the reaction of some of the morons here. The way most people sound you would think the Yankees were down by 15 runs and A-Rod made 6 errors in the game.
Come on captain
I’m gonna laugh if Betemit makes another player look stupid tonight.
JM, do you realize who our closer is?
Time for Jeter to GIDP to move ahead of A-Rod this series.
Oh, there are two outs already!
…and when Derek can’t GIDP, he knocks in an RBI.
Here’s hoping (however vain) that he’s not hurt.
oh joy – another person limping… he looks alright though, so back to NICE SHOT JETER
Man, can this game get any uglier? Moose has been just about the only watchable part of this game.
the base running has gotten worse if that is possible!!!!!!
Jeter looked safe to me.
Heh, a Jets update:
Though they are currently losing 20-17, the Jets scored their 2 touchdowns on 70 and 71 yard TD passes from Brett Ratliff to David Clowney.
lol, Just felt the need to do that
These guys should be ashamed of themselves. They’re ‘only’ winning by 3 runs in the 9th, with the BEST CLOSER IN BASEBALL in the bullpen.
What a bunch of lazy, crappy, baseball players.
A bunch of morons on the field tonight.
Scott
A-Rod is slumping- no doubt. He hasn’t hit well with RISP this year- true.
But, do RBIs in the 6th inning or later count for more than 1 run? Why are they more valuable than RBIs before the 6th inning. I said it the other day and I’ll say it again. I like my runs early.
To be fair:
If I were the Rangers – I would look at 3 runs in the 9th inning vs. Mariano Rivera as needing 8 runs.
Whenever I watch other teams and they make bone headed plays you ALWAYS see the manager talking to them about it as soon as they get in the dug out. No matter if it is a young player or older..how come the Yanks NEVER do that? I cant understand it. Cano is allowed to do whatever he pleases you would think he is Babe Ruth…
More great base running by the captain who must be sleeping..
Betemit gets a reprieve from me just for somehow not getting doubled up in that odd play and eventually coming around to score. You da man, Bets!
In other news, I blame CM Wang if Jeter is really hurt, he should have cautioned the Captain about the perils of hurting one’s foot while running the bases.
Jeter really runs the bases bad. Not the same old Jeter base running.
GB7,
Thanks so much for the take on Laird and Suttle. I haven’t seen them play – but just by gut feeling, numbers and reports I’ve read – I agree with on Laird over Suttle.
Suttle’s future with the team would obviously have to be at first base. A lot of people were projecting him as having to move to first anyway – didn’t think he was athletic enough/ had the lateral mobility to play third.
Don’t know if Suttle would hit for enough power to be able to hold down 1b at the major league level.
Laird on the other hand – I think he’s getting to where you can feel like he’d hit enough to be a plus 1b (which is a tall order given how good an average 1b can hit).
I like Laird a lot. We talk about 5 tool prospects – everyone loves them – but in the end its the bat that matters and it looks like Laird has that.
Concerning Bruney and Veras. At this point I think there is very little comparison between them. Veras IMO has much better stuff. I think they will trade Bruney this off season. Now the interesting issue with the two players you’ve mentioned is that Veras might have much more trade value. The reason why – I think that some second level teams would be interested in Veras as a possible closer.
Teams will give up a lot for a potential closer and Veras this year has shown that kind of stuff. I wouldn’t want him closing for the yankees – but for a team with pen problems – I could see them wanting Veras. He’s already much better than a lot of closers in the game.
So I could see them moving Veras over Bruney just because of the return he could bring back. Not sure if that would be the case – but it’s possible.
The ball hit by Betemit was off the mound and hit to the right side of the infield. The pitcher stretched and snared the ball almost past him. Cano was also running on contact. whine about something else.
Even if Jeter hurt himself on that play, he’s not going to say anything. He never does. The guy could be bleeding profusely from a gash in his head and he’d be looking to play.
I am still astonished at how impressive Mariano’s K/BB ratio is. 12:1 entering tonight, which is just insane.
“Melky should never get 4 at bats a game”
Unfortunately with the Angels speed you will see Melky mucho this weekend
This idea that Cano is lazy is silly. He apparently works very hard on his game. Just because he looks smooth does not mean he is lazy. It’s a silly assertion.
I really don’t think Jeter understands just how slow he has become…He has zero speed and his legs seem to really beat up. Every time he slides or does anything hard he gets up slow and looks like he is hurt. He got old and slow extremely fast…
That was the first time Byrd hasn’t gotten a hit in his professional career. That’s how good Mo is.
“UPDATE, 10:52 p.m.: Another briliant play by Jeter. By making the final out of the inning after the RBI single, he allows Mo to get the save. What leadership!”
Hahahahahahahahaha Pete
Marlon Byrd, you have officially met your match.
Well, I was hoping for 3 of 4, but with Joba getting bombed and then hurt, I’ll take this. Treading water is better than drowning. We’re still in striking position. Just need another big winning streak.
I was shocked when Rivera walked to the mound. From the posts tonight, I was under the impression that the duo of Aaron Heilman and Scott Schoeneweis were going to attempt to save this game tonight.
And Mariano closes out the series by improving his K/BB rate to 12.2/1
“Every time he slides or does anything hard he gets up slow and looks like he is hurt. He got old and slow extremely fast…”
What he got is injured. I’ve been saying this for weeks; I think that Jeter is injured and keeping mum about it. Dumb move on his part, but predictable.
I like what I’m seeing here, folks.
I heart MO!!
Lets go ahead and idk, maybe win game 1 AND a SERIES!! in LA!!
Pick up that half game on Boston… very nice
OH THAT WAS SWEET TO SHUT OUT THE RANGERS !!!
A win is a win. At this part of the season, they don’t have to be pretty, they just have to be wins.
Here’s hoping Seattle can pull one out.
We won! Yay.
Pat
LOL – of course I understand that a run is a run. I think about it this way.
If ARod hits a solo home run in the 1st inning, how much affect does it have on the game? Doesn’t the other team have 27 or so outs left to score? What if they score 10 runs in the 1st inning? Did ARod’s home run really matter? The story of the game is 10 runs, not ARods solo blast.
If Arod hits a solo home run in a close game, late in the game, it’s a big run. Either giving us a little breathing room (making 2-0 into 3-0), tying the game or getting us within “bloop and a blast” range. Story of the game, ARod home run.
That’s why I think late runs “count” more. They affect the outcome of the game more directly. Like I said, I agree a run is a run, but some runs mean more. A run at Yankee Stadium in the 11th inning is pretty valuable…no?
Of course, that includes that the game is still on the line. A solo home run in the 8th inning when down 10-0 is a pretty pointless run.
“A win is a win. At this part of the season, they don’t have to be pretty, they just have to be wins.”
Yup.
And that will do it. Nice way to close out yet another Mooseterpiece. It feels good to have won these last two and stave off a true disaster.
“In other news, I blame CM Wang if Jeter is really hurt, he should have cautioned the Captain about the perils of hurting one’s foot while running the bases.”
Okay, that made me laugh.
Thank god the pitching was able to walk the tightrope.
Moose – What else can you say. He’s been a godsend. I hope we bring him back.
Mo – score 3 runs off him? In one inning? In a save situation? Yeah….right.
Off to Anaheim boys! We roughed up Weaver last time out, lets do it again!
GO GET EM!
Is Damon the only player who will talk to Kim Jones?
“A win is a win. At this part of the season, they don’t have to be pretty, they just have to be wins.”
How is a shutout not pretty? Does it get prettier?
Thought.
Ken Singleton & David Cone are a great TV commentator combo. Insightful and neither are full of themselves.
J-DAWG
Moosterpiece – LOVE IT!
Great job Moose!
We could have easily won 3 of 4. Still optimistic about this road-trip, despite of Joba’s injury.
Everyone stop your bitching. We won the game.
A win any time is good.
I think the Yanks have about 10 shutouts on the year.. That is a big total.. There pitching is often real real good or disaster not a lot of middle ground.
Watching Mo is a treat people..
the yanks refuse to use Veras 3 days in a row even if he does not pitch complete innings.. Veras or Marte need to be the 8th inning guy… Bruney, ramirez, robertson, etc are 7th inning or earlier…
Pat M,
If the yankees are in the race Melancon will be on the team.
An issue working a bit against him is the 40 man roster problems. Melancon is not eligible for the rule V draft this winter. Putting him on the 40 man means you have one less spot to protect another player who needs a spot. There is very little excess on the yankees 40 man now – Igawa, Karstens, Steve White, etc. are all off the 40 man.
If they aren’t in the race i don’t think they’ll burn a 40 man roster spot on melancon this season.
As it is they will lose a good pitcher in the rule 5 draft – just not sure which one it will be.
Just think. 3 days ago most of the idiots here were saying bench Jeter.
Lesson #1. Be patient and never lose faith.
Anyone have any later details about Pettite? Some reports say he has an issue with his left arm.
BTW not sure any of you are aware of this but whispers about Yorman Rodriguez could have an agreement already in place w/ the NY Yankees. Nothing official until his August birthday (I think) when he turns the legal age under International signing rules (so if this is true Tabata’s replacement is on his way)
Guess what? This season is really, ironically, still going to depend on Hughes and Kennedy. If they can perform like the end of last season, maybe we can catch the wild card. Joba should be back in time for the playoffs if we can just get in.
Thanks for your response, CB. Suttle will never make anybody forget Ron Santo or Brooks Robinson at 3rd base, but, he’s become pretty steady the last half. Hard to say whether he’ll be a big thumper in the order, but, he’s a damned fine line drive hitter and gap hitter. At bat, maybe a Youkilis type swing and the walks should come. That whole lineup is aggressive with the bat.
As far as moving Veras or Bruney, two places I’d try is Colorado for Atkins or Brad Hawpe. Of course, a package to Houston for Berkman or Pence would be my preference, but, I doubt Cashman has any pix of Drayton McLane and that stewardess, so, I’ll send him some.
“Ken Singleton & David Cone are a great TV commentator combo. Insightful and neither are full of themselves”
Agreed. Very enjoyable listening to them tonight. First game in a long time I didn’t get annoyed, even once, with the commentary.
Our new slogan: Ponson and Moose or they’ll cook our goose.
the reason we are not saying to bench Jeter is because he has played good the last 2 nights. his defense has been good all season..
Mo threw 8 pitches in the 9th…
The Yankees success is tied to kennedy nd hughes and i have more faith in hughes for obvious reasons… get at least 1 in Anaheim would not be the end of the world, 2 would be real good, 3 (never happen) would be insane…
Re: Singleton and Cone
I like Singleton a lot. Cone is funny and is pretty astute about what’s going on in the game. The guy I really enjoy is Flaherty. He always seems to know whats going to happen right before it does.
They are an enjoyable crew.
Nick,
Last year we had a cocktail game. I think you just described a Grey Goose and Moose.
Considering the very bad season Mussina had last year, his performance this season so far has been quite impressive.
Melancon another good outing at SWB.. The guy has a low 1 ERA.. struck out 3 in 1 and change innings..
this guy is ready for the big show, please a Sept callup………….
What is the eval on Phil tonight???????
Brandon,
I hadn’t seen that on Yorman Rodriguez. Knew he hadn’t signed but I didn’t think the yankees had anything rumored in place with him. Where did you see that? Supposed to be very talented. We’ll see. I trust the international stuff less and less.
CB there just whispers right now, but where there is whispers it’s something going on. I hope we do.
Moose is the team MVP.. This guy is Houdini.. He is a godsend without him they are toast…
He is actually our best pitcher, that statement is unbeleivable…
Melancon was terrible tonight. He walked a batter. That won’t get it done in the majors.
Nick,
Grey Goose and Moose? mmmmmm…
Thirded.
I still want to see Paulie and Cone alone in the booth.
It makes you wonder if Mussina has pulled a David Cone and made a deal with the Devil for one last hurrah.
As of right now, August 7 2008, we have exactly zero pitchers for the rotation next season that aren’t either coming off an injury, question marks, or both.
We can pencil in Wang and Joba, although we don’t know what his innings situation will be until we see what really happens with him this season. So really Wang is it.
Moose + CC makes that situation look a lot less depressing, doesn’t it?
mel, I don’t have any Grey Goose, I’m more of a single malt whisky guy. Which isn’t really a summer drink, but of course all I see is fog out of my window and it’s cold outside, so it’s wintery enough. I’m tempted to pour a dram and enjoy it with my last Moose Bar.
But then I won’t have any left!
O/T, but I think that Santana should’ve insisted that he would only go to the Yankees.
Ouch, courtesy of espn recap:
It was the sixth time in 24 starts this season that the bullpen cost Santana a potential win, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Five of those collapses came in the ninth inning. The two-time AL Cy Young Award winner has eight no-decisions, and in seven of those he allowed two runs or fewer.
Moose for cy young!
“Our new slogan: Ponson and Moose or they’ll cook our goose.”
Funny… but Yikes. Who would’ve thunk that at the beginning of the season?
Interesting note on Hughes tonight. He wasn’t throwing a slider – he has scrapped that pitch.
Instead he’s developed a cut fastball – which is the pitch he threw tonight that looked like a slider.
“Hughes no longer throws a slider, having scrapped it in favor of a cutter. Hughes said the slider was a 78-80 mph pitch, perhaps too close in velocity to his changeup, and the cutter comes in around 88 mph. He used it with some effectiveness as a strikeout pitch tonight.”
http://www.nj.com/yankees/index.ssf/2008/08/phil_hughes_wrap.html
LOL Enlightening postgame with Moose….
Moose: I didn’t have my best stuff tonight
Q: How did you get it done then?
Moose: I don’t know. Got outs when I really needed them.
only 3 games back of the BoSux…believe me….they are the only team that matters….in 5 weeks…Tampa will be toast….like TOTALLY TOAST….Book It, Dan-0 !!!
Given that Hughes has Mo and Andy to help him with the cutter, it’s a good pitch to learn
Pat: I liked
Q: Do you think about 20 wins?
A: I don’t think about it till I get to 19. If I get there.
LOL they still going w/ this google/glasses excuse
Andy Sonnanstine out dueling King Felix in SEA.
CB, do you think a cutter is a good idea for Phil? He would have the master in Mo to learn from……
“It is impossible to agree with you because you simply disregard the fact that everyone who posts here is 100% aware that SJ44 labeled the Yankees season as “over†and that they should start rebuilding TWO MONTHS AGO. DO you realize how dumb that looks now?”
i can imagine you don’t agree that, at that point, it was very easy to go either way on that statement. there was a time where a lot of us thought this team was better off being a seller.
hell, we might look back at this season and say that they still might have been better off.
people say what they feel at certain moments of the year. it’s not dumb. it’s reality. right now, i think the changes they made were good. they also weren’t major, bust-up-the-system-to-win-now changes either.
there’s a lot of SJ hate on here and, to me, all it sounds like is a bunch of pure haters. the whole bunch of you have got nothing on the guy.
it’d be nice to actually, you know, come on this blog and see folks celebrate a victory for once.
great job by Moose tonight. nice to see Bruney back. nice to see the real Robbie Cano continue to shine.
Melky looks miserable as a pinch-runner. let’s hope he gets the stroke back at some point. can’t imagine that kid wearing another uniform.
CB,
Wow thats pretty interesting about Hughes and a cutter. It makes perfect sense though with the change in velocities. Its not a huge deal considering its his fourth pitch but I’m interested to see how the cutter looks.
“Andy Sonnanstine out dueling King Felix in SEA.”
And the only run is on a wild pitch.
if pettitte’s arm is tired, and it’s effecting his performance, i’m not sure why they wouldn’t just give him the extra day off. is there really that big a difference between kei igawa and the andy pettitte we’ve seen the last two outings? and, trust me, i know how awful that sounds. i am not an igawa fan. far from it.
nice to see the ever-selfless a-rod helping to douse the flames of the “jeter stinks” fire by turning in one of the most laughably bad four-game series in recent memory. just putrid.
good for mussina. i was certainly among those who thought he was done. i was dead wrong.
the trisha/SJ44 thing is a joke, right? i mean, nobody’s really tattling to pete on other posters, right? because that’s kind of silly, isn’t it?
“CB, do you think a cutter is a good idea for Phil? He would have the master in Mo to learn from……”
I don’t think its really that big a deal because its his fourth pitch. Also a cutter is basically a mix between a fastball and slider so its pretty similar to his old slider anyways. Like you say though, Mo is a good teacher and has the best cutter in the majors.
If Hughes has the kind of fastball (velocity and command) that he had in 2006, along with his great curve and good change, he should be fine.
The Mariners really are a disgrace to offensive baseball…no runs not even a sniff of a threat off of Cy Sonnanstine???
Man, the Mariners are soooooo bad.
kasey: I wish I could say with 100% certainty it was a joke.
CB, that cutter has got to be easier on Hughes arm. I’m wondering if he’ll be working on his curve ball, to go with 2 fastballs, cutter and changeup.
Thanks, Patrick!
I can’t wait until Phil solidifies his change so that it’s a successful pitch for him. He’s a work in progress, but I just truly believe he is going to live up to his advance billing and be a stud. We just have to be patient.
Balentien with a leadoff 2 bagger.
Also Adrian Beltre has had one of the worst performances I’ve ever seen. He’s struck out on a 54 foot change, a fastball above head height and has been lazy in the field.
Betsy,
I think it’s a very, very good idea. A cut fastball can be a devastating pitch – as yankee fans well know.
Some guys just have a feel for it and can learn it fairly quickly – so it’s definitely worth a shot.
If Hughes is one of those guys and does have that feel for the cut fastball that would give him potentially a third out pitch.
When a pitcher develops a third out pitch – not just a good complementary pitch – but a true out pitch – he’s got a terrific repertoire. Three out pitches becomes very tough to deal with for hitters. Not saying Phil’s cutter is an out pitch – but if it develops that way that’s the final tool Phil needs.
Even if it only becomes a solid secondary pitch it’ll still be extremely valuable.
The thing I like about it most is the logic behind it – we focus a lot on velocity but perhaps even more important is a pitchers ability to generate differences in velocity between pitches. If you can vary your fastball and breaking pitches by 15mph doesn’t matter so much whether you’re throwing 96 or 86 on your fastball. That’s what’s made Mussina so successful this year.
So part of the thinking here for Phil’s development of the cutter is actually a way to set up his change up better. That suggests to me that he is serious about integrating his change up more regularly into his pitching arsenal when he returns to the majors. His change is a quality pitch – he just hasn’t had that much confidence in it – tough to develop 3-4 pitches by the time you are twenty.
If the cut fastball works – it could be an enormous step forward – both for itself and for the way it helps him throw his change more effectively and more often.
Here we go Cairo pinch hitting with runners at the corners and 0 outs.
Tampa Bay at the end of the day on 9/17 will be 81-69….with 8 of their last 12 games ( including their VERY LAST 8 games ) on the road…..
.
They finish 85-77 for the year and will NOT be a factor…
.,
wait for it…
.
BOOK IT, DAN-0 !
rebecca,
i hope it was. i mean, i’ve certainly had my differences with people here, but i can’t remember the last time somebody threatened to “tell pete” on another poster, especially one like SJ44. i mean, this is a guy who is repeatedly asked for his opinion on stuff and, for the most part, posts civilly and informatively. certainly, there are a few exceptions, but i can’t see why telling somebody to “take their meds and chill” warrants that reaction from trisha. that seems a bit much to me.
but that’s just me. maybe the suggestion of medication is a touchy subject or something.
either way, i’m sure there’s a way to settle it without anyone having to tattle or take their ball and go home.
all of that aside, the news about pettitte is a concern, whether he makes his start or not. the last thing this team needs is andy injuring himself while trying to be a hero out there. missing one start is no big deal if it means he heals up a bit. i’d hate to see him hurt himself on sunday.
M’s tie it up with the Rays!!
and by the way, to those who haven’t seen the mariners yet this year, welcome to baseball in the northwest!!!
Melancon has pitched 4 times in AAA including tonight:
7.2 IP, 2 hits, 1 ER, 2 BB, 9 Ks, .091 BBA.
I’d say he’s looking pretty good!
Did anyone answer: what kind of stuff does he have?
I finally have internet again so I can wow you all with my insight.
In this case I’m going to repeat myself. Moose for MVP! Pitchers should be in the running for it more and I really don’t see anyone else who jumps out as a lock. I know every wants to have Hamilton’s babies, but the whole team is producing (offensively) above league average. Moose is THE reason the Yankees still have hope.
kasey, to take trisha seriously is a silly move that you will learn from….now Vito…that dude’s a TRIP !
“Tampa Bay at the end of the day on 9/17 will be 81-69….with 8 of their last 12 games ( including their VERY LAST 8 games ) on the road…..”
To have that record they would need to go 13-24 (including tonight) until then….I’m sorry but it ain’t happening. They have still managed to win with a horrible offense and a poor Kazmir run of starts.
i just got back from watching the game else where. This is Pete’s last post?
“UPDATE, 10:52 p.m.: Another briliant play by Jeter. By making the final out of the inning after the RBI single, he allows Mo to get the save. What leadership!” Is he kidding around?
Now I’m a critic of Jeter but he’s been great the last two games.
I’M RIDIN THE JETER BANDWAGON BOYS!!
Kasay, sometimes I disagree with SJ44 and he makes me nuts. But everyone with a brain realizes that this blog is great because of guys like him, not the ones who go woo hoo after every hit and “zomg he stinks” after every out. it is sad that people rip him.
C’mon ICHIRO!!
Bombshell….mark this down on your calendar…it WILL happen….they are a “rabbit” that is due to start fading NOW and fading fast…..If you don’t think that TAMPA BAY can go on a 13-24 run, then you are in for a nice surprise ( assuming you are a Yankee Fan, friend ! )
kasey,
How’s the music gig?
What is this? High school? So much drama!
GB7,
Agreed on the cutter. Adding back a slider can be tough – potentially long relearning curve. Cut fastball just sticks with some guys as its just a variation on the fastball. But if it clicks – it’s a career maker by itself. And as you note – less stress than the slider. I was kind of hoping Kennedy would add a cut fastball when he was in the minors and working with Chaves.
Be good you Putz!
Hey, guys – are the Yankees transforming Phil Coke into a reliever long-term?
Rays will score at least three here
Vito I watch every single Rays game either taped or live since I live in Tampa…I have to admit they play tremendous team baseball. They do not make rookie mistakes even though a lot of these players are not experienced, they hit in the clutch when necessary, they have put together some kind of bullpen and have 3 dominant starters (one of them has been bad lately and yet still has great numbers). They will not fade anytime soon unless 1 thing happens: the bullpen falls apart. Guys like Balfour, Miller, Howell have overachieved and may either wear down or feel the pressure. But right now I don’t see a stretch of .350 baseball for a month in them. They’re legitimate.
1 down
That will hurt for a couple of days.
mel,
thanks for asking. the music gig is good right now. it allows me to avoid having much of a “day job,” which is nice.
we just finished up a quick west coast tour, i’m doing a few solo NW shows, and then we’re going back into the studio next to make the third record, which i’m pretty excited about.
from there, who knows. but i’m enjoying things right now while they’re going reasonably well.
“Did anyone answer: what kind of stuff does he have?”
Melancon’s stuff is actually sort of similar to Hughes. Fastball sits 92-94 can touch 95 occasionally. But his out pitch is his curve ball – throws it very hard, high release point and it’s an absolute hammer – 12 to 6 with a sharp downwards break. That’s his weapon. He also has a very nice change up. Not many relievers have a good third pitch – but he has one.
And he has tremendous control and command in the zone. That’s the thing that really makes him a potentially great pitcher.
So far he’s been as dominant in AAA as he was in in A ball earlier in the year. That’s a very good sign. No trouble adjusting to better competition at all.
Great victory for Moose and the Yanks tonight!
Question about tomorrow night:
Was Kennedy the only option? Who else could have pitched?
Just seems like a tall order to ask Kennedy to pitch against the best team in the league for his first game back…
But it certainly will do wonders for his confidence if he succeeds!
Let’s Go Yanks!!!!
“Did anyone answer: what kind of stuff does he have?â€
From what I’ve seen, a mid 90s fastball with decent movement and a power breaking ball that fools hitters from both sides. He also pounds the zone and has exceptional control of both of his main pitches. He’s gonna be good.
Kasey,
Trisha started w/ the meds talk:
Game 111: Angels at Yankees
trisha – I am a Sidney supporter.
08/03/08
1:32 pm
“SJ44, time to get on your meds if a post is going to upset you so much dear! . . . .”
Think he used trying to needle her. . looks like it worked.
Man, Putz sucks!
“are the Yankees transforming Phil Coke into a reliever long-term?”
He’s approaching his innings limit – that was the reason for putting him in the pen now.
But given his stuff – I think they will seriously consider giving him a spot in the pen next year.
If they bring Marte back (which I’m almost sure they will) then Marte and Coke could be a very nice combination from the left hand side. Coke’s stuff has really blossomed and if his slider is as good as people are saying – and he throws it really hard (87-88) he’ll be very tough on lefties.
I’m very happy that Pittsburgh rejected Coke and Kontos in that deal. That might work out as a huge benefit next season.
oh, putz has been awful and injured this year. hate to break that to you guys.
mel: oh, such the drama! I think much of the tattling ends in middle school, except for the highly-developed drama types.
big K of Floyd…. one more out
c’mon Putz
Putz works in and out of trouble…3-4-5 for the M’s in the 9th.
another big k!!
Putz may be awful but at least he slithered out of that.
Also, the Mariners seem to have a nice field reporterette!
GoYanks you went all the way back to Aug 3 to find a post from trisha?
I think you have bigger mental problems than SJ44!
Since he’s had a horrible game so far I’ll call a Beltre walk-off bomb.
Don Vito,
Was someone impersonating you the other night? I only ask because a poster by the name of Don Vito A. Bellamo was demonstrative talking about how the Yankees would not make the playoffs. Now it didn’t sound like something you would say, but that Don Vito A. Bellamo from the other night posted multiple times about how the Yankees would not make the playoffs. You do understand my confusion, no?
august 3! wow. that’s digging.
whatever the case may be, i hope it gets solved and SJ44 keeps posting. i look forward to reading his posts, along with CB and a few others.
kasey,
Good to know. It’s a tough business, kind of like being a starving artist. So if you can survive, then that’s success right there, doing what you love.
Did you move out of the gloomy Pacific northwest? You seem to be happier.
Thanks CB and Bombshell. Can’t wait to see him!
Arod should be benched, evem if the person that replaces him does nothing,it’s the same as what the Yankees are getting now nothing.Arod has personal family problems and is a head case.
Daaaa Raaaays Loooosssseee! Only 6 back in the loss column. If the Rays had beaten Hernandez with one run, that would not have bode well for the rest of the east. Thank goodness the Rays are on a 10 game roadie. Everytime you looked they were playing in that natatorium.
CB, I think it would help Kennedy tremendously to learn the cutter. Rivera is a great teacher. He reminds me a lot of Sparky Lyle in that respect. It was Lyle’s remarks to Al Rosen and Billy Martin that kept Guidry from being traded for a non-descript minor leaguer back in the spring of ‘77. He was in the bullpen with Guidry and Guidry asked about the throwing a slider. Lyle told him how he threw it, showed him the basic grip and told Guidry to work with that, but, change it to whatever felt best. Lyle said it took Guidry about 10 minutes to figure it out…this was during a game. He called the dugout and told Martin to bring Guidry into the game…the kid had something to show Martin. Guidry, who had gotten beat around in ST struck out the side on 10 pitches…8 of them sliders. Kennedy is a smart kid and has 3 great instructors in Mussina, Pettitte and Professor Rivera. It should also be a killer pitch for Bruney, too.
RAULLLLL
GB7 – cool guidry story.
mel – yeah, i never expected to get rich playing music. if i can get by, that’s pretty satisfying to me. i moved south of bellingham, back to portland where i grew up. but, the NW is still the NW. i’m certainly less involved in this year’s team than i was last year, which probably explains being more “calm” or rational. it’s tough for me to pull for a team that employs two of the people i dislike most in baseball in arod and girardi, but we’re all just cheering for the laundry, as somebody once said. i was really excited about hughes, joba and, to a far lesser extent, kennedy, going in to the season, so it’s been a bummer in that regard.
GreenBeret7A
August 8th, 2008 at 12:25 am
CB, I think it would help Kennedy tremendously to learn the cutter. Rivera is a great teacher. He reminds me a lot of Sparky Lyle in that respect. It was Lyle’s remarks to Al Rosen and Billy Martin that kept Guidry from being traded for a non-descript minor leaguer back in the spring of ‘77. He was in the bullpen with Guidry and Guidry asked about the throwing a slider. Lyle told him how he threw it, showed him the basic grip and told Guidry to work with that, but, change it to whatever felt best. Lyle said it took Guidry about 10 minutes to figure it out…this was during a game. He called the dugout and told Martin to bring Guidry into the game…the kid had something to show Martin. Guidry, who had gotten beat around in ST struck out the side on 10 pitches…8 of them sliders. Kennedy is a smart kid and has 3 great instructors in Mussina, Pettitte and Professor Rivera. It should also be a killer pitch for Bruney, too.
Rivera helped Veras. You have a lot of talent there. I hope Kennedy takes more time to soak it in. Realize that these guys know what there are talking about. And ask questions. A rookie has to be open to suggestions. Maybe Kennedy learned that just being good in the minors doesn’t always translate into the majors and will become the student that learns from the masters. I hope you are right Greenb.
Ray, that poster the other night was posting as Don Vito A Ballamo. I figured it wasn’t him. I usually figure people know how to spell the user names they choose consistently for the most part, lol.
What leadership, indeed! Hahahaha.
I am very angry at Joe Girardi.