Game 124: Royals at Yankees
-
- August
- 17
YANKEES (65-58)
Damon DH
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Giambi 1B
Nady LF
Cano 2B
Molina C
Gardner CF
Mussina RHP
Mike Mussina (15-7, 3.30) vs. the Kansas City hitters.
Brian Bannister (7-11, 5.36) vs. the New York hitters.
Notes: Thanks to Josh Thomson for calling in the lineup. … The Yankees start the day 9.5 games behind Tampa Bay in the division and six games behind Boston in the wild card with 39 games left. … This is the final game of a brief three-day homestand. They play at Toronto on Tuesday.
MUSSINA FOR 20: By my calculations, Mussina has eight starts left. He has never won 20 games in his career. A win today would tie him with Bob Feller for career victories with 266. Moose is 17-7, 2.96 against Kansas City in his career.
LINEUP LOCKED IN: With the exception of the catchers, Joe Girardi has stuck with the same lineup for three days in a row. This seems to be a new direction and is likely the result of feedback from the players. It’ll be interesting to see what happens when next they face a left-hander.
I am not at the Stadium today but will pass any news updates along. Enjoy the game.
UPDATE, 11:10 p.m.: Hideki Matsui had 15 ABs in a simulated game down in Tampa this morning, 11 against a RHP and four against a LHP. If his knee holds up, he could be back with the Yankees as early as Tuesday.
He will be limited to DH the remainder of the season once he does return. His knee will need surgery at the end of the season. You have give Matsui credit, a lot of players would have shut it down with all the issues he has had with his knee this season.
Having Matsui back can only help. Wonder who would get cut?
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At least I can root for Mussina to win 20. It’s all I have left.
Go Yanks.
from previous thread, Murphydog,
I agree with your premise, that is why the loss of Posada isn’t just felt on the field but in clubhouse too.
The question is how do they get that back?
One thing is for sure Hank needs to keep his big trap shut. At least George got on his team to play better. Hank just wants them to give up.
Why the hell is Girardi keep putting the Big G in the #5 spot, that belongs to Xman
88-74…
Wow..you guys give up to easy…plenty of baseball to be played. 6 more games with the Red Sox. Making the postseason is doable. Don’t put it past the Yanks to come back and win the Wild Card. I like today’s lineup, and with Mussina on the hill..hopefully they can win the game. Go Yankees!
Vader, didn’t I see Posada in the dugout during the last game? Hopefully he can peddle some of that influence just by hanging around the team. If he’s not too broken up about being on the DL.
Moose for 20 is my new rallying cry. Its frustrating watching this team find new ways to lose games (Seriously, a pinch runner getting picked off of first? That’s a new one…), but I’m pulling for Moose as hard as I can.
For the record, I haven’t given up on this season. I’m just tempering my expectations…
Who else thinks Nady should be batting 5th over Giambi?
cant count them out yet. 6 games out and 6 games with boston left.
When Matsui returns they should DFA Giambi & his moustache.
Let’s hope this one goes better played than yesterday.
Moose will go 19-9.
Get a win for Mooooooooooose
6.5 GB with 6 weeks to go
I DONT CONCEDE!
6.5 GB with 6 weeks to go
I DONT CONCEDE!
Yanks need to go into September two games out in the WC at least.
Posada was in the clubhouse this weekend. If they feel his clubhouse presence is needed, nothing is stopping the Yanks from having him travel with them the rest of the season.
“With the exception of the catchers, Joe Girardi has stuck with the same lineup for three days in a row. This seems to be a new direction and is likely the result of feedback from the players. ”
from the players that are playing , that is.
Jorge may travel from this point forward. That surgery had to heal a bit before travelling would be adviseable because he was in a sling.
Matsui will be back in a couple of days and will hit 5th with Nady 6th, Giambi 7th (I hope). Gardner will back up Damon in CF until Melky returns. Look at that lineup and add Matsui and Posada for Molina and Gardner and the Yanks are at least 8-10 games better.
No one should give up on this year… discussing off-season options and strategies is not giving up… it’s just looking ahead a little
YA KNOW!
I know that this has been a pretty disappointing season for us all around – how many Yankees are having their anti-career years at once this year!
But I did NOT need to see some ESPNzone program this morning with that google-eyed Lupica Sux-suckup and the always dashing Michael Kay predicting that yes, the Rays probably WOULD make it into the postseason but certainly not as the division leader. That honor is set aside for the Sux.
I’m with every Yankee fan who has said that until we are mathematically eliminated, we’re in the postseason. And though we look pretty beat up, you never know what can happen. We’ve defied odds before, as we all know.
But I guess while I expect Lupica to say anything he can antiYankee in order to get through every day and night, it was at least a little bit disappointing to hear Kay come out and call the Yanks out of it.
Just for that, we’re gonna come up and kick ass and take numbers, and we are going to turn everything on its head, and nobody is going to believe these are the same Yankees who have looked so lifeless for the last month or so, and…and…and…
Well anyway, GO YANKEES!!!
(Gotta do some errands. See you game time)
Pete am I mistaken or weren’t Gardner and Molina switched in the line up a few days ago?
In any case, I’m glad Girardi fixed that.
Good news on Matsui. Hope that he is ready to come back on Tuesday. That would be a big boost for the line-up since he always seems to get runners in.
You guys..check this link out…my Phil Hughes story got into Beckett Baseball:
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa33/cartmans123/lastscan.jpg
Kevin
That’s cool Kevin!
There have been warnings of a possible Godzilla attack in Toronto!
Vader:
I think they get it back by ruthlessly cleaning house for 2009 and re-stocking with less extreme talent and better attitude and habits.
Everyone raves about Pedroia and Youk, neither of whom, IMHO (and no disrespect to Sox fans) is HOF material. Why the raves? Intangibles – - that word that always provokes derisive laughter when it is used about Jeter. I mean, in no particular order: Guts, desire, baseball intelligence, barroom pride, every game.
On the Yankees, look no further than Jeter, Po, Mo, Pettitte and even Moose now the he loves the game again. They find a way to win, first, by digging within themselves and then producing on the field. Thus, they can keep Cano if they choose to. Maybe he’s giving 100% of what he has to give. But, IMO, he is a prime example of what’s wrong: high ceiling, low “intangibles.”
I would rather watch a team on which every player played the game the right way and lost than watch the way some of the current Yankees play and have played for the last 6 or so years.
I agree with you Trisha – keep rooting until it’s mathematically impossible – but I said this the other day, I want the Rays to keep winning… We’re 9 games back from first and with our injuries/offensively challenged line-up, that’s just not going to happen – let the Rays take the division, we come back for the Wild Card – WC still = playoffs
and Go Matsui!! that’s a huge bat to get back in the line-up
If and when Matsui comes back, I’d DH him and sit Giambi. Put either BeteStrikeOut or Ransom at 1B.
This is probably the worst Yankee team since the early 90’s.
I honestly think the Rays will take the East. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Wild Card comes from the Central, either (White Sox or Twins).
Randy,
From the other thread…..
After watching everything unfold this season, I believe the Yankees need a complete evaluation of their organization, from top to bottom, by an outside party.
I recommended Showalter but, it can be someone else. John Scheurholz, if he retires from the Braves, Pat Gillick, when he retires this year, are two other possible choices. Both are longtime baseball men who have built organizations from the ground up and aren’t PC. They will tell it like it is and if feelings are hard, so be it.
I like Buck because he’s been there, knows the terrain and, while he is a hard ass, he’s a hard ass in the right way. He has pride and passion for the Yankees. Not just for the paycheck. Too many guys on this team define “Yankee Pride” by the size of their paychecks. A BIG problem with this group.
You know what the #1 problem with this team is? They don’t play the game the right way. They really don’t. They didn’t play the game the right way last year either. They just had better results. Until the playoffs, of course.
I have great respect for Johnny Damon. That said, I couldn’t believe what I heard when he said he wasn’t “comfortable” bunting in that situation yesterday.
Is he kidding? He’s not “comfortable” bunting in that situation, even though its the right thing to do?
That’s coming from one of the few gamers on the team. I can only imagine the attitude of the non-gamers. To me, that’s the problem with this team. They don’t play the game the right way. That’s why they aren’t good in game deciding situations and that’s why they are where they are this season.
Brian Cashman MAY be the best person for the job. Damon Oppenheimer MAY have just had a bad draft and is the right person for the job. Billy Eppler MAY be the best choice to oversee major league scouting, etc.
OR, these guys, and everybody else in the organization under review, may not be the right people to rebuild this team.
OR, the organization may need more hands, or a right hand man for Cashman, to go forward. OR, they need more scouting, better coaches at the minor league level, etc.
Without a full review of the organization from top to bottom, the Steinbrenners don’t have any idea what they need, how to get it and (most important) WHO makes the decisions to get what they need.
Too much has happened this year to just make the assumption you have the right people in place to fix what’s broken.
How do you explain the draft? How do you explain screwing up the Iona signing? Which BTW, has now cost 3 guys their jobs down there and climbing.
How do you explain the lack of player development this season throughout the organization, with the exception of the Charleston team, Zach McAllister, Austin Jackson and Mark Melancon?
How do you explain the injuries throughout the organization? Not just at the major league level, its also hit them hard at the minor league level.
How do you explain the slides of Cano and Cabrera?
How do you explain the failures of Hughes and Kennedy?
How do you explain the selfish attitudes of the veteran players who won’t bunt, won’t move guys over, won’t change their approach with RISP, etc?
It can’t just be the manager or the coaching staff. It can’t just be because he’s not the favorite of the beat writers, everything I described above has happened.
Have they done their jobs well this year? Yes and no. Are they the sole reason everything throughout the organization has been a train wreck this year? No.
Are they part of the solution going forward. I’d think Girardi, Long and Eiland are but, that should be evaluated by an outside party at this point, IMO.
Is it bad luck? Bad business? A combination of the two? I don’t know.
I do know that if I owned the Yankees, I’m not yet ready to have the people currently holding positions in the organization given the mandate to fix what’s broken until I am certain they are the right guys for the job.
IMO, you have no way of knowing that without outside help, given what’s happened this year.
You get too emotional when you have had long term relationships with people you have had success with for a long time. It makes it tougher to objectively evaluate them when deciding their futures.
The Yankees will have this same dilemma after next season with Derek Jeter. His contract runs until 2010. However, after next season, its going to be a very tough call whether or not you extend him and keep him at SS.
Are the people currently in place in the organization to make that tough call? I think that question is unable to be answered at this time until a full review of everyone is complete.
If the Yankees can’t pull something out of their collective hats, I’m rooting for the Central Division to take the WC. No doubt! Anyone but the Red Sox. And I believe the Rays are taking the division. They’ve had set-backs and have seemed to withstand them. The only question for them will be the head-to-head against the Sox down the stretch.
SJ44—
I feel like I should print your last post!
The part about the emotional attachments is right on, in my opinion.
Off to my Sunday, but rooting for Moose (and the Yankees) to notch another win.
This week could vry well be the turning point of the season. If the bats can wake up slightly today and get Mussina win number 17…oh wait that’s right, they blew number 16 for him last time out…and then get Matsui back on Tuesday, we will be in good shape.
Next, assuming Toronto doesn’t change their rotation with their day off tomorrow, it’ll be Rasner/Burnett, Pettitte/Purcey, and Ponson/Litsch…no Halladay.
Now here’s the wildcard…Mussina will be ready to go on Friday against BAL. But, we’ll need a 5th starter on Saturday (which cannot be Joba or Geise at this point) to keep everybody on regular rest. Phil Hughes could be that man. He starts today and if all goes well, I could see him getting the extra day of rest and then pitching for us on Saturday.
Like I said, this week could bury us, or keep us afloat just in time to get Godzilla and Hughes back for the stretch run.
And don’t forget…we’ll have Joba ready to get back soon too assuming all goes well with his shoulder rehab.
Matsui – wow, what a difference that can make down the stretch if he’s the #5 hitter and taking the ABs Gardner/Christian/Melky/Betemit have been taking.
i wonder if Matsui’ll play every day, or 2/3 of the time so Damon can DH a bit.
“Having Matsui back can only help. Wonder who would get cut?”
Either one of those no name guys we just brought up… or Betemit. That’s my guess.
Moose must go for a complete game
don’t let the bullpen rob another Moose’s W
That’s right about the number 5 spot, George. Matsui will be protecting Arod instead of the fearsome Giambino. And if Girardi wants to keep his ridiculous lefty/righty thing going on that would move Giambi to the 7 spot (with Nady 6) and then Molina/Pudge (both righties) and then Cano.
The only issue is that Damon would have to play center. So, we’ll be giving up some defense/arm in order to try and spark the offense.
Mr. Moose will probably get within one strike of 20 wins before leaving with an injury.
DH Matsui, bench Giambi and put either BeteStrikeOut or Ransom at 1B.
SJ, great post.
The only thing is, I wouldn’t want to overreact based on a bad year.
Phil Hughes had only a few starts this year and he was likely feeling the effects of his injury at the time, despite what he’s said. I don’t think his struggles are part of the organization failures this year. His whole tenure with the Yankees, Phil has been injured or rehabbing from injury. Now that he’s apparently healthy, we can see what we’ve got. It’s too bad he was rushed up last year due to the big club’s pitching injuries, but he can pitch up here. Kennedy, I think that was a mistake. He only had 3 starts in September and he just whizzed through the minors. He probably should have had more time in AAA. He’s not a failure yet, though, as he’s still just a kid. I don’t think we can label anyone as a bust after one year, even a bad year.
I think Cash is the right man for the job and I think the Steinbrenner boys think so too. I have no clue what happened with the draft, etc….....or why the Yankees got cheap this year. If you want to bring in an evaluator to figure that out, that’s fine. As you agreed with me in another thread, people just don’t go stupid overnight. In that regard, Damon Oppenheimer just didn’t lose his scouting ability overnight. For whatever reasons, the Yankees seemed to go off-course this season, but I trust them to figure out why.
Would be huge to get Matsui back.
Would be even nicer if the Yanks can go on a 20 game winning streak.
When Matsui gets back, you have to think that Garnder gets sent back down, dince they want him to get his ABs in
I heard a story once about a team that was 7 games back with 17 to play that went on to win the division. So the Yankees are 6 back with 39 to play, you do the math.
As for when Matsui gets back, I get rid of Justin Christian, let Ransom stay awhile.
Oh, and also, I completely agree with your Damon comments. That’s ridiculous. You’re right – the team does not know how to actually play the game of baseball. They don’t do the little things (that doesn’t mean I expect A-Rod or Giambi, sluggers, to bunt; that’s ridiculous)....I guess this is an epidemic in baseball, but IMO, it all starts with education. The youngsters in the minor leagues all ought to take some kind of refresher course about the game when they first enter into the system and then they need to be constantly taught the right way to play the game all through their minor league careers. Get them started young and you have them for life. These older players are all set in their ways – it’s almost impossible to teach old dogs new tricks. This is part of the reason having Cano on the team scares me. When Jackson eventually comes up, and then some other youngsters, is Cano really the guy we want them to model their careers after? Not on your life.
Should Matsui come back soon, Betemit is the logical DFA with Giambi a close 2nd.
Why not Cody Ransom ? He’s a versatile infielder with something to prove.
There’s only a month left of Giambi’s $22M contract to pay.
I was not comfortable with Damon striking out in the 9th yesteday with runners on 1st and 2nd and nobody out. How about for $10 million a year you do your homework and learn how to bunt(that is, “play the game the right way”)?
so Matsui comes back, that’s a HUGE boost to the line-up – but I think Christian HAS to stay because we need a pinch runner for Matsui late in the games, no sense in having him run if he’s not going to bat again. I guess Ransom would go down until Sept 1st…. or of course Britton lol
Jorge may travel from this point forward. That surgery had to heal a bit before travelling would be adviseable because he was in a sling.
Matsui will be back in a couple of days and will hit 5th with Nady 6th, Giambi 7th (I hope). Gardner will back up Damon in CF until Melky returns. Look at that lineup and add Matsui and Posada for Molina and Gardner and the Yanks are at least 8-10 games better. Christian should go back down.
No one should give up on this year… discussing off-season options and strategies is not giving up… it’s just looking ahead a little
i dont understand why nady doesnt bat behind arod. giambi is trash
As to SJ’s comments, I don’t think there’s a need to throw out the baby with the bathwater. Period.
As to who gets caught when Matsui gets back, cut Sexson (even if he’s no longer with the team). It’s fun!!!
i don’t get why so many people want to DFA Giambi. who’s gonna play first? Betemit? jeez.
Giambi’s not a #5-quality hitter on a good team, too inconsistent. he hasn’t been a great hitter since 2002. but still, he can slug and get on base, and is quite capable of going on a hellacious tear. in a good lineup, he’s a nice #6-#7 hitter. reminds me of Daryl Strawberry at the end of his career.
All kidding aside, it’ll probably be Ranson, who’ll come back after September 1st.
Betsy and SJ:
Agree with you both. Answers and Change are needed, but let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater.
The outside consultant idea is intriguing, but outside consultants are a very touchy subject. Cash may be humble enough to placate ownership’s request, assuming they make one, or he may feel he could use the help. But he will demand to pick the consultant and determine the scope of his work, which, unless Cash is completely nuts, will not include a critique of Cash’s work as GM. Anything else will be a slap in the face and if I were Cash, the last thing I would accept is slap in the face from George’s sons at the same time they are telling me they want to renew my contract.
[[[ I heard a story once about a team that was 7 games back with 17 to play that went on to win the division. So the Yankees are 6 back with 39 to play, you do the math. ]]]
Did The team in that story did it AGAINST the Reigning World Champions?
They will send down ranson. .they are not dumping Betemit.
I don’t like the way Betemit plays but he is a decent bench player..
If Gardner goes to the bench with matsui DH’ing then Christian can get sent down and gardner can pinch run..
This is a moot arguement Sept 1 they can add to the roster…
Just read Matsui could be back as early as Tuesday in Toronto!!
OOps never mind, I see Pete posted it in his update.
Mickey Mantle used to bunt every now and then. He said it added 10 points a year to his average and kept defenses honest.
Funny how Damon, Gardner, Giambi etc, none of whom are worthy of carrying the Mick’s jockstrap, are above such mundane skills.
“Is he kidding? He’s not “comfortable†bunting in that situation, even though its the right thing to do?
That’s coming from one of the few gamers on the team.”
sj-
that it was damon who said it shocked me too.
how to turn around a ship as big as the yankees is the question. i do think that here on the blog we’re starting to get the glimmer of a consensus as to what’s wrong, and the damon quote may be a key to figuring out what’s wrong with the team.
a total overview by an outside party who has the power to make changes makes sense to me. showalter is not crazy.
Godzilla is a warrior! Can’t wait for him to be back… No matter what he always gives 110%...
I have to tip my cap to Matsui. What a huge lift it will be when/if he returns on Tuesday.
Matsui has never been given enough credit for his contribution to the team. He has been our best clutch hitter, always has good ABs when it counts, & has been the glue of the batting order. The whole team hits better in the clutch with him setting the tone.
I am so tired of watching these overpaid guys not only not produce when it counts, but have horrible non productive ABs while doing so.
It is painful watching A-Rod become clueless when it counts. Takes what he should be swinging at & swings at what he should let go.
Murph,
If definitely agree Cashman may not like if Hank and/or Hal brought someone in to evaluate his job. However, if he wants to remain with the organization, he doesn’t have a choice but to accept it.
If he chooses not to, and wants to leave, that is certainly his option.
He’s a hard worker and overall, has done a good job. However, he, like everybody in the organization, from Randy Levine, to Derek Jeter, to the Equipment Guy, nobody is bigger than the Yankees.
George Steinbrenner, who WAS the Yankees for the last 30+ years, is not bigger than the Yankees. If he isn’t, nobody is.
You do what’s right for the organization. Whatever that may be.
If Hank and Hal want Cash back, and want to hire Buck (or another wise hand) to work alongside him, I’d go for that too.
As most who read what I write on this blog are aware, I am a Cashman fan.
However, too many things have gone wrong this year to just accept that, “it was one of those years” for my tastes.
The draft was the last straw for me. The Yankees are putting a LOT of their bullets into player development and the draft.
For it to be the cluster#$#$ it became, along with the Latin American mess, that was my breaking point.
That’s when I realized this team needs the kind of help only someone from the outside can give them.
Whether its doing an overall review, or bringing back Cashman and hiring a “right hand man” from outside the organization, someone has to come in from the outside to help.
Too many things have gone wrong under the current regime this year to be satisfied with their explanation as to why certain things happened.
Bottom line is… this off-season will set the tone of the Yankees franchise for the next decade. You will never find a more opportunistic situation to be in.
We are moving into a new stadium, we have $80+ million coming off the books, we will likely coming off our first non-playoff year since 93, this happens to be a very good FA class, and the farm system (though regressed from last year) is still good enough to make trades—and we also have an asset like Cano you might be willing to shop. More importantly, pretty much all of the mistakes/contracts from the 04 season on will be gone and from a karma standpoint, that may be good as well.
The organization finally has the flexibility to re-shape the team. This is a very important off-season and everyone needs to be on board with the plan of transforming this team back into a legit WS contender. No conservative shopping in the FA/trade market, no attachment to prospects, and no blind faith in the veterans…. the team needs a complete overhaul.
An outside party like SJ recommend would be an excellent idea. However, that presents two problems. First, Cashman may feel threatened by that and walk away. Secondly, Hal may be the one holding this team back, not Cashman, and if thats the case there is nothing we can do but pray that Hank has enough influence this offseason to spend.
It is time to send Girardi and Cashman packing and get a more experienced manager with experienced staff. The expt. with Girardi, cost us the season and this is the price you pay for dumping on Torre who I am sure would have motivated this team to perform better and taken them into post season.
Agree 100%, this draft/international signing period was such a disaster, it doesn’t exactly instill faith in me that the organization knows what it is doing.
How do you deviate so far from your strategy that has brought the farm back to a level of prominence, and instead go back to the early 2000’s method of taking the safe, low-upside picks? How does the Inoa thing get so botched? And as compensation, they go after 3-4 “B/C” level prospects. Totally against everything they stood for. It’s not that the organization isin’t allowed to have down years, but their philosophy this year completely changed and reverted back to what got us the barren farm we had a few years ago.
Thats to bad really. I think Brett would do better higher in the lineup to be honest.
brett should be hitting cleanup
Today I predict:
Mussina complete game
Giambia bases loaded double
Arod goes deep
Brett today 0-4 3k
Yes I agree. I feel personally insulted when he sits at the bottom and has Molina on top of him! He is much better then Molina. Heck, put him in the 1st 2nd 3rd 4th but not last!
Ransom was used at 1st base and Nady is also available. No need for Betemit when Matsui returns. He’s no help, just a hinderance. Send Betemit packing.
SJ44-
Agree wholeheartedly that the Yankees need an experienced consultant to come in and objectfully evaluate the current team.
As far as bunting is concerned, everone on the team should be able to lay down a bunt, especially Giambi, who should bunt down the 3rd base line, against that shift, instead of trying to uppercut all the time. But in about 7 weeks Giambi will be someone elses problem.
And lastly as for Nady batting 5th, I disagree. Why? He should bat cleanup for a while with A-Rod batting fifth!!!
Watching Halladay pitch masterfully last evening against the Sox was a remainder to me just how long that it takes for a pitcher to reach their true potential. Halladay broke in in 1998 at the age of 21.In only his second start he took a no-hitter into the 9th inning.
However the following season 1999 Halladay was 8-7 with a 3.92 ERA. Not bad but a little short of expectations. But 2000 was a disaster, 4-7 with a 10.64 ERA. People were wondering what had happened to him and whether he would ever make it as a big league pitcher. It wasn’t until 2002 that Halladay finally arrived with a 19-7 record. In 2003 he won the Cy Young award.
But there were also the demotions back to the farm system and even a stint at “A” ball between the 2000-2001 seasons before he got back on track.
I still believe that both Hughes and Kennedy will be effective MLB pitchers and wonder how the tone on this thread might be a bit different if they had stayed healthy and given us a bit of inspiration this season with everything else that has gone awry.
Game over. Yankees aren’t coming back from this.
This might not be good
c’mon Moose
3-0. well there goes all the good feeling from yesterday.
Hey Moose, it’s a must-win. Thanks.
As one who has made a living as an organizational consultant, with ‘brand names’ you would recognize on the list, let me tell you what any skilled and honest consultant would admit: the real successes are few. They can be spectacular when they happen, but they are few. And they do not happen when there is no ‘buy-in’ by crucial leaders in the organization. ‘Like it or lump it’ is not an approach that works, especially in a large, complex organization with multiple power centers.
This was not the start the Yankees needed. Already down 3-0. Well at least they have nine innings to come back!
The over / under line is set at 2 for A-Rod whiffing with runners on base. He’ll continue to swing for the fences no matter what.
hopefully the offense can get to bannister, if not another loooong day
I think we will come back and win, but man… what an unlucky inning. None of the balls were hit hard. Just solid singles.
Wish A-Rod had made that throw, but he at least made the stop.
How sad that you spend your time in a Yankees board. Isnt there a Red Sox place for you to post at?
I also agree that an outside man should come in and evaluate the team from top to bottom. And I also agree Buck Showalter would be a great guy for that job.
But that doesn’t mean it’s going to happen. And I’m not convinced the organization is going to go that route – as much as I think it is needed.
I guess we’ll find out soon enough if Hal and Hank are wise enough to make that happen.
Only 91 responses. either people are doing something on a Sunday or it is now proof that Yankee fans realize the season will end on September 30th.
But not to be too negative, it is only 3-0. Yanks scored 4 runs yesterday so it is possible for them to pull this one out.
I think the biggest thing with the Yankees is that they are run almost like a mom-and-pop operation by the Steinbrenners, despite the enormous amount of revenue invovled. And, from what I can see throughout baseball, they are not unique in running their team this way (anyone look critically at the Mets, for instance?).
Like in any industry, bringing in an outside consultant, someone who has no axe to grind, is not unreasonable. However, it should probably be someone who is universibly respected, retired (so they don’t have that axe) – a retiring Pat Gillick might be ideal.
The catch is, the team/Steinbrenners have to be amenable to change. If not, then it’s a waste of time and money.
RR WROTE:
“The expt. with Girardi, cost us the season”
PLEASE EXPLAIN HOW GIRARDI COST THE YANKEES THE SEASON
Everything bad that can happen is now called = Yankeed.
when you girlfriend breaks up with you = Yankeed
When you get a speeding ticket = Yankeed
when the Jets, Giants, Knicks, lose = Yankeed.
When a computer virus eats your hard drive = Yankeed.
August 17th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
The over / under line is set at 2 for A-Rod whiffing with runners on base. He’ll continue to swing for the fences no matter what
I will take the overs before he actually connects.
23-110 – after that hit. .211 with RISP. Breakfast of Champions.
JD is sooooo lucky.
The game just started…its far from over. These bandwagon fans make me sick..you have to take the good with the bad. I suppose if they win today..you will jump back on the bandwagon? 3-0 is nothing with this lineup. Sure..they haven’t shown it, but we all know they are capable.
Kevin
Double steal. Good chance that this ball ends up in the OF.
We may not hit well with RISP, but we lead the universe with hits that don’t advance runners ISP.
Whiff,
Breakfast of Champions=Cocoa RISP. This team needs more energy.
AROD 3-3!!
wooohoo
TIE GAME AROD!
Was that ‘clutch’?
23-111
Was that clutch enough?!! Alex!
And a hit with RISP!
That’s how you make a statement that you’re not the biggest bum in the world and your team isn’t totally dead. It helps to have a Bannister pitching too.
go arod! brett has energized this team today to!
A-ROD!!!!!
Someone Else- “Game over. Yankees aren’t coming back from this.”
Spoke to soon..how do you feel now?
Kevin
I hope this starts an ARod Hot Streak™.
A ROD!!!!!!!!
Damn, took the overs and lost again.
Thank you, Alex. That was pretty clutch.
How sad is it when you are absolutely shocked when the best player in the game does something good?
AN AAAAAAAAA-BOMB….....FROM AAAAAAAAAA-ROD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
man… they needed that home run like a homeless man needs a joint
XAVIER NADY!!!
Trolls aplenty.
C YA NADY!! 4-3 Yanks! Cha Ching
Kevin
The X-MAN COMETH!
If A-Rod gets hot, and we make a run at the Wild Card, how does he not got MVP?
He hits 15 HRs down the stretch and ends up with, say, 120 RBI, it’s a lock. There is one thing that is for sure, without A-Rod getting hot, we cannot make the playoffs. So here’s to hoping raises glass
Man, as bad as Marte has been, Nady has made that trade more than worth it.
And he’s a Yankee in 2009, and possibly beyond.
X-MAN!!!!!!!!!
What is it about Leiter that sounds creepy when he says things like “good looking young player” or “Alex is so strong”.
X MARKS THE SPOT!!!!!!!!!!!
Is this for real? Multiple runs?
X-Man!!!
Brett Gardner had nothing to do with the homerun. That was all Alex.
Easy folks, before you start calling ARods hit as clutch, it was a bad pitch from a AAA pitcher, who is basically throwing BP right now.
And one hit does not make a $30 million player clutch. 6-10, 5-10, 10-18, that is clutch.
1 for your last 8 games, um, no so clutch
LETS GO!!!!
Rmemeber a few weeks ago when some people here thought trading for Bannister was a goood idea? lol
How quick things change.
Moose deserves the Cy Young.
Okay, so my mlb video freezes up. But I could tell that it was a HR by Nady because the guys to the fair side of the foul poul have their hands in the air trying to catch the ball. So I knew that it was a HR before Kay. LOL.
Ian Kennedy is pretty much gonna be just like Brian Bannister as a pitcher…and they both went to USC
“1 for your last 8 games, um, no so clutch”
Huh?
Including today, he’s 9 for his last 31. Not spectacular, not horrible.
Who gets cut?? Are you kidding me? His name starts with a B, ends with a T—and was traded for Proctor.
15 Arod homers down the stretch? That would be something indeed.
When does “down the stretch” start? Tuesday? Sept. 1? Now?
“Ian Kennedy is pretty much gonna be just like Brian Bannister as a pitcher…and they both went to USC”
Kennedy, last year, had better stuff than Bannister’s ever had.
This year, not so much. No idea where his breaking stuff disappeared to.
Turtle-Like (Pedroia’s face)
August 17th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Trolls aplenty.
Define a troll specifically for this site.
Did anyone notice Kay said the Yanks will be facing Halladay? I thought the Yankees were getting Burnett, Purcey and Litsch.
KEvin
Someone else,
I don’t know what Mets fans thinks, but I’ll bet the front office gets sick seeing Nady succeed as a Yankee.
WOOHOO!!!!
AND MEACHEM WITH A SMART SEND!!
5-3 as the rats (trolls) abandon ship.
Nice Molina! Doubles machine!
mel, I thought it was creepier when Kay was talking about ‘brushing up’ against Arod in the hallway.
Blech, I just ate.
Whoo Hoo, Mr. Doubles!
GARDNER! HUSTLE TRIPLE!
BRETT THE FLASH GARDNER!!
Nice job Brett!
Did the Angels trade uniforms with us and play for us today?
This is great. I haven’t seen us do this in a long time. I guess Girardi told them Matsui might be activated on Tuesday.
WOW are these the yankees? When is the last time they batted around in an inning?
If the shoe fits, etc.
“Define a troll specifically for this site.”
I love that phrase, “A rbi triple by Gardner”.
ain’t this a b****
Wow. 10 batters, 6 runs. Can we have this EVERY day?
I could get used to this.
Whiff (Cano’s bat)
August 17th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
“Easy folks, before you start calling ARods hit as clutch, it was a bad pitch from a AAA pitcher, who is basically throwing BP right now.
And one hit does not make a $30 million player clutch. 6-10, 5-10, 10-18, that is clutch.
1 for your last 8 games, um, no so clutch”
Hush, they haven’t even been hitting bad pitches lately!
1-8 … small sample size much?
Clutch – most. overused. word. ever.
6-3 in a NY minute.
I told you yesterday they can hit this guy look it up.
Yanks love guys who throw 88.
Bannister stinks, but that did not stop about 20 posters on this site to want the yanks to get him.
rasner, bannister, karstens, they are the same guys..they are 5th starters at best..
Michael Kraye just said the Yankees face Burnett AND Halliday in Toronto.
However, the pitching matchup doesn’t list Halliday among the starters for the Yankees series; they have Burnett, Purcey, and Litsch.
I realize the Yankees could pitch Halliday if they skipped one of the foregoing three.
Have the Jays announced they plan to do so?
BTW, few GM in baseball detest the Yankees more than J.P Riccardi. I don’t know why. But it’s a widely known secret.
We need more innings like that
Including today, he’s 9 for his last 31. Not spectacular, not horrible.
With RISP?
Same thought Zell, Same thought Zell
“Including today, he’s 9 for his last 31. Not spectacular, not horrible.
With RISP?”
I don’t have game logs with RISP separate. Do you?
Now we need Moose to settle down and the Yanks to keep this offense going.
Is the out of town scoreboard at Fenway electronic?
It wouldn’t surprise me if they did, KS.
Remember they rearranged their pitching lineup last series?
Riccardi somehow gets some kind of warped satisfaction, out of thinking that even if the Blue Jays ended up last, well at least they spoiled the Yankees season.
Hey, Zell, you have great photos on your blog.
Josh Beckett has loaded the bases with 1 out in the first…
they should give buck that ball
mlb.com says Burnett, Purcey, Litsch. However, TOR has a day off tomorrow so they can opt to move Halladay to Thursday against Ponson. That would not be good.
I’m praying that they give Halladay the extra day of rest with their day off and that would line him up against the Sox again.
A leadoff double is not the way to start the inning after the Yankees just gave Moose a 3 run lead.
I was reading an interview with Mussina, and he said he hasn’t thrown the ‘knuckle-curve’ in about 10 years, though people keep referring to it as that.
fran, be quiet. moose has 15 wins. he can take a dump on the mound for all i care as long as we win.
Bases loaded, two runs in, 1 out by Beckett. First inning
come on Moose
Has Brett played enough games to be MVP of the American league?
-Kill-Schill(ing)
I think they are going to pitch both I remember in July before the all star break we had a series with them and Halladay and Burnett were scheduled to go the series before and they held them both up to start against the yanks
1-8 … small sample size much?
Clutch – most. overused. word. ever
Agree most overused word next to “you know” which all NBA players and NFL players must use no less than 30 times in a 2 minute or less comment.
When the bats finally wake up our pitching goes back to sleep. This is why this team is nothing more than a .500 team.
“Agree most overused word next to “you know†which all NBA players and NFL players must use no less than 30 times in a 2 minute or less comment.”
That made me laugh.
4-0 Jays off Beckett!! Still only 1 out in Boston. Moose better get his act together today.
Beckett’s getting smacked around in the first inning.
“4-0 Jays off Beckett!! Still only 1 out in Boston. Moose better get his act together today.”
Beckett = ACE!! He’s on my fantasy team, and I couldn’t care less
(I’m losing WHIP and ERA this week anyway).
:rofl:
yanks have a chance still. rays play laa and cws the next 6 games.
wow everyone saying arod is gonna strike out and have a terrible game. then he hits a home run and everyone is on his good side.
chill out lol
Josh Beckett is not an ace?
double play!
Just tuned in….I’m bummed I missed Gardner’s triple and there is no video for it on Gameday, only the homeruns. A triple for Brett is just like a homer for Alex, what gives?
Meanwhile, clearly this is not gonna be a pitchers duel, but hopefully the Moose can settle down a bit and hold em here.
....just like that! Go Moose!
Crumbs for the trolls.Eh,eh,eh,eh.
“A leadoff double is not the way to start the inning after the Yankees just gave Moose a 3 run lead.”
I’m sure it will be either Traber or Britton getting sent down for Matsui.
That was huge!
Get more runs
6-0 Jays, 2 outs in the 1st.
lol kC turn into the yankees thatinning
6-0 Jays..Love it.. Maybe Beckett is hurt??
Damn, I should have started Vernon Wells on my fantasy team today. Oh well, he has my permission to keep piling it on anyway
Good job by such a terrible team.
6-0 jays.
They should send Britton down he never does anything!
Beckett definitely like ace-like so far today.
A crying shame.
Crumbs for the trolls.Eh,eh,eh,eh.
“A leadoff double is not the way to start the inning after the Yankees just gave Moose a 3 run lead.â€
I am not a troll. I am a long-time Yankee fan. I want the Yanks to win and that’s why I want Moose to hold the lead. I am glad he got out of the inning with no runs scored.
Beckett just doesn’t have it today. He’s pulling a Bannister.
Bekett giving up hits by the bucket.
Fran,
There’s nothing wrong with coaching the pitcher. It’s like Rebecca and her “throw strikes” mantra.
get more runs boys
Season ARod – RISP – 27-115 = .235 – for $30 mil, I need a stimulus refund check.
Man on 2nd – 5-35 = .143
Man on 3rd – 7-17 = .412
Man on 2/3 – 2-7 = .286
Bases loaded – 1-8 = .125
Month of August – 11-55 = .200 and only 7 RBI’s
RISP – 2-17 = .118
awful throw there good base running by derek
Damon/Gardner CF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
AROD 3B
Matsui DH
Nady RF
Giambi 1B
Irod C
Cano 2B
Wasn’t referring to you Fran, responding to your comment.
Relax, enjoy the Yankee victory in the making.
Where have I seen this scenario before?
TOR batted around while scoring 6 runs and then the leadoff man made the final out with another runner in scoring position. Deja vu.
Get Jetes home somehow
lets go arod
base hit a-rod thats all!!
Of course mlb kids have a greater chance. The name factor enhances the resume.
Nick in SF,
In the last inning, you can tell that Leiter and Kay are really comfortable with each other. They go off into their own world and forget that millions of people are eavedropping.
Shouldn’t someone let the KC manager know that their pitcher is dying out there?
The guy needs a cut-man at this point, not a pitching coach.
Turtle-Like (Pedroia’s face)
August 17th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Crumbs for the trolls.Eh,eh,eh,eh.
Only a troll knows who the real trolls are on this site.
OK, there is STILL no Gameday video of Brett’s triple so can someone indulge me: How close was it? Was there a play at 3b or did he get there so quickly that they didn’t even make a throw? Would it have been a triple for your garden variety baserunner w/above average speed, say someone like Abreu?
lol!! Whoever thinks the Yakees arent getting to the playoffs is plain stupid.
Al Lieter sometime is soo repetitive i cant take it..
when he describes a pitchers he always says it starts with command and location..then you have to feel for your pitches..
Never changes how he says it either.. geese he needs some new vocab
Shouldn’t someone let the KC manager know that their pitcher is dying out there?
i believe 5 of their bullpen guys were used yesterday. so bannister is gonna have to keep going.
bases loaded no outs…
giambi SO or GFDP
Is 6 runs the magic number that saved our season? The Yanks’ most reliable pitcher, the Moose, gives up 3 in the top of the 1st, and our season again looks like it’s on the brink of extinction.
Then, bam, the offense comes back and scores 6 and the Yankees have life. Meanwhile, in Boston, the ace of all aces, Josh Beckett, gives up 6 to the Blue Jays. Now we have more than life; we have hope?
Could that dual-sequence have been the moment we can look back and see where our season was saved?
I do not endorse the above optimism, but I know some of you go in for that kind of thing…
here we go jason
pedriora double play.. yea!!!
the only thing better than seeing Beckett get lit up is seeing Kevin Youklis get hit by a Joba fastball.
Maybe since the skies are clearing in Colorado, the Red Sox are on their way to being Yankeed.
‘giambi SO or GFDP’
way 2 have confidence…
Kill-Schill(ing)- Hey, Zell, you have great photos on your blog.
– Thanks a lot. I get them from various places. Google, Flickr, Yahoo..I put them together and photoshop them. I do it to make it different than most other blogs. I put a picture with every post and instead of just plain photos…I add effect and change them around.
Kevin
No bbb. It was a triple because of Brett’s amazing speed and talent. It would not of been a triple for any other player. That is why Brett is such an assett.
grandSLAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YEA NOW WAT!
BBB,
They (Kay or Al) mentioned that the ball was cut off and he still made it. Just alluding to the fact that he’s amazingly fast.
Grand Slam GIAMBI!! 10-3. Game Over!
Kevin
wow… giambi producing with risp?
giambi .062 with the bases loaded
Like I said ain’t this a bi***
I SAT FOR 6 HRS AND GOT 3 RUNS A STELLER PITCHING PERFORMANCE BY THE BP AND TODAY THEY ARE JUMPING ON THEM LIKE THEY SMELL BLOOD, THE ONE SWING ALEX HITS OUT THE PARK WAS A PROTECTION SWING,FREE AND EASY..WHAT’S NEXT !
Would it have been a triple for your garden variety baserunner w/above average speed, say someone like Abreu?
No. But he benefited from a lazy retrieval of the ball by Jose Guillen.
‘giambi SO or GFDP’
im sorry, what was that?
way 2 go jason!
BBB, is that really you or did brettisgod take over your name?
Gardner, though he does have blinding speed, would probably not have made it had Jose Guillen quickly got the ball back in. Once it was fielded in the gap, Guillen seemed to take his time throwing it back in as he was probably surprised that Gardner was going for 3. The play was close but Gardner slid to the outside of the bag. An average runner would not have made it.
Wow the Yanks are pouring it on now! 10-3 and it’s only the second inning. It’s about time they broke out.
Somebody must be wearing his golden thong today!
Big G FTW!
Kinda feel bad for Bannister at this point.
Only a troll responds to troll-bait.
“Only a troll knows who the real trolls are on this site.”
BTW, Turtle face Pedroia just GIDP. Life in wonderful.
i am not dreaming am i? the yankees have awaken!!
10-3 Yanks…
What does this mean?????
1. Yankees are finally hitting bad pitching rather than turning the pitcher into Cy Young.
2. If this group of Yankees ever joins a slow pitch softball league, they will rake.
Darn it, Yankees. Don’t give me hope now. I have just managed to peacefully surrender this season.
Brett SUCKS?
What a laughing stock you will be with a name like that.!! Look at the boy!
Only a troll responds to troll-bait.
Um isn’t troll bait a felony? Dude you are sick.
okay…whatever lol
they have to take bannister out at some point, right?
cano!
We might see Tony Pena Jr. pitching today!
So when the Red Sox lose today, the Yankees will be 5 games back. But guys, don’t think about the playoffs, because according to Pete that would be very unrealistic.
thank you brian bannister. you were exactly what we needed lol
Wow he only lasted into the 2nd inning! These yankees hitters are brutal!
Big wiff by whinny mellon-head Youkilis to end the inning.
I won’t believe this is a turnaround game until it happens for another week. This is mostly on Bannister so I’m not about to say playoffs.
AND MOOSE WILL GET #16 BABY!!
obviously I hope brett does well, but I don’t understand all the fan fare he gets and all the disdain for melky..to this point they have been very similar. It makes me think of that stereotype that white players are smart and hardworking while latin players are talented, but lazy.
Thanks Bannister – we needed that!