Game 140: Yankees at Rays
-
- September
- 4
YANKEES (75-64)
Damon LF
Jeter SS
A. Rodriguez 3B
Nady RF
Giambi DH
I. Rodriguez C
Cano 2B
Ransom 1B
Gardner CF
Rasner RHP
RAYS (84-53)
Iwamura 2B
Upton CF
Pena 1B
Floyd DH
Aybar 3B
Hinske LF
Navarro C
Gross RF
Bartlett SS
Kazmir LHP
Darrell Rasner (5-9, 5.08) vs. the Tampa Bay hitters.
Scott Kazmir (10-6, 3.13) vs. the New York hitters.
Notes: The Yankees have won three straight and 5 of 7 overall. … Yankees are 9-5 against the Rays, 5-2 at the Trop. They have outscored the Rays 33-24 on their home field. … The team leaves tonight for Seattle and a night game tomorrow.
THE K MAN: Scott Kazmir is 3-4, 2.76 in 11 career games against the Yankees. In 11 innings this season, he has allowed two runs on eight hits, walked four and struck out 12.
RAZZLE DAZZLE: Darrell Rasner’s scholarship may be up soon. He’s 1-5, 6.20 in his last 12 games, allowing 80 hits (11 homers) over 61 innings.
RESTED AND READY: Mariano Rivera has not pitched since Friday, although he has warmed up a few times. He has not allowed a run in his last 8.2 innings. Great stat via Joel Sherman of the Post: Rivera has struck out 70 and walked 6 over 61.2 innings. That is a ratio of 11.67 strikeouts to every walk. If Rivera finishes at that rate, it would be the second best ratio for any pitcher who has worked 60 innings in a season since 1900. Dennis Eckersley had an 18.25 ratio in 1990 for Oakland.
A-ROD ROARING: Alex Rodriguez is 8 of 13 with seven runs scored, nine RBI and two homers on the road trip. His batting average has climbed to from .306 to .315. His season OPS of .999 is second in the AL to Milton Bradley’s 1.031.
EVERY DAY AN RBI: Jason Giambi has at least one RBI in eight straight games and 14 in the last 11. He has 87 on the season, three fewer than Rodriguez.
TAKE A SEAT: Jose Veras in his last 10.2 innings: 13 hits, 9 earned runs, 8 walks.
ROAD WARRIORS: The Yankees have won six straight on the road.
Back later with some updates.
UPDATE, 5:56 p.m.: Bobby Abreu hurt his left wrist when he slid into second base in the ninth inning last night. After trying to swing in the cage, he was scratched.
Brian Cashman said it was likely they would recall a player from AAA Scranton. The candidates would appear to be Justin Christian or Melky Cabrera.
UPDATE, 6:19 p.m.: Jeremy Bleich made his pro debut today. Baby Bombers.com has the report.
UPDATE, 7:12 p.m.: Via Brian Cashman, X-rays on Bobby Abreu’s wrist were negative.
UPDATE, 7:18 p.m.: The Yankees need to do what they did with Kazmir back on July 8: Work counts, drive up his pitch count and get him out after five innings. Kazmir threw 97 pitches over five innings in that game. He allowed two runs in a game the Yankees won 5-0.
Of course, Rasner needs to do his part and keep the game close.
UPDATE, 7:56 p.m.: Rasner has allowed three runs on five hits in this inning – so far. The Yankees now have one of their 10 relievers up, Alfredo Aceves.
UPDATE, 7:59 p.m.: This is certainly a surprise that Rasner is coming out in the second inning. Rasner had been “throwing well” according to manager Joe Girardi during his pregame media session.
Rasner has now allowed 87 hits and 24 walks in his last 62.1 innings.
UPDATE, 8:28 p.m.: Aceves seemed like a good candidate to replace Sidney Ponson in the rotation. But maybe he’ll slide into Rasner’s spot assuming the Yankees are willing to make a change.
UPDATE, 8:35 p.m.: So, the Yankees don’t have a hit. And they haven’t really come close to one, either.
UPDATE, 8:52 p.m.: Cody Ransom comes through. Of course he did, he’s a .600 hitter.
Wow, Brett Gardner looks overmatched at the plate against Kazmir.
UPDATE, 9:29 p.m.: Kazmir is done. 6 innings, 1 hit, 0 runs, 4 walks, 7 strikeouts. He threw 98 pitches.
UPDATE, 9:38 p.m.: Gardner is 0 for 3 and struck out looking three times. Hard to get a hit unless you swing.
UPDATE, 9:55 p.m.: A little breaking news for you. Brian Cashman has told the beat writers that Melky Cabrera will join the team tomorrow.
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I was wondering how you could leave a guy with a .600 batting aveage out of the lineup.
Laird = Shelly Duncan. Another all or nothing masher who hits .270.
Need to stop overhyping prospects and letting kids in Low A who are 3+ years away dictate who we go after to improve the team next year. Remember we were penciling in Tabata as our RF’er for the next 15 years?
Tex, Manny, CC, Sheets. That is all.
No way! Girardi moved Giambi down a spot? I don’t believe it!
Angels second baseman Sean Rodriguez actually struck out in the fourth inning on Thursday at Comerica Park on a 4-2 pitch.
I actually like this lineup.
“No way! Girardi moved Giambi down a spot? I don’t believe it!”
Laura, Giambi’s been either benched or moved down the lineup pretty much everytime a lefty has pitched against the Yankees the last month or so.
I like how Girardi managed the game yesterday. Pavano was in early trouble and despite the lead, Girardi TOOK HIM OUT! Tonight, if Rasner gets in early trouble, Joba should be ready in the 3rd if need be.
Each game SHOULD BE PLAYED & MANAGED like it is the 7th game of the WS. No room for error.
Let’s keep it going!
Giambi’s third-inning double yesterday extended his streak to 8 straight games with at least 1 RBI, matching the longest streak in the AL this season. (Josh Hamilton had at least 1 RBI in each of 8 straight games, July 5-12). Giambi’s streak is the longest by a Yankees player since Jeter knocked in a run in each of 9 straight games in 2004.
Angels second baseman Sean Rodriguez actually struck out in the fourth inning on Thursday at Comerica Park on a 4-2 pitch
i looked it over it was a 3-2 count!
The three starting pitchers the Yankees have faced so far on this trip—Justin Verlander, Matt Garza and Edwin Jackson—have combined to allow 15 earned runs on 22 hits in 10 total innings.
Coach it sure looks like that’s how Girardi’s managing and should be managing. I’m with you. Let’s keep it going!
is 94-68 too much to ask ?....after we pull a wabbit outta our arse tonight and beat Kazmir….we only need to go…like…. 18-4 over the next 22 games to get there….GO, FIGHT, WIN ! LOL
“Dennis Eckersley had an 18.25 ratio in 1990 for Oakland.”
wow… just wow!
Just pick up 4 games by Sept 26 when we have the final three games of the season at Fenway Toilet to have a slim chance of pushing a playoff game.
If the Yanks win 2 out of 3 in Anaheim, then they have a shot.
If only they’d done this last month…
“If the Yanks win 2 out of 3 in Anaheim, then they have a shot.”
Maybe they should worry about the next 4 first.
The tough thing with 18-4 is you have to depend on your starting pitching and at the same time pray that you are not hitting one of the oppositions better starters.
Not to say it’s impossible of course!
Francessa wants Joba in the pen next year
He said a BP with Marte, Mo, Joba and the other young arms could be one of the greatest BPs ever and would change the way we manage games and approach the offseason.
I guess he didn’t read the article where it said to START the year, not the whole year.
8-2 road trip is a must and if we win tonight, then 9-1 is the must.
That is the only way we can get back into this, have to sweep series and sustain a long winning streak.
Fatcessa not reading up yet again
“More on the Yankees moving Joba back to the bullpen next year where he should be like I said because of injuries”
His producer must not have told him that if they do that they are going to stretch him out again BECAUSE HE IS A STARTER
I love all this people are pounding their chest now and saying SEE I WAS RIGHT he should be in the bullpen because he got hurt
Yo Andy In Sunny Daytona Beach – Based on how bad they do against the Angels, I thought taking 2 out of 3 from them would be a good sign. Obviously, we have work to do over these next four games first, but they are going to sweep the Mariners this weekend, somehow some way.
Bryan –
Can you imagine how painful it would be to try to explain to Francessa the accepted process of developing young arms into a rotation?
Brutal.
TurnTable
September 4th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Laird = Shelly Duncan. Another all or nothing masher who hits .270.
Need to stop overhyping prospects and letting kids in Low A who are 3+ years away dictate who we go after to improve the team next year. Remember we were penciling in Tabata as our RF’er for the next 15 years?
Tex, Manny, CC, Sheets. That is all.
_
It’s obvious that you’ve never seen Laird play, or, any other minor leagu team, for that matter. If you had, you wouldn’t have labeled Laird as all or nothing. He’s also more than a .270 hitter. Nobody has advocated bringing him up, or, Jackson for that matter, unless they haven’t a clue..
Is there anyone here who misses Melky and wishes he were back? I know I do – but absolutely understand our outfield and the need for all of them.
But in a little while I am going to give you a link to the one picture I took last night – maybe tonight I’ll take a few more just so that you can see what McCoy looks like.
“8-2 road trip is a must and if we win tonight, then 9-1 is the must.”
Right now, we need to take it one game at a time. We can count the wins after wards.
Laura I’m with you there. So much nicer taking it one game at a time. That’s really how I’m able to get so much enjoyment out of every season and also not get hung up on who looks bad for an outing. Tomorrow is another day.
We can do our counting at the very end, yes?
Another loss with a Boston win would be a death knell.
However, this time last year did anyone seriously expect the Rockies or Phillies to pay in October?
“TK, if I emailed him, if I even got a response it would be a smart assed one. At least on here he owes it to his readers to be honest.”
I think he owes it to his readers to ignore your silly questions altogether. I think giving you smart a** answer is going above and beyond his call of duty.
Wouldn’t it be great to see Tampa collapse like the Mets did last year and miss the playoffs altogether? I think it’s still possible, they have a pretty tough schedule coming up.
pinstriped, it wouldn’t be great because the Rays are a fun team to watch, but I’d be more than fine with it if it gets the Yankees to October.
Would much prefer a Boston collapse…
“Wouldn’t it be great to see Tampa collapse like the Mets did last year and miss the playoffs altogether?”
only if it’s us taking over the AL East lead…
“Wouldn’t it be great to see Tampa collapse like the Mets did last year and miss the playoffs altogether? I think it’s still possible, they have a pretty tough schedule coming up.”
It would be better to see BOS collapse.
Pinstriped Wilkes-Barrean –
There seems to be much better leadership from the manager in Tampa than the Mets. And the Rays seem to be a lot more united as a team than the fiasco in Shea last year.
of course A-Rod starts hitting as soon as these games no longer matter. kudos to all those who called that one.
Bleich pitched today for SI – 3 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K.
Had a rough first inning, then pitched 2 hitless innings with 3 Ks.
I’d much rather see Boston collapse too, but I’ll take whatever gets us to the playoffs.
“of course A-Rod starts hitting as soon as these games no longer matter. kudos to all those who called that one.”
You are assuming that he believes that as well. I don’t think he does.
“Bleich pitched today for SI – 3 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K.
Had a rough first inning, then pitched 2 hitless innings with 3 Ks.”
Does anybody know if this means that his elbows is sound? SJ44 seemed to think that Bleich needed Tommy John surgery and the kid did miss time last season at Stanford with arm issues?
“of course A-Rod starts hitting as soon as these games no longer matter.”
I thought these were the games that mattered most…no?
The Yankees think that these games matter. They keep saying that they need to win every game. That sounds like pressure to me.
TKinDC
What do you mean?? Ever pitcher should go from throwing 100 innings in one year to 200 innings the year after
What is wrong with that? Double the workload should do nothing to the arm
The three starting pitchers the Yankees have faced so far on this trip (Justin Verlander, Matt Garza and Edwin Jackson) have combined to allow 15 earned runs on 22 hits in 10 total innings.
“I thought these were the games that mattered most…no?”
Games that mattered most were last week. The Yankees really needed 2 of 3 minimum vs Boston. Those were 2 games swings. Had they won at least 2, they are only 5 out now and not on a respirator.
Can’t unring that bell now, but not winning that series really took this thing out of there hands. It’s good that they’re winning, but winning ain’t enough anymore.
*their hands
I have to agree with Bryan, there should be nothing wrong with it.
Great Lineup by the way, girardi finally grew some balls to switch giambi and nady..amazing
Give me a break with Arod. He is hitting great now. The pressure is off. Of course the Yanks say they need to win every game. They are out of it. There is no pressure. Arod is the best hitter in the game when the game doesnt mean anything. Bum
No organization with a lick of commom sense is going to double a 22 year old pitcher’s workload in one year.
Just looking at the schedule and the math, it seems totally impossible, but I can’t stop thinking that Boston and Tampa have 6 to play still against each other and we still have another 3 against Tampa at home.
Even if Boston and Tampa split their six, we have a shot to make up games on Boston and get closer to that 3gb we need to be before the final series.
Who knows what the real Tampa is. Are they the team we’ve seen this week or are they the team that’s been crushing the opposition most of the season?
If Boston were to sweep Tampa and get into 1st and send them into a free fall, it gets interesting because we still have games with Tampa left.
The fact of the matter is, the Yankees can’t afford to lose anymore games. I’m sure they know this. I don’t know how they can keep playing at a high level with this much pressure on them or maybe the pressure is finally off since they are sincere longshots.
The way they’ve played this week is encouraging, but we can’t have one game where a starter goes out and gives the game up in the first 2 innings and ith the rotation we currently have, I’m not sure it’s realistic to think that can happen.
That said, there’s still a chance. It’s just infuriating since this team really had their destiny in their hands last month and appear to have let it slip.
My only regret is we didn’t get another veteran starter at the deadline.
Washburn was pitching was well and may have raised his game after coming here. I think his non trade took the starch out of him for the rest of the season in Seattle.
In the end, what Seattle was asking was astronomical. When it was Igawa for him it made sense, but taking on his money and giving anything else up was a bad idea.
That said, I’d much rather have Washburn starting tonight than Rasner.
I still it all goes back to the pre-season and the declaration that Hughes and Kennedy were ready. We still needed to bring on another veteran arm back then.
I’m sure even the Generation Trey apologists would admit that one now.
That’s a big part of the 6 game difference between us and Boston right now.
anyone read about this yet?
http://www.nypost.com/seven/09042008/news/regionalnews/joba_chamberlain_look_a_like_faces_charg_127492.htm
We didn’t take care of business in April and May, didn’t win games against Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Cleveland, etc…
That’s what’s killing us now.
Though it still amazes me that the Great Collapse occurred after we traded Kyle Farnsworth. What do you guys thing, was going 3-7 on that road trip going to happen anyway?
“No way! Girardi moved Giambi down a spot? I don’t believe it!â€
Cashman must have finally told him to read this blog for answers. Wish Cash wasnt so selfish to keep it a secret for as long as he did. With all the gm’s here including myself. We would have the best record in the league today. Cashman,I want my monthly checks wired.
You have to laugh at these wizards that decide that the pressure is off of Rodriguez so, now, he’s hitting over the last 3-4 games. The pressure is off of Jeter, too, and, he’s pretty much gone in the tank over the last 4 games, and, especially these two much needed Tampa games. His season hasn’t exactly been stellar.
Sos 27 –
You may be a GM, but I a Sofa Scout. And a damned good one
“The pressure is off of Jeter, too, and, he’s pretty much gone in the tank over the last 4 games”
GB,hello.. The games no longer matter. Mr.Clutch/November doesnt need to pad his stats. He will save his heroics till we make a strong run and get back in this.
Frank (NY): How come Brian Cashman isn’t getting any heat for letting the Red Sox get players like Paul Byrd and Mark Kotsay? Byrd is clearly an upgrade over Ponson, Pavano, Rasnar, Hughes, Kennedy etc and all it would have cost them was for them to pick up the rest of his salary. I think that move alone might have put the Yankees in a better position to compete in the WC than they are right now. Your thoughts?
Steve Phillips: Even if the Yankees got those two, it would be unlikely for them to make the playoffs. I think Cashman made the right decision in not going berserk making deals. He added Nady and Marte in good deals, and at least Nady has been productive.Sometimes, you have to hedge your bets on considering trades, and the Yankees weren’t going to give up multiple pieces for Mark Kotsay. I think Cashman does a very good job, and he would be a major loss for the Yankees if they do not retain him. They’ve made the playoffs 12 out of 13 years, and pretty much everyone would take that. That is Brian Cashman, and the Yankees are lucky to have them.
Sam (Lake Bluff, IL): Steve, do you think the Yankees plan to have Joba begin in the bullpen again next season is a smart move?
Steve Phillips: I understand why the Yankees want to start Joba in the bullpen next year, because if he starts the year in the rotation, he will end up logging far more innings than they would like. I think at some point, you have to let him go and just pitch. Ideally, I would send him to winter ball and let him pitch that to add some innings, then build upon that next year while keeping him in the starting rotation.
Steve Phillips: I’ll take Joba on my pitching staff, whether he is a starter or reliever. But I would let him grow up in the rotation.
Theres a 30% chance of winning with RAZZY DAZZY AND Sir Sidney
Jeet Skeet
Where have you been?
I have missed your intelligent posts
G. Love-
Agree with your post, except Paul Byrd, who I wouldn’t want for 2009 is a FA, and was pitching better than Washburn at the time he was picked up, and is still pitching better than Rasner and Ponson , would have been a cheap signing. Also Mark Kotsay was a nice pick up for the Red Sox.
I just think management felt they had done enough, and the players weren’t playing to their capability and contracts.
Uh oh.
I actually agree with something Steve Phillips said. Do I lose my status as Yankee Fan?
“Sos 27 –
You may be a GM, but I a Sofa Scout. And a damned good one”
TK-your hired. You wouldnt happen to know a good Monday morning third base coach or an Al Bundy “in my days” hitting coach or “i coulda made it if it wasnt for that rotator cuff injury in high school” manager do ya?
so good to see this team come around just in time to help boston win the division.
i suppose this season could certainly be worse but, man, sometimes it hasn’t seemed that way.
LOL at Girardi.
He finally changes the lineup and gets Jason out of the 5 spot.
Only 3 months too late.
Can it be that Cashman didnt go after Kotsay because The New Boss called it a year a couple weeks back and told Cash to turn off the lights on your way out? Why does everyone think Cashman is the only one that makes decisions for the Yankees? Let me remind you that this is the Steinbrenners team. Not his. We dont know what happens behind the scenes. Byrd sucked and so does Washburn. I would think he thought that Hughes would comeback and called it off on the 12th hour.
Rebecca – I was thinking the same thing…did aliens invade his body? How is Steve Phillips rational all of a sudden?
Yankee Trader—I definitely would have grabbed Byrd given the chance. It wouldn’t be about blocking Boston, it would have been about winning games here.
That’s a head scratcher, especially given Cash was willing to trade a piece and eat Washburn money a few weeks prior.
There’s been a lot of dubious decisions made this year with this team and what’s amazing is how many of them have gone completely wrong.
The title of the yearbook/video for 2008 should be “Worst Case Scenario”
That’s the theme of this season with the exception of a few bright spots like Mo and Moose.
I don’t know how we win tonight with Rasner vs. Kazmir, but if we get to Kazmir early, anything can happen.
I’ve definitely seen signs of piling on of hits and runs all of a sudden with this offense.
Just cracks you up we do this against the team in 1st place.
The other interesting part of the Tampa schedule is after the 10 games remaining against us and Boston, they still have 7 games against Toronto (3) and Minny (4).
If we somehow swept them tonight, they could go into panic mode and pull a Mets like collapse.
The last 2 series they play are Baltimore and Detroit, so they finish soft, but the next 2 weeks are a bit of a gauntlet for them.
If I were a Boston fan, I’d feel pretty good right now about taking over the division.
Giambi hasn’t batted 5th the last few lefties we’ve faced. pay attention more.
Culpepper retires at 31.
Who would have predicted he would call it quits that early a couple years back? So is it the reciever that makes the quarterback or the quarterback that makes the reciever?
We can’t hit Rays middle relief. JP Howell, Balfour, Brian Stokes, Gary Glover, Cassey Fossum etc, have all had great years this year, so we can’t use the “wear Kazmir our after 5 then get to the pen” strategy.
“The Yankees think that these games matter. They keep saying that they need to win every game. That sounds like pressure to me.”
What they say and how they feel are entirely different things. They know that they are out of it unless there is a miracle. As a result they are playing with a nothing to lose attitude, or at least so it seems.
Rebecca: “I actually agree with something Steve Phillips said. Do I lose my status as Yankee Fan?”
We are taking it under advisement.
“We can’t hit Rays middle relief. JP Howell, Balfour, Brian Stokes, Gary Glover, Cassey Fossum etc, have all had great years this year, so we can’t use the “wear Kazmir our after 5 then get to the pen†strategy.”
You do know that Casey Fossum is now with DET, right?
“The other interesting part of the Tampa schedule is after the 10 games remaining against us and Boston, they still have 7 games against Toronto (3) and Minny (4).
If we somehow swept them tonight, they could go into panic mode and pull a Mets like collapse.
The last 2 series they play are Baltimore and Detroit, so they finish soft, but the next 2 weeks are a bit of a gauntlet for them.
If I were a Boston fan, I’d feel pretty good right now about taking over the division.”
G. Love-the writing in on the wall with the Rays. They held on for a long time and have had a number of guys playing over their heads. They are ready to go into free fall.
Definitely rather watch the Giants tonight i dunno about everyone else
Whatever works.
“LOL at Girardi.
He finally changes the lineup and gets Jason out of the 5 spot.
Only 3 months too late.”
Really
How long Nady has been on the team?
What did Steve Phillips actually say that can be taken seriously? This is like breaking news… Please do tell.
Why are people so scared of Kazmir?
Yankees are one team who handled him well.
With a last name of Balfour. I wouldnt take the bat off my shoulders. Just take your base.
DFOX – I posted some stuff from his ESPN chat above…
G. Love –
Imagine that on the YES Network – 2008 Yankee Yearbook – the Year of the Worst Case Scenario.
It’s definitely been that this year, to the nth degree. Also known as “everything that could go wrong did go wrong.”
SJ44 yesterday said that the best thing that could happen to this team would be if it does not make the playoffs. And although it may be academic, I agreed with him to the extent that it would make whatever changes that needed to be made a little more palatable, I’ve been thinking about that statement.
How can it ever be bad for a team to make it to the playoffs?
Of course, you don’t want the Yankees to get all sentimental in the off-season if, for instance, Jason Giambi goes on a tear and drives in at least a run a game the rest of the way, or Carl Pavano reels off another 4 good (or good-ish, but won) starts. BUT – could you imagine a season where everything that could go wrong did go wrong ended in a World Series victory? Because we all know that once a team gets to the playoffs anything can happen. And it somehow seems that the less a team is favored to advance, the more likely it is to do just that.
How could that be bad?
You could easily say goodbye & thank you to Jason Giambi, et al. Happy goodbyes instead of sad what-coulda-shoulda-beens.
I know, I know. Pipedreams. But what if?
The Yanks haven’t handled Kazmir well, they won games against him because their team didn’t hit.
Doreen
That is what happened to St. Louis in 06. That team won 83? games and then the Series
Mark in Tampa –
Exactly!!! There is a precedent.
(But I don’t want to be too hopeful)
I love football but Yankees still come first.
For whatever it’s worth, here’s the picture of Da Melk I took last night.
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j236/trisha506/DAMELK.jpg
I do miss him being on the big club – no not his lack of offense, but his super D and just his being there as part of the club.
“The Yanks haven’t handled Kazmir well, they won games against him because their team didn’t hit.”
true
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/splits?playerId=5917
3 year split- he oddly has very few starts against the yanks compared with the rest of AL East…
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/splits?playerId=5917&type=pitching3&three=1
These yankees don’t come first..Superbowl Champion Giants come first now
Giants are garbage. Luckiest super bowl champ ever. Skins will woop them tonight
I am a Yankees and Jets fan. Works out perfectly for me on Sunday – Jets play at 1 and the Yanks play at 4.
Trisha: that’s a really creepy picture.
Andrea – why so?
Trisha – have fun at the game tonight. Take some more pictures if you can.
Doreen,
I agree with you but with the Yankee pitching staff, making it to the playoffs would be an embarassment! Imagine a starting rotaion of Pettite, Moose, Ponson, Rasner, Pavano in the playoffs??? what a joke! Guess they would only need 3 of those though as there is no way they’d make it out of the first round…AGAIN!
“So is it the reciever that makes the quarterback or the quarterback that makes the reciever?”
all depends on which qb/recievers. i can BS my way through lots of arguments to suit my needs. fun!
Doreen,
In all honesty, if they somehow pulled a miracle and got into the post season, I still think they are going to change most of the team.
The GM and the owners are incredibly frustrated by guys who take 1/2 the season off thinking they have plenty of time to wrap up the WC.
I think everyone in the organization knows the culture has to change even if they do somehow squeak it out.
That said, I really think the pressure is on Tampa right now to close this season out.
I think Boston nipping at their heels with 6 left to play has got to have them nervous. If they fall out of 1st place, it’s not that far to keep falling.
Still, this Yankee team has to win every day.
Somehow, I feel that if we start to really get close again, we’ll see the team from last month again and not the team of this week.
great pic trisha!
“Giants are garbage. Luckiest super bowl champ ever. Skins will woop them tonight”
someone bitter?
Fran, thank you so much for always being willing to hang out with me and validate my fun!
I will definitely take pictures tonight.
I have a few other close ups of Yankee players from games I’ve gone to. I’ll put up the links for those also in case you want to see them. It’s obviously much easier to get close ups when you go to the “baby” parks.
Thanks Saucy! I really thought it was a pretty cool pic myself. The stands aren’t field level so that’s about the best shot I could get.
it’s cool! the best minor league photos i have are of Jeff Karstens warming up. maybe a week or so before he was traded.
“i can BS my way through lots of arguments to suit my needs. fun!”
saucy,
Didnt get your comment. I wouldnt think that you of all people were trying to bang on my posts. Were ya?
Just found out that Los Angeles used to be called way back when “El Pueblo Nuestra Senora la Reyna De Los Angeles De Porciuncula”. Here we thought the Halos name was long.
G. Love –
I sure hope that even if they pull off the miracle of miracles (baseball-wise, that is), that they still go on with the changes that need to be made. That’s why I said, they could say, “Thanks and Bye to Giambi, et al.”
Heck, if they could at least last long enough so that Septmber is energized and not a month where you’re (we’re) just watching games because they’re there, I’d be okay.
If they win today and today and today and today, it doesn’t sound quite as bad as having to win every day. Same result, but different, more precise focus. Perhaps I’m giving them more credit or optimism that is deserved, but despite the way the season has gone, I don’t believe this team has no heart or pride at all.
It may (and probably will) all come down to what Sara said, and that is, the pitching rotation may just not be up to it. But even Rasner and Ponson have given quality starts.
I know it’s a huge, hughe maybe, what if, and, like I said before, a pipedream.
sos, if i like the quarterback, he makes his recievers. if i don’t like the qb, the recievers make him…
hey 26 world champs..sounds like someone is a little upset that his team couldnt win the SB last year…let me guess..pats fan?
“sos, if i like the quarterback, he makes his recievers. if i don’t like the qb, the recievers make him…”
Heres a tough one for you. What if its Moss and Brady and you dont like any of them? And you also hate the coach.
Doreen
Changes are long overdue. If not for A-Rod and Posada’s insane years last year, the Yanks would have been where they are right now 12 months ago. So it’s really been at least 2 years that this team has the issues that are now so obvious.
Dreaming isn’t a bad thing. Everyone needs an escape from reality now and then.
easy, Moss made Brady last season, and others made him in prior years. have to go with the rental player, not the NE franchise guy…
meanwhile, Peyton made Harrison and Wayne.
i’m going home now, and quitting while i’m ahead (i think)
my sources are telling me that we have a “chance” to pull out a win tonight.
Rasner is a #2 next year.
I agree
Wang
Rasner
Joba
Hughes
Kennedy
“I agree
Wang
Rasner
Joba
Hughes
Kennedy”
Wheres Igawa? The only #2 that Rasner will be is a second part of a trade. See 08 Karstens.
When was the last time Betemit got an AB?
Abreu being hurt today is a good thing since he needs a day off anyway, let’s just hope it’s only a 1 game thing. Having Gardner against Kazmire is no advantage but it might be good to give Damon a break in CF anyway since I’m SURE there will be some SHOTS being sent out there tonight and Gardner can run them down a little better than JD.
...Erp. Bobby might have been the one guy we rreally couldn’t afford have gotten hurt.
Gonna get a chance to see if all the early bunting BP with Brett has paid off.
I am not even a Giants fan and I am amped for football in about an hour. I am not going to be in here during the action so fill me in upon my return.
As a Giants fan, I’m so nervous for tonight. For some reason, home games against average teams scare me. I always think some fluke thing will happen like 2 tipped INTs returned for TDs or 2 punts returned for TDs or a missed tackle which turns a 5 yard loss into a 95 yard TD run or a missed chip shot FG which comes back haunt you or something crazy like that.
Hi,
I am a loyal reader since 2006. First time posting, but have benefited from your lively discussions many times (as well as Pete’s first-hand reporting).
As heartbroken as it may be to watch one of the final games, I decided to visit the Yankee stadium for the first time in my life, before it becomes history. If anybody has extra tickets for 09/15 or 09/16, would you please let me know? I need two tickets, because I am dragging my boyfriend along (who, unfortunately, is a Cubs fan, but will gladly see Yanks beat the White Sox).
BTW, you guys have no idea how hard it is to be a female Yankee fan in Chicago. Red Sox fans easily outnumber Yankees fans here. And I am regularly teased or harassed by co-workers, strangers in a sports bar, etc … I always vigorously defend the Yanks. You guys don’t know how lucky you are!
(We also would appreciate recommendations of an authentic Yankees bar, where we can engage in some Yankee talks, and soak in the atmostphere. It can be near stadium, subway stops, or in Manhattan, where we would be staying).
Go Yanks!
Here’s a great interview with Jim Abbott on the Dan Patrick show talking about the no-hitter:
http://tinyurl.com/Abbot-on-DP-Show
…Erp. Bobby might have been the one guy we rreally couldn’t afford have gotten hurt.
I concur.
Pat, I don’t know what happened to Gardner’s bunting skills, because he did just fine when I saw him in 2006 for Tampa. I saw him try to bunt twice thisyear and it was like he never heard of bunting. Jeter, Cabrera and Cano all need lessons. Jeter used to be very good about sac bunting and bunting for base hits…two completely different styles. Now on sac bunts, it’s as if he’s trying for hits more than sacs. I doubt that Cano has ever been taught how to bunt at all. The best bunter on this team is Justin Christian.
Alright, I need a list of all the commies. Er, Jets & Giants fans.
Jets:
Rebecca
Giants:
TK
Brandon
Giants fan. Go Big Blue!
Bobby hurt? Um, that’s not good.
Imagine that 140 games into the season and Joe G finally realizes it is possible just possible that a three hundred hitter who is capable of 20+ dingers may just possibly just possibly may be more efficient that a 250 hitter who hits 20+ dingers. Finally Joe, it just has to be tried. No doubt Joe G. reads the blog.
An Angel struck out on a 4-2 pitch today.
I they had strong fundamentals.
“Jets:
Rebecca
Giants:
TK
Brandon”
Colts:
S.o.S.
Your name here
Are Paul Byrd and CC Sabathia friends, by any chance?
mel
G-Men fan here.
^thought
Ocho Cinco will have his new name on his jersey. For those who can’t read, it’ll be written in numbers, too.
GB
With Gardner’s speed I thought it was a given that someone somewhere had taught him how to sac bunt or especially bunt for a hit. Hearing the YES guys say he had been out early working with Girardi and the coaches on bunting and slap hitting since he came back was surprising.
Being 34 and out of practice at it is probably what happened to Jeter.
Spring Training ‘09 should be Camp Fundamentals rather than training for the Marathon like it was this year. Conditioning is important but it didn’t seem to limit the injuries this year and strong fundamentals from all might have been able to help them overcome the injuries of some.
Jets:
Rebecca
Giants:
TK
Brandon
R-Tek
pat
SA
Horse Dung:
S.o.S. (President of the Peyton Manning fan club)
Colts all the way!!!
“Though it still amazes me that the Great Collapse occurred after we traded Kyle Farnsworth. What do you guys thing, was going 3-7 on that road trip going to happen anyway?”
Rebecca –
What is the team’s record with I-Rod catching?
“Ocho Cinco will have his new name on his jersey. For those who can’t read, it’ll be written in numbers, too.”
Why would he have his name twice on his back? Maybe a x2 would suffice. Maybe faded behind the first numbers.
mel; I think Al from BK is also a Jets fan, and jennifer too
Who do you watch? Giants or Yankees? or both?
Rebecca, lol. Feeling a little lonely?
Jets:
Rebecca
Al (where in the world is BK?)
jennifer
Giants:
TK
Brandon
R-Tek
pat
SA
Colts:
S.o.S. (President of the Peyton Manning fan club)
melissa
back bench: I’m not sure. Maybe check Baseball Reference?
G-Men
mel: not in the slightest!
“Horse Dung:
S.o.S. (President of the Peyton Manning fan club)”
That does it. I will never have a football conversation with you again. Are you affraid to add your name
Cheatriots
mel
Peter
Dont be ashamed. O.k. maybe you should be.
Welcome Mellissa.
Go Colts!!
mel,
saucy is a G fan as well. Dont you remember. It was his good luck Manning jersey that won it for them.
I heard Costas saying that the big production they’re going to show tonight is the brainchild of Madden. Football always just kind of started. No fanfare unlike baseball where Opening day is a big deal.
So, that’s why there’s the Thursday game and lots of hoopla.
WARNING:
No Sox game tonight so troll drive-bys could be likely.
And the rightful champs graciously allowed the Giants to host the big opener.
“And the rightful champs graciously allowed the Giants to host the big opener.”
Go with that if it helps.
^
pat,
A troll’s already stealing your identity.
Go New York Football Giants!
Big Blue!
Geeeeeeeeeeeeee-Men!
GIANTS fan.
Aren’t all Yankee fans required to be Giant fans, and all Met fans supposed to be Jet fans? Makes sense to me!
BK = Burger King. Al likes to have it his way.
So anyone else ditching the Yankee game for the Giants tonight? In my defense I am visiting my cable-less friend in Philly, and don’t feel like spending $$ at a sports bar, so no choice but to listen to the G-Men online on the Fan. I’ll Gameday the Yankees also but am counting on this blog to keep me updated otherwise.
Nice to see the X-Man batting cleanup vs a tough lefty, and I know a sweep is unlikely but man would it be a slice of heaven if it happened.
Meanwhile, the Dolphins are my AFC team, so it’s gonna hurt seeing JT playing for the Skins, but he is goin down!
Go Yankees and Go BIG BLUE!!!!
RSM: Not in my family!
Okay, so I’m a black sheep among my immediate family members, but my grandmother and cousins are die-hard Jets fans.
Of course, they like everyone but the Yankees and my immediate family and I are die-hard Yankee fans…
My head’s spinning.
Score is 0-0, but Laptops is throwing a no-hitter. I thought he was an mlb ace. What’s he doing in AA?
“WARNING:
No Sox game tonight so troll drive-bys could be likely.”
lol, I would not be trolling during the opening game for the WORLD CHAMPION GIANTS if I were them!!!
18-1 yo!!!
Strahan, suit up! PLEASE!
mel
Nope. That snarkiness is all me.
Got to go watch the Gints tonight but we’ll be flipping back and forth and refreshing often to keep track of the Yanks.
Go Raz!! Go Yanks!!
Pat, gotta agree about Jeter. I remember years ago, when Rizzuto was on some interviews with YES/MSG, he was bragging on and on about Jeter’s bunting abilities, both sacs and hits. Even his base running has slipped. Not just his steals going down, but, his judement has changed. He’s made more mistakes in the last two years than he has in the previous 10, or, so it seems. That last stolen base was a good example. That was ugly, regardless of the outcome.
You’re correct about the lack of good fundamental baseball coaching. That seems to be the perfect job for willie Randolph….bunting and base running. The one most fundalmentally sound player on that team is Damon, although from the few times I’ve seen of Christian, is extremely sound in all areas of the game.
I’d rather see Strahan start the game in Tampa than Rasner.
Um, but of course I have confidence in the Yankee hurler.
Go Ras.
See, when injuries aren’t bad you know right away—x-rays are negative, etc.
Let’s go Giants -4!!!!!
judgement
Just logging in after the dinnertime chores. Two thoughts. Abreu hope he’s okay, but file it in the everything that can go wrong has gone wrong category. Just when they’re on a roll, some one gets hurt, even if it turns out to be minor.
Second thought. I watched Kim Jones interview Maddon. Gee I hate it when I actually like the manager of the opposition. What a well-spoken (and attractive) man.
Bid deal, it’s not like he caught it with his helmet.
G-men put 1st score on the board.
Giants – 7
‘Skins – 0
TD Eli!
Mel –
Laptops is pitching for AA? Vs. Trenton? Why did I assume he was in AAA?
wow, “after dinnertime chores”, this early?
Dinner time isn’t until 10 PM for me. and I’m on a normal 9-5 work schedule
Well, at least we made him throw a lot of pitches!
Chris –
Yeah, we do early dinners.
Why is Giambi swinging at 1-0 when two batters were walked in front of him?
About the only good thing about that inning is Nady’s walk, Alex’s stolen base, and Kazmir spent 24 pitches.
They need to keep working him because he’s going to settle down and they don’t need to help him.
Why indeed, Timmy, why indeed…
Doreen,
Yes. The sandbaggers.
Dinner? I just ate lunch.
Just to annoy you, Timmy. Giambi knew you were watching and wanted to see your response.
Wow, the Skins are really bad. No QB, no receivers, and no d-line.
If Rasner has a problem, it’s giving up two strike hits. Not concerned with that walk except that he was ahead. At times, he throws too many predictable strikes.
mel –
Do you sleep???????
Not really worried about Daryl’s pitch count, because under no circumstances should the Rays be seeing him a 3rd time through.
But don’t freaking walk people, Daryl!
Robbie, not cool.
Looks like niether pitcher can find the strike zone.
He succeeded, I’ll be sure to send out an angry letter in the mail tomorrow.
The smooth jokes are getting too cheap and easy.
great – now get back to it, bats!
Well, that last play was pretty smooth.
Jacobs is a beast!
Not making excuses, and, yes, he could have made the play, but, not necessarily should have, but, that ball was hard hit and when it skipped, it changed directions.
The Skins’ are pathetic, did you see their safety get trucked?
NYG 10-0 lead
This is sorta off-topic, but anyone else in the NJ-Comcast viewing area getting peeved over how, during an inning change, the first 2 seconds of a commercial (usually one of the Ford Jeter ads) begins, then abruptly gets cut off by another commercial? Happens every single time during a commercial break. Comcast is so very terrible…I wish they would get their act together. It’s annoying.
Uh, I-rod. We like to take pitches in New York.
not liking these quick abs AT ALL
Mel –
OMG – I just finished saying to my husband – didn’t Pudge get the memo about taking pitches. Too funny.
Does a 4 pitch walk count as a quick at bat?
The bottom of this lineup is pretty unimpressive. A big difference from the last 2 days. The top 2/3 is going to have to do the work tonight.
Rebecca –
Well, at least it extends the inning.
Rebecca – it’s better than these onsie, twosies…and at least it doesn’t result in an out
Is Gardner ever going to swing at a pitch by a left hander?
I would take Ransom over Betemit for next year’s utilty player. If that was Betemit at bat, he would had stuck out.
Kazmir needs to give up on the ‘stache.
you all are gonna crucify me for this, but I’d rather see some JC up there than Gardner.
Doreen,
Look at who got 4-pitch walks. Nady and Ransom. Looks like Kazmir got the memo.
BTW, Jets or Giants?
Nope GreenBeret, he’ll stand there with the bat on his shoulder for the rest of the season just to annoy you.
lol. If Collins doesn’t get the job done, we might see Brennan.
Campbell is so ineffective.
so is Johnny Damon today’s Eric Hinske…just keep hitting them out there?
Can’t we put Joba in for a few innings? Or Aceves? Or…?
Giants by default Hubby likes Giants). I’m a loosy-goosy football fan. And if the Jets got into the playoffs I’d probaby root for them except if it hurts the Giants.
They spent so much time replaying the spring training stuff, I have no idea what’s going on. How did 2 people get on base with no outs????
nick: I’d be all for that…
Wow, bullpen up please?
Uh oh
Thanks Girardi for sending these bums Rasner and Ponson out there to kill any sort of consistency this ballclub has..
Rebecca – that’s my line
Yes – who is warming in the bullpen???
Joe has to make this stop right now. You have plenty of bullpen pieces, can’t let this get out of reach. He should of pulled Rasner after the gross double. This is do or die
Terry –
Who would you have pitched tonight?
NOT TO JINX ANYTHING: this past 2 games, we won after the Rays scoring first.
WARM UP THE PEN ALREADYYYYYY!!!!!!
Christ Girardi, get someone up. Anyone.
I’m sure that was Girardi’s goal: kill any consistency.
Why does he hate the Yankees so?
Who would you have pitched tonight?
Alfredo Aceves or Phil Coke, if he didn’t pitched last night.
and who else is supposed to start these games if not Rasner and Ponson – the manager doesnt put the players on the team…you might want to ask Cashman about that…
Man, Rasner sucks!
over/under before Girardi pulls Rasner?
How many runs makes the game out of reach.
Bullpen…I say go to Joba and slow this all down
Rasner is close to hitting rock bottom. If he pitches any worse, he’s going to be adopted as a favorite player by… well, you know.
panayoti: It should be four, but with Girardi it’s usually six or seven.
i’m not watching on tv – is anyone warming in the bp??
Get him outta there
It’s a rough choice to bring in Geise, because he’s the same type of pitcher as Rasner, but, with better location on the strikes. This game might be over in a hurry if they don’t get out of this inng quick.
THANK YOU.
Forgot that Aceves was out in the pen.
Is it too late to just leave Radner in tampa when the Yankees fly home???
Doreen, I can’t understand how Rasner has earned the right to even still be in the rotation?? Aceves could at least be thrown out there. At least he is a secret to the Rays. Rasner is predictable and has no right to be there. How about Giese???
If he pitches any worse, he’s going to be adopted as a favorite player by… well, you know
LOL
i’m not watching on tv – is anyone warming in the bp??
Aceves is..
Well, Coke did pitch last night, but even if he didnt I wouldn’t have started him against the Rays. Aceves maybe, but I understood that they were only going to use him out of the pen.
Anyway, Aceves might be in this game soon enough.
Rasner is someone you want to succeed because he gives it his all, but he just doesn’t have it – not enough of the time, not consistently.
they are playing well. Girardi needs to stop the bleeding now and go to the pen.
Sometimes his lack of managing is more a negative than the lack of situational hitting.
It is not like he is seeing something new from Rasner.
Time to get rasner out ASAP
“Is it too late to just leave Rasner in tampa when the Yankees fly home???”
I think they all leave the stadium together on a bus so he’d know something was up.
Well, Coke did pitch last night, but even if he didnt I wouldn’t have started him against the Rays. Aceves maybe, but I understood that they were only going to use him out of the pen.
Coke is a lefty, Girardi would had countered the Rays’ lefty lineup.
terry from NH –
I don’t think it’s that he’s earned it so much as there’s no real alternative.
Don’t laugh, S.A., it makes you complicit and it only encourages me.
GET HIM OUT JOE
Wow Radner just needs to go.DFA or outright release. Pathetic. Can the Yanks come back from this? The Rays should send Razz a gift basket as a thank you for extending their batting practice.
Thanks, Ed…
Doreen: Rasner might do very well in the NL
Oh this is not good.
Not good at all!
Do we think Rasner’s disgusted with himself this time too…