Game 147: Rays at Yankees
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Sep 12, 2008 
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YANKEES (77-69)
Damon CF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Giambi 1B
Nady LF
Matsui DH
Cano 2B
Molina C
Ponson RHP
Matt Garza (11-9, 3.55) vs. the New York hitters.
Sidney Ponson (8-5, 5.10) vs. the Tampa Bay hitters.
Notes: Thanks to Jake Thomases for e-mailing the lineup from the Stadium. … It’s raining in NYC at the moment but we’re a long way from game time. … This is the first game of a 10-game homestand.
RUBBER MATCH: Garza dominated the Yankees back on May 12 (7 5 0 0 1 3) but the Yankees knocked him around a bit on Sept. 2 (5 5 6 4 1 2). Garza overmatched the Yankees with his fastball in May and tried more breaking pitches in the last game.
SIR SID VS. THE RAYS: Ponson is 0-1 against the Rays this season. In 11 innings he has allowed six runs on 17 hits. He faced them as a Yankee on July 9 and allowed one run over six innings.
JETER CHASING THE IRON HORSE: Derek Jeter has had 1,260 hits at Yankee Stadium. The record is 1,269 by Lou Gehrig. Jeter has 10 games to collect nine hits to tie, 10 to pass him. Be kind of cool if he tied him, no?
GIVE IT UP, BERNIE: Bernie Williams told the Post he would be attending the final game on Sept. 21. But he also refused to say he has retired. In other news, Bernie turns 40 tomorrow and has not played in a game since Oct. 6, 2006. That’s retired.
TOUGH ON RAYS: The Yankees are 9-6 against Tampa Bay this season. The Rays have a losing record against only one other team in the AL, Cleveland (2-5).
Back later with some updates.
UPDATE, 5:15 p.m.: Joe Girardi was on WFAN this afternoon and said he was hoping for a miracle run that would get the Yankees in the playoffs. That would have to be some miracle. Girardi also said the team has been playing hard down the stretch. You have to assume that most of what he says he simply doesn’t mean, but thinks it sounds good. Otherwise he really has a disconnection from reality. One thing about New York: You can’t fool too many people. Well, not too many anyway. The true believers won’t figure it out until Sept. 29.
UPDATE, 6:57 p.m.: The game is not going to start on time, if it starts at all. It’s pouring in the Bronx. The teams would undoubtedly play a split doubleheader on Saturday or Sunday.
When the Yankees reveal their plans, I’ll let you know.
UPDATE, 7:38 p.m.: Scranton is facing Durham tonight in North Carolina. You can follow the game on Minor League Baseball.com. Phil Hughes is pitching and there’s no score in the second inning. Scranton needs a win to claim the IL title.
UPDATE, 7:45 p.m.: Scranton has taken a 3-0 lead. Hopefully Hughes can hold it. I’ve had a chance to meet a bunch of the guys from that team (Shelley, Eric Duncan, Phil, Ian, Justin Christian, Nick Green, Dave Robertson, etc.) and they’re all good guys. If you’re going to play all season, you might as well win a title.
The Akron-Trenton game in the EL finals is being delayed by rain. That best-of-five series is tied 1-1.
You know the drill. Read Chad Jennings and Mike Ashmore for everything on those clubs. The links are over to the right.
I have tix for tonight – but it’s pouring in NYC. Any word if this game is happening?
Me too. I think they’ll play, but no way it happens on time.
There’s not too much time left to reschedule games.
Hope they get it in. Wouldn’t mind seeing Sidney roll around in the mud. j/k. Do they water the field for him like they do Wang.
I still can’t believe he missed half the season. Pete, any news on the arbitration schedule/plan for CMW?
Boston and Philly win coin flips.
We weren’t even involved.
Mel,
There really isn’t going to be a plan re: arbitration and Wang.
The Yankees will offer him a contract and he will have to determine whether or not to agree to it.
If he doesn’t? Back to arbitration.
Considering in his last arbitration hearing, he didn’t meet his rep until the morning of his hearing (a product of when your agent farms out arbitration cases rather than do them himself), I don’t see how arbitration will help him.
I doubt the Yankees will offer him a multi-year deal.
His best bet? Take the Yankees offer, have a big year, and that will put him in a much better negotiating position for 2010.
Hooray for Cashman’s $200 million dollar 4th place team!
He has sure earned full autonomy!!
mel -
What coin flips?
SJ,
Thanks. So they’re going to offer him something in the $400,000 range?
Poor guy. CC will get 40x the money, but he’s not 40x the pitcher.
Hopefully, Wang will get his big contract one day.
Was the coin flip for if there’s a tie and a need for a playoff game who gets home field?
Mel,
Wang is making millions this year no?
Doreen,
Home field for one game tiebreakers.
Enough with the $200M. It’s actually more, but that’s besides the point. Enough!
what time do you think you will have the Rays lineup?
Mel,
No,
They will offer him a contract pretty much at (or a little over) what he is making now.
They won’t cut his pay.
ray,
Am I off by a factor of 10? Yikes. Wang makes $4M? Oops.
For the 12 year olds who keep bringing up the payroll, what difference does it make?
This is when folks venture into moronic, talk radio caller/host mode.
Payroll doesn’t hit with RISP. It also doesn’t pitch or catch the ball.
Once the games start, payroll means nothing.
If some of the children who inhabit this blog learn nothing else about this season, its that.
Yes, the Yankees have money. However, you still have to play the games.
If you don’t play them well, you don’t win, regardless of the payroll number.
SJ44 -
Most people will never understand that. Sadly.
As a die hard yankee fan and a TRUE baseball fan, I can honestly say I’m rooting for the Rays to take the field against Torre’s club in the WS. Good baseball should always prevail, and the Rays are a great story.
Whats not to love in LA? Torre, Donnie, and Manny!
This game is crazy.
no way they play tonight. check out the radar.
http://www.accuweather.com/
The struggles with hitting with RISP is being overblown. It is definitely a factor to the offensive woes. But you know what it a much much much bigger factor? Giving 2000 plate appearances to guys who have OPS+’s below 85. That’s close to 40% of the team’s plate appearances that have gone to guys that have little shot at getting on base. And those guys have been brutal with RISP as well.
“Be kind of cool if he tied him, no? ”
tonight?
that would be beyond cool!
Cash and the Yankee brass treated Bernie like garbage.
They dole out million dollar major league contracts to guys half the player Bernie was…disgraceful.
They didn’t treat Bernie like garbage.
This is how old the payroll argument is. Even the talk jocks and loud mouth writers don’t even bring it up anymore.
Has Bernie looked in the mirror lately? Baseball shape left the building a long time ago.
They didn’t treat Bernie like garbage. They were daring him to sign with the Sox.
what are the odds Bernie plays in next springs WBC?
yeah Bernie never made 100 million + or anything while playing for the yanks.
Hard for me to believe a guy that made over 100 million dollars, in addition to having a huge platform to promote his music, was treated like “garbage” by his employer.
The fact is, Bernie stayed 1-2 years too long and the Yankees were VERY good to him. He was done as a player by 2005.
Do we not remember that sad series at the Stadium against the Red Sox when Bernie couldn’t track balls he would have had in his hip pocket 3-4 years earlier?
As much as we may want, players don’t stay young forever.
Cashman had to be the heavy in this because Torre wouldn’t be. As a GM, you can’t be sentimental. If you are, you aren’t doing your job.
You can’t just keep guys around because they used to be great.
Bernie Williams was VERY GOOD to the Yankees and the Yankees were VERY GOOD to Bernie Williams in return.
Endings of careers are not always clean and neat. Happily, both sides are back on the same page and its great that Bernie will be back at the Stadium for the close of the building.
You guys are too easy to tweak.
Refreshed,
Agreed.
Torre and Donnie for all they’ve been to us, Manny because his acclaim in LA as ‘His Dreadedness’ will only grow and stick it even further to the loathely Red Sox.
SJ, seriously enough with the fatherly wisdom.
You’ve made just as many boneheaded statements throughout the year on here as anybody else.
You’re a fan just like everyone else…
Why does anybody care whether Bernie Williams has announced or refused to announce his retirement. Even after Jim Palmer was elected to the HOF, he made an attempt to play again by going to Spring Training with the White Sox. Don Mattingly waited over a year after his last game to finally announce his retirement and nobody, including the media said a word.
The NL fell asleep today.
According to John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer, the Reds officially received pitcher Micah Owings as part of the bounty for the Adam Dunn trade. Owings dealt with shoulder stiffness shortly after the D’Backs sent him to the minors in late July.
Who’s in more denial: Bernie or Jeter?
Joe Girardi on WFAN
We know who that Yankee player that said they quit is, it’s obvious .
Michah Owings will become the next Rick Ankiel. He’ll either be dealt to the DL as a GH or become an outfielder.
they did treat Bernie like garbage in that they didn’t give him a roster spot. i’m sure that of the 40 people on the Spring 2007 roster, there was some mediocre player they could’ve DFA’d for Bernie Williams.
Bernie had a decent enough 2006 to merit a 2007 return as a role player (a la his 2006 role). he hit lefties very well again in 2006, which was a huge weakness in 2007. i like Cashman’s overall youth movement strategy. But Bernie was a case where Cashman was too ideological; it’s not like he had a great bench set up where Bernie wouldn’t fit.
that being said, Bernie could’ve accepted the NRI that was offered too.
Hey, Bernie’s earned the right to say whether he’s retired or not. Why harp on it, Pete? Does it affect anything? No. Maybe he thinks he can be a Manny Mota-type pinch hitter . . . whatever. The guy is a class act through and through.
“This is how old the payroll argument is. Even the talk jocks and loud mouth writers don’t even bring it up anymore”
Totally agree … shut up already
Besides, its not like the Yankees went crazy with spending in the off-season like they have in previous years.
The big off-season moves they made were re-signing their own players.
The one off-season move they didnt make was deciding to pass on Johan Santana because amongst a variety of reasons, they didnt want the payroll to go any higher.
They had a ton of players with expiring contracts this year … they rolled the dice that they could compete without making a “big splash” and it didnt work …….. after 13 straight years of making it to the playoffs, the world wont come to end.
Jeter is not in denial he’s just being Jeter, the guy who never loses his cool and never reveals his hand.
“It ain’t over til it’s over” – when the x is next to the Yanks’ name, Jeter will speak.
“Bernie Williams was VERY GOOD to the Yankees and the Yankees were VERY GOOD to Bernie Williams in return.”
‘And baseball has been very good to me.’
-Roberto Clemente
so sad that we have to see that SLUG Ponson on the mound TWICE during the final 10 games at the stadium…..what a disgusting sight….
and beisbol been berry berry good to me
-slammin sammy
umm what time do you think this is game is going to be called? I got tickets tonight and its pouring out. You think they’ll reschedule it as a double header or on the off day on the 22nd?
Bernie had a decent 2006, and although his defense wasn’t really up to snuff, he still would have been a great bench player/DH. He wasn’t bothered by pressure situations like some people seem to be.
Instead of offering him another 1 million dollar contract, they instead crowded the bench with players like Betemit, Duncan, Cairo, and Phelps who never really played or made an impact anyway. I find it hard to believe that at 1 mil, Bernie couldn’t have replaced one of those players productivity.
When Derek Jeter is a free agent in a couple years and his offense and defense further decline, do we really think he’ll be offered a 1 year/1 million $ contract? Or how about a non roster invite to spring training?
What do you all think an appropriate stance will be to take with Jeter’s free agency?
They did what they needed to with Bernie, but I sure hope they their other superstar players are handled the same way when their careers are on the decline.
“Bernie Williams was VERY GOOD to the Yankees and the Yankees were VERY GOOD to Bernie Williams in return.”
‘And baseball has been very good to me.’
-Roberto Clemente
“Baseball been bery bery good to me!”
-Garrett Morris SNL
Scorpio,
Don’t you love how people kill Girardi and Jeter for not throwing in the towel when there’s still a chance no matter how slim? What kind of leaders do that?
The Yankees had miracles, the Phillies did last year. I’m not being delusional and saying it’s going to happen. But people have not clue, they have to stay positive. No matter what the reality is or how they really feel.
Any chance Bernie can play first base next year?
Uhoh Girardi just hinted… said there are players we’re going to lose, bye Jason, bye Bobby, bye maybe even Nady/Damon/Matsui through trades IMO.
“Hal, Brian and I sit down together at least once a week I talk to Felix a lot as well”
Joe Girardi on the FAN just now. That quote pretty much tell you all you need to know about who is running the Yankees and it is NOT HANK STEINBRENNER. Thepress going to Hank just makes for good copy but it seems to me that that is pretty much all he does.
we will see plenty of rasner/giese tonight
i thought that was huge for girardi to admit there would be big chances/a new look to the yankees/different faces….its a very telling sign…i really expected girardi to answer that question without giving anything and perhaps even saying “no we dont need major changes, this is a winning team”…interesting offseason for sure
If a player or manager says they are “done”, they should be gone on the spot.
Its not the way you approach things.
If a fan does it? That’s their right.
That’s NOT the right of the players or manager.
You find out more about players, coaches and managers when things are tough than you do when things are going smoothly.
Girardi can’t speak in the past tense about the season until they are officially eliminated. That’s just the way it is.
maybe cashman is finally coming to his senses and will deal some vets
Mel,
Has anybody ever stopped to think that Hank is the human shield on the Yankees? He’s the guy running his mouth publicly, because fans and the media CRAVE public comments from a Yankee owner, while the folks who actually run things go about their business.
If you look at the way they are doing business, that certainly seems to be the case.
Its not like Hank’s desires have been fulfilled since he got involved with the team.
Longtime Yankee fan, but rooting for the Rays to have home field advantage and to go to WS. Would like to see TV ratings on games played in Tampa.
Read an article about what mementos the Yankee players wanted from the old stadium. Mussina wanted the flagpole, others wanted their lockers, others stadium seats. I think season ticket holders should get 1st choice-after all they help pay the outlandish salaries to this underperforming group!
I heard that too… Girardi almost never revels anything but he hinted at a big off-season, which means you know something is up.
Brandon,
Jason & Bobby are goners. Matsui will be hard to move. Nady would be easy as he’s hot and he’s an X-factor.
Doesn’t Johnny have a limited or NTC? I think he’d go to Tampa, but why help them?
What were you talking about Johnny was the one talking?
“I think season ticket holders should get 1st choice-after all they help pay the outlandish salaries to this underperforming group!”
Agreed!!
Sitting in midtown waiting on word for tonights game. My guess would be a day night twinbill tomorrow weather permitting if tonight is a wash.
Girardi said scheduled re-arranged so Andy pitches last game at Yankee Stadium. Said he has briefly spoke with Andy and thinks Andy “has interest in coming back”.
Will do everything they can to get Moose his 20 wins “if the situation permits it”.
Stick needs to be heavily involved this off-season… I trust him a0x more than Cashman. If he is at the head of this “advisory group” then that is an excellent step in the right direction.
Bernie became a victim of his own stubborness. He was offered a minor league contract for 2007 with an invite to spring training. He shouldn’t have turned it down because he would have made the team thus getting a 1-year major league contract.
He refused to see that his skills had slowed. He’s one of many players that either can’t or won’t see their playing careers coming to an end.
SJ,
LOL. You’re the 3rd person this week to respond to me instead of someone else.
You meant gayle?
And thinking of Hank as a human shield is nauseating.
Mel–
I think SJ gets you and I confused a lot for some reason lol
Girardi was shockingly open in that interview, maybe he is lightening up a bit. Not the usual ” im not talking about next year we still have plenty of important baseball to play etc.” generic lines that he has used lately. A very good listen, it should be up on the FAN website later tonight.
“Has anybody ever stopped to think that Hank is the human shield on the Yankees?”
Well – seems like Hal is the real guy running the show and Hank is just an empty suit.
if cashman (or hal) is at the head of the advisory group, then whats the problem?
gayle,
We’re one and the same. You, me, Pat, and Doreen. Our own Joy-Luck Club.
Dr. J,
Don’t rile up Pete. He thinks the Fan gets all the scoops because they pay him.
I’d like to see the human shield put on one of those silver suits and try the game show “Hole in the Wall”.
What happens to Damon / Matsui is predicated on what other moves are made. Both will be in the final year of their contracts in 2009 @ $13M each.
It would appear that one will be gone depending if either must be a part of a deal or the deal is not made.
Both are professional major leaguers in every sense of the word.
“Any chance Bernie can play first base next year?”
Sure – my softball team needs first baseman.
King felix
Cashman might decide to take a walk after the season. Looks like taking a contract from the Yankees will be up to him.
What vets do you think have any trade value? Matsui????
Damon?? Nady? Certainly not Posada, Jeter, A-Rod.
Yankees should look to signing two quality FA starting pitchers, then listen to offers for their minor league pitching talent for young athletic position players.
Also as I said before, tell Pettitte to go home, stay in shape and off the juice, and maybe he’ll be called upon to join the team in mid June, ala Clemens, when he might be fresh to finish the season.
Amazing, the Toronto Blue Jays trade away players, have marginal hitting, and if they continue their winning streak may miraculously make the playoffs. Goes to show you what two solid starting pitchers and a good 3-4-5, + a solid bullpen can do for you.
I’d miss Johnny’s bat, but I’d miss Matsui more. I hope Hideki can get healthy.
“Girardi almost never revels anything but he hinted at a big off-season”
I sometimes think the reason this team quit this year is because a lot of these guys knew they were lame ducks – maybe thet felt they were the old guard about to fall.
Pete:Too bad 1,600 of those Yankee stadium hits out of 1,620 hits total are small bloop singles.
Bernie did what he wanted to do. The Yankees offered him to go to Spring training, and I guarantee he would have made the team, even if he was a bench player. He would have been there. However he is a great baseball player and a beloved Yankee, so yay for him for going to the stadium on the last day.
NYY is not going to unload every left handed bat with little hope of bringing in anyone to replace them. Abreu will not get traded, unless somebody with few moving parts upstairs thinks that a no glove hack like Dunn is the answer. Damon might be gone, but, that puts Jeter in as the leadoff hitter. They won’t live and die with Gardner, and, only Christian is close to being ready. Gone will be Ponson, Betemit, Giambi, Rasner, Geise. Kennedy, Ramirez and either Nady or Matsui. Ist base will be filled from within and the other outfielder will be the remaining fourth outfielder.
Jeter’s got 1620 hits at the stadium already? Wow.
The Yankees cannot keep both Damon and Matsui. Posada, with his bloated contract, will be in the DH mix. One of the two vets needs to be traded. Personally, I would keep Damon, because he can still run and play the field occasionally (emphasis on OCCASIONALLY). He’ll hit .280 or so and provide a decent on-base %.
I wouldn’t get rid of Giese. He can eat up innings in long relief at a low cost. He’s definitely serviceable as an end-of-the-bullpen guy.
Zman- Matsui has been great for the Yankees this previous years.
However I am worried about his knees….
Coke can fill the role that Geise is in considerably better than Geise for just as little money.
We should keep Giese. If Joba is a 5th starter next year, we can have Giese fill in for some games so Joba won’t reach his innings limit so fast.
With a 5M buyout for Giambi, I wouldn’t want him back, even if he said he’d play for free.
Abreu wants a 3 year contract. He’s been consistent over the years, but this year other than with RISP, he’s slid in OBP, homers, and defense. Arbitration only, which he’ll likely decline, to get draft picks.
No to I-Rod, Pettitte, Pavano, and no to 6M club option on Marte, as a situational lefty, although a two year deal at 4M per might be OK.
Would rather trade Matsui, because, now he’s one dimensional player-a DH, and Posada might well need to DH early on in the season. Matsui’e trade value however is ??
Need a lead off hitter if Damon OK’s a trade.
Mussina back on one year contract offer.
mel
We have morphed into a weird little sorority haven’t we! All that’s missing is the secret handshake and T-shirt.
Katie — Matsui looks like a dinosaur now. Yes, he’s a true professional and solid hitter, but you can’t fill every lineup spot with 35+ year-olds on the downside of their careers.
C’mon, folks. Boston has been successful because they’ve been less tethered to decisions based on sentiment. The Yanks need to take a lesson from that.
mel and gayle,
It’s old age setting in.
My apologizes.
Moboy,
What difference does it make if Jeter gets singles? Do you think a single is worthless?
There’s no reason both Coke and Giese can’t be in next year’s bullpen.
Aceves & Giese fit the same mold. Which projects better to the blog scouts?
Pete,
Great article on Cassel. Did you know that he was actually drafted by Oakland in ’04?
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/.....id=3583499
Anyone watching Loudmouths on SNY?
Chris Carlin referenced the Post article about Girardi today and said he spoke to a Yankee official who said the majority of the clubhouse does not like Girardi and feels disconnected.
Maybe there is more drama below the surface.
15-1 or 14-2 over the last 16 games including beating the BoSux the last 3 games of the season may just getter’ ‘dun.
IMO these pitchers are the only locks to be on the active roster next year:
Joba
Wang
Rivera
Hughes
You can fill in the blanks with FA’s and current staff or minor leaguers, or trade options, for the last 7-8 spots.
Maybe I’m being a revisionist, but I don’t recall Torre telling like it was every time. He’d say we played horribly in this game or that, but he didn’t call out guys through the media. He also pumped up players who didn’t deserve it. Just like Girardi.
AJ Yanks,
Some people said that the vets would have a hard time with Girardi. I didn’t believe it at the time, but they may’ve been right. I guess the older players are resistant to change. And a “softer” manager would’ve been more effective. That saddens me, but if you can find the source and cut it out, you do it. If it gets you younger in the process. Great.
Jeter, Mo, Alex, and Posada are solid in my book. Moose is on the record of saying even Torre wouldn’t have made a difference. Matsui’s translator would never say a bad word about Girardi. Not even off the record.
Pete: I believe Joe when he says the team is playing hard down the stretch…many of these guys have a lot of pride/ego and I don’t think they’ll go down with out a fight. Theyhad a respectable road trip considering the locations and time frame but playing hard doesn’t guarantee wins.
As for Giambi’s contract who in the world came up with the buy out clause? I’ll pay you $5 mil NOT to be on my team lol that’s worse than the opt out clause.
it is too late to take out Ponson tonight? hm…
^^re: Pete’s update about Girardi not fooling anybody. So quickly we forget that Torre was the master of talking without really saying anything.
i just want to watch a ball game tonight
if Girardi is seriously looking for a miracle, it got to start tonight. hopefully the ghosts of the legendary yankees will help them out tonight since its going to be the final home stand of the old stadium. remember, strange things happen in baseball.
Props to Jeter, Andy, Mussina, Rivera, and Bruney for having the guts to put their names in the line and support their manager. The rest of these spoiled primadonnas should all be gone.
There are no miracles forthcoming. This team will be fortunate to split its final 16 games.
hughes is not a lock for next year at all… depending on how the off-season plays out, i could definitely see him being a trade chip for the right player. the key is right player… don’t give him away. but dont refuse to listen to offers. if a team is willing to give you something good, you investigate it.
joba should be the only untouchable along with untradeable guys like posada, jeter, arod, and mo.
Dan — I agree 100%. The days of Hughes being a lock are over.
Great news about Bernie. He will be cheered for atleast 5 minutes straight…standing ovation.
I realize the Yankees postseason hopes are over but I hope they don’t completely throw in the towel for the remaining games…especially the games at the Stadium. The fans have paid big bucks to see their team play and they should definately not lay down to any team down the stretch.
its easy not to believe zman….i am with u however that way u aint disappointed
How does Girardi not give Moose the start tonight- so he gets an extra start?
p.s. you cant trade hughes, kennedy or melky now- that would be selling low- not a good business move
Good luck to Scranton and the Yankees, if they can get the game in.
Laters.
Agree with Dan, Hughes should not be off-limits by any stretch. Joba is a guy you keep off-limits.
“chazzh
September 12th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
p.s. you cant trade hughes, kennedy or melky now- that would be selling low- not a good business move”
That all depends on what they project for the future. If Kennedy doesn’t get things straightened out his value falls further. Then selling now, so to speak, wouldn’t be selling low. Right?
I don’t think Hughes is untouchable, but he won’t be easy to be had.
Changing to the topic of the manager… I think Girardi is going to be on a short leash next season. He talked a good game last year, and it was business as usual. It appeared to a number of fans that he lost his club, and now there are grumbles that there is some truth to it.
Speaking of how managers can affect the team. Take just two teams this year that had things turn around once they had different managers. The Mets turned things around after Willie was fired. The Blue Jays waited longer to make that move, they traded away some of their offense, yet the team is doing pretty darn good right now.
It isn’t all on the manager, but a poor manager can hurt the team, a good manager can get the team performing above their expectations.
It doesn’t surprise me to hear that there is unrest in the Yankee clubhouse. Losing can bring some of that, but is it cause or effect?
Joey G. should stay away from the brown acid.
Don’t be surprised if Toronto sneaks into the wildcard. If they take care of Boston you’re looking at Tampa and Toronto on top of the division.
That would be something…no Sox or Yanks in the playoffs.
I would trade Hughes for Prince Fielder and Howard
I’m rooting for Toronto, MIN/CWS, and Tampa.
Best chance to keep Boston out of the playoffs. They must take 2\3 though in Fenway this weekend to have any shot.
why is this an ESPN game?
“I would trade Hughes for Prince Fielder and Howard”
At this point, you’d be lucky to receive Cecil Fielder and director Ron Howard in return.
SJ44 -
That’s the way I’ve always seen it. It was getting very dry with all of those press releases from The PR person (whatever his name is). Hank’s statements are a distraction from what is actually going on while keeping fresh quotes and reactions in the paper. The only bad publicity is no publicity, isn’t that what they say?
As for Girardi saying he’s “hoping for a miracle run,” I say, why not? Does it really hurt anyone to hope for something? And, again, I agree with SJ44 here, and as I’ve said before here, what the heck do people expect him to say????
I really think it’s unfair for Pete and others to say that Girardi is detached from reality. Girardi knows the score, but why should he publicly gift over the rest of the games that have to be played? Silly, to my way of thinking.
What is it with Yankee stadium and rain delays?
You heard it here first——
The Sep. 21 game will be delayed or postponed by rain as well.
i’ve had the impression the team is “playing hard”. if anything they’re pressing, which is a function of wanting to win.
i don’t think they’re playing consistently intelligently – for example, in taking pitches.
here’s what the first step towards a miracle looks like:
Yanks: 9-1 homestand
Boston: loses all 3 series against Toronto & Tampa – 3-7
that would leave the Yanks 2.5 back going into the last week.
“The Sep. 21 game will be delayed or postponed by rain as well.”
No offense, ER, but this isn’t exactly an exciting Nostradamus-like prediction. Perhaps the corn harvesters in Jersey will take this to heart.
STL-PIT
ATL-NYM
MIN-BAL
TB-NYY
BOS-TOR
all delayed
MIL-PHI
CHC-HOU
postponed.
ER, that is too generous.
You should predict that either
A. Daniel Cabrera throws a no hitter
B. Mo blows the save and we lose a heartbreaker
C. Andy gets rocked and we lose 18-0
D. Baltimore sweeps us in the final series at the stadium
Is there a place in the world where it’s not raining?
I’m in San Jose, CA. It’s quite lovely here. Upper 70s, cloudless as usual. Alas, I’m stuck in an office.
I’m with George on the optimism front. What else is there?
im back and was true to my word
this durham radar gun is showing hughes fb at 88-91…
Forecast for tomorrow night is rain too. Might be tough to get in a split DH then.
Hughes velocity is down tonight, not sure why. He struck out the first guy on an 89 MPH fatsball
I think people get too focused on the speed of the pitch. We were at a game watching the radar gun and in that particular game, the fastest pitches (well over 90) were hit for basehits. It’s not always the speed, it’s whether there’s movement.
Extra Innings has had the game as “PPD/Rain” (as opposed to “Rain Delay”) for some time now. Wonder why the Yanks tell them before they tell anyone else (if in fact they’re not going to play). Or maybe EI has a crystal ball.
Anyway, I say, bring Bernie back. And Tino and Paulie and Brosius and Fat Toad and Coney and Boomer and Ricky Ledee and Shane Spencer and Tim Raines and Knobby and Ramiro and Nelson and whonot.
ill take all the rain out here on maui… it never rains
pat,
Someone told me that forecast for Sunday is supposed to be really good; what about a triple header????? (j/k, of course – but wouldn’t that be something historical for YS).
So most of the games on the East Coast will be washed out this weekend, just like last weekend.
3-0 on a 2 run single by miranda…3-0 SWB
I’ve heard Yankee Stadium is the rainiest ballpark in the Majors. Is this true, Pete? Where’s the roof, George?
I think that Girardi just comes off poorly with the way he says things. If he were to say that he still holds out hope, that’s fine, but cage it with a comment that if that doesn’t happen, then the plan is to be a spoiler for the other teams. Admit its going to be tough, but say they aren’t going to lay down.
The perception with Girardi is that he is Pollyanna.
I think that is what turns people off.
Hughes didn’t look good at all in the 1st, Carson threw out a guy at home. Velocity was down, no movement, looked like he forced the cutter in there. He obviously isin’t experimenting with anything in a playoff game….
But as Cash said, minor league numbers are pretty meaningless. We can’t get on him for bad performances or praise him for his 11 K performance. Let him just get innings now and take it from there.
we do seem to have a lot of rain delays/postponements so maybe there is some truth to it.
Radar actually shows the rain moving out of the bronx area..hopefully it can start in the next 45 min to an hour.
5-0 now going to the bottom of the 2nd…a big error on a for sure inning ending dp scored the last 2 runs..lets go hughes!!
Giambi said Matt Desalvo had filthy stuff. He also called Hughes the ‘baby Rocket’. Talent evaluation clearly isn’t in his future.
lol I’m going to miss Big G though.
Rays/Sox is on bonus coverage on ESPN if you care.
EDIT
Jays/Sox
hughes rebounds nicely in the 2nd with 2 k’s and a nice diving catch by JC
Phil Hughes with a 5-0 lead? hmm, sure it will hold. Right.
Go play in traffic ER : )
Sea Net -
Minor league numbers are not meaningless, if used properly.
ER, it will.
Hughes can outsmart minor league hitters. I mean come on, if hes throwing 89-91 FBs with straight cutters up here up here, he is going to be shelled. Watching this game just further affirms Cashman’s point about AAA not being what it used to be. Kennedy allowed 10 baserunners in 5 innings yesterday, but allowed 0 runs. Won’t happen up here.
Nice to see these guys win down there but it doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things.
If someone better looking than Youkilis did the butt wiggle thing when they were batting it would be cute. Him, not so much.
if nothing else these guys are upping their trade value
Hughes is going to have an excellent career. the way so many people have given up on him cracks me up.
compare Hughes’ first 2 years to another pitcher who hit MLB at age 21, Johan Santana. if Santana did that in NY, the same dumping upon him would’ve occurred of course.
7-0 now and its not going to end..just like the rain here
Let’s see him dominate over the course of 150 AAA innings and stay healthy for a full year.
Use him as a 6th starter only next year. He’ll get some spot starts and be the 1st one up in the event of an injury. Joba belongs in the rotation to start the year and he will be on an innings limit.
geez this is getting funny…9-0…miranda with 3 rbis today…4 runs this inning and still no outs…
“Hughes is going to have an excellent career”
You have no idea what kind of career he’s going to have, nor do I. However, to regard him as untouchable doesn’t make a lot of sense on a team full of holes. Since Cashman knows squat about pitching, I’m even less inclined to bet the farm on anyone down on the farm.
and the inning is finally over..10-0…two innings of 5 runs usually is enough to win..
There is no proof that Hughes will have an “excellent career”. He hasn’t even been healthy for 2 years straight and his stuff isin’t even the same as it was in Trenton. He has new mechanics, developed new pitches, he is a different pitcher than he was in 06. He has ALOT to prove. Even Cashman is getting kind of frustrated you can tell from his WFAN interview.
Why do people keep bringing up Santana as a way to validate Hughes’ performance?
Santana was also not expected to be great… he was a converted position player who was taken in the rule 5 draft and stashed away by the Twins because he had an intriguing arm. Nobody could have expected he would become the pitcher he was today. He had no expectations. Hughes was the #1 prospect in baseball 2 years ago and has the attention of everybody, the expectations on him are enormous.
we’re sitting in the Yankees’ club drowning in vodka and tonac wondering when the game is going to start or be called.
They gonna play this game or what?
“Nice to see these guys win down there but it doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things.”
Does any baseball really mean much “in the grand scheme of things”?
Doesn’t look like there will be baseball tonight. Meanwhile..Phil Hughes has done this so far against Durham:
3IP 1H 0R 0ER 2BB 7K
Kevin
Mike — you have a point. But baseball gives us something to get excited about. Everyday life can be mundane, but when 162 of those days are filled with riveting competition (or, in the ’08 Yankees’ case, about 80 of those days), the day-to-day drudgery lessens.
Phil is really looking good now. He struggled a bit in the first (apparently the ump had a tight zone for both pitchers), but has settled down and is pitching quickly and beautifully. He K’d the last batter of the 3rd inning on a nasty curve. I like that he is keeping his rhythm despite having to sit for long stretches at a time.
The fact is Nobody….not the scouts, Not the front office, not Girardi, not the fans have any idea what type of career Hughes will have. The scouts and Cashman all think Hughes will (still be) very good. The hard reality is not all top prospects become the stars they were predicted to be.
Phil Hughes has lost it. Basesloaded no outs.
I guess a contributing factor is the ump has a tiny zone.
“Let’s see him dominate over the course of 150 AAA innings and stay healthy for a full year.”
Sorry but this doesn’t make any sense. Why would you have him pitch another 150 innings in AAA. The competition in AAA isn’t very good. What good will dominating AAA competition do for him?
There is no logical reason at all why Hughes is not up here, the only theories could be:
A. They plan to shop him this off-season and don’t want to ruin his value by getting shelled up here. MO, this is a real possibility.
B. They don’t think his psyche can handle getting shelled up here. If so, then why was he lauded for his mental makeup?
C. Cashman is upset at the way they have performed this season and don’t feel they ‘deserve’ to be up here (as dumb as that sounds).
D. The Yankee scouts have identified that they are not doing as well as the numbers indicate.
We are throwing Pavano and Ponson out there in meaningless games. This was supposed to be a transition year. We have been out of the race for weeks. No reason why the kids shouldn’t be up here taking their lumps. It would serve them so much better in the long run. We are in a rare position where there is no pressure now and they can get valuable experience without having to worry about results. Hughes and Kennedy have proven they can dominate AAA.
The fact that Cashman refuses to bring them up shows that he has something up his sleeve. He did sound very frustrated that WFAN interview.
Got out of it, only giving up one run.
Game postponed. DH tomorrow at 1
10 k’s through 4 for hughes but a pitch count of around 75..
Phil 10 K’s through 4 innings…nasty
We can’t carry Joba AND Hughes in the same rotation next year on innings limits. We need to go into the season with FOUR reliable starters able to throw 200 innings. Hughes needs to be the 6th starter going into the year where he is not counted upon.
If he wants to make it a competition between Hughes and Joba for the 5th spot then fine, but Joba will beat him out by a mile.
Game’s off, according to the Red Sox broadcast (and espn.com).
Not throwing in the towel is one thing. To delude one’s self into believing his team plays “hard” is another, assuming Young Joe actually believes it, and is not simply spinning; in either event, he has lost any credibility he might have had before he chose to insult the intelligence of his audience. It may play in Peoria but not New York.
He leads a soft, spiritless, non-grinding, aimless group of individuals who don’t know what a team is like alone play like one. The present complilation is the result of the absence of any planning or a disciplined professional like attempt to structure a winning team. “Mea Culpa”, “Mea Culpa”, “Mea Culpa”, we should hear no more following a decision to expend more “Cash”.
DH tomorrow at 1 and 7.
Game is officially cancelled
LLIME,
I think the main reason why Phil isn’t up here is because he needs innings. Pitching against minor league competition gives him the greatest chance to pick up innings. I suspect that they’ll call him up after tonight’s game if Scranton wins it and have him make 1 or 2 starts the rest of the season.
4 innings 1 run and 10 Ks for my main man Phil Hughes. He may not be the next Roger Clemens as some players claimed a couple of springs ago but maybe he will. Tune in and find out!
If Cashman doesn’t call up Hughes after these 2 back to back dominating performances, then he has lost it. He has no idea how to assess minor league talent.
What more does Hughes need to do? Now Cashman just isin’t being fair to him.
The fact is Nobody….not the scouts, Not the front office, not Hughes, not the fans have any idea what type of zone the ump has. I can’t believe you’re talking about his zone like that.
The hard reality is not all umps have the big zones they were predicted to have.
Did they call the mets one as well? John Sterling said at 6:30 the Mets game was called than, but I flipped on sny it just said delayed. The man is such a fool. He gives incorrect information.
The Hughes that pitched 8 innings 11 k’s and the Hughes tonight reminds me of Hughes circa 2006 when he was in Trenton. Nasty! That’s what made him a top pitching prospect.
Mets game was called too
We have a winner:
“15-1 or 14-2 over the last 16 games including beating the BoSux the last 3 games of the season may just getter’ ‘dun”
SWB showing the heart of a champ tonight. Nice line for Hughes so far. Nice seeing Juan Miranda breakout.
IS there a date scheduled for the makeup game? Saturday night or Sunday night? Anyone hear?
So tonight we gain on either Toronto or Boston.
So the miracle begins.
Ponson would be getting another start next Wednesday against the ChiSox, but now with Ponson starting tomorrow in the doubleheader.. I highly doubt Girardi would be starting Ponson on 3days rest. So with Hughes pitching tonight, he could take Sidney’s spot next Wednesday already
Phil Hughes 2 more strikeouts up to 12 on the night.
He’s getting a ton of K’s which means his curve must be very sharp but hopefully he’s mixing in his change too.
Trevor thank Rafy Chaves for that.
The Translation Specialist
Subject: Phil Hughes
AAA — 97 pitches, 5.0 innings, 4 hits, 1 run, 4 walks, 12 strike outs
ML equivalent — 97 pitches, 2.0 innings, 10 hits, 8 runs, 7 walks, 3 strike outs
“Don’t be surprised if Toronto sneaks into the wildcard.”
Uh, I think all of baseball would be surprised since no team in the HISTORY of baseball has come back from that deficit with so few games left to play. There is like a .001 percent chance. Sure, there is a chance. BUt asking me not to be surprised if it happens is idiotic.