Game 6: Yankees at Royals
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Apr 12, 2009 
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YANKEES (3-2)
Gardner CF
Jeter SS
Swisher 1B
Matsui DH
Nady RF
Cano 2B
Cabrera LF
Ransom 3B
Molina C
Pitching: RHP Joba Chamberlain.
ROYALS (2-3)
Crisp CF
Aviles SS
DeJesus LF
Teahen 3B
Jacobs 1B
B. Pena DH
Callaspo 2B
Buck C
Bloomquist RF
Pitching: RHP Gil Meche.
Joba Chamberlain vs. the Kansas City hitters.
Gil Meche vs. the New York hitters.
AT THE START: Over the last three games, the Yankee starters have gone 20 innings, allowed 16 hits, 3 earned runs, two walks and struck out 18.
POSADA UP THE CHARTS: Jorge Posada has 320 doubles, one away from tying Yogi Berra for 11th place in team history. His needs one run to have 765 and surpass Bob Meusel for sole possession of 20th place in team history.
ROYAL FLUSH: The Yankees are 23-8 against Kansas City over the last four years, 11-4 at Kauffmann Stadium.
SWISHER STATS: The versatile newcomer is 7 of 13 at the plate with six extra-base hits, nine RBI, six runs scored and three walks.
It’s supposed to rain today in Kansas City. But one way or another, back with more later.
UPDATE, 10:45 a.m.: Hiroto, a reader in Japan, sends word that Darrell Rasner won his first game. Facing the Lions, one of the better teams, Ras went the distance, allowing one run on three hits with no walks and eight strikeouts. He threw 116 pitches. Good for him.
UPDATE, 10:06 a.m.: Teixeira was in the original lineup then scratched.
UPDATE, 12:50 p.m.: We spoke to Teixeira, who is unavailable today and has a brace on his wrist. He said it remains sore. The plan is to go heavy on treatment today to try and remove the inflammation. “Better one or two days now than two or three weeks later,” he said.
He’s day-to-day. I would expect the Yankees to get him X-rayed tomorrow in Tampa and checked out by their own doctors. Why would they not?
Meanwhile, we have some details on what A-Rod will do tomorrow. He will report to the minor-league facility and start at 11 a.m. His program will be:
· Stretching
· Light jogging
· Groundballs
· Hitting off a tee and soft-toss
· Physical therapy sessions and treatment.
Joe Girardi said he expects that Alex will also join the team at Tropicana Field for the game.
UPDATE, 2:22 p.m.: Showing grittiness along with tremendous guts and a scrappy attitude, Brett Gardner singled up the middle, stole second, went to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch. Yankees lead 1-0.
UPDATE, 2:31 p.m.: Here’s a fascinating concept. Joba just pitched a 1-2-3 inning. Now he’s going to pitch another inning and maybe even six more because he’s a starter. See, you want the really good pitchers pitching more.
Meanwhile, 1-0 might be big. Rain is coming, supposedly.
UPDATE, 2:36 p.m.: Ransom just whiffed and he’s 1 for 19. Joe Girardi said before the game that Ransom is swinging the bat well but isn’t having much luck. He has had at least three hits taken away by nice plays.
Starting to rain a little.
UPDATE, 2:43 p.m.: Joba 2 0 0 0 0 2. 23 pitches / 16 strikes.
UPDATE, 2:51 p.m.: Bad AB for GGBG there. 3-1 count and he pops to left. Rain picking up now. Yankees need to try and get five in fast.
UPDATE, 2:55 p.m.: Joba allows a home run by John Buck. 1-1. Now that gives them an excuse to stop it. If it’s 1-0, they might have tried to plow through five innings. Now it’s raining pretty hard.
UPDATE, 3:11 p.m.: Trouble here as the Royals have two on and two out. If the Royals score, the Yankees are three outs away from an official game. Meanwhile it’s raining hard.
UPDATE, 3:21 p.m.: What a joke. The ball went through the legs of Nick Swisher and Robinson Cano and was called a single. Hometown scoring at its worst there. The scoring here has been brutal all series.
UPDATE, 3:25 p.m.: Bad inning for Joba. He certainly seems to be having trouble with the rain.
2-1 Royals in the rain in the bottom of the fourth inning. Yankees better score in the next inning.
UPDATE, 3:38 p.m.: Ransom is 1 for 20 and 0 for his last 15 with six strikeouts.
UPDATE, 3:47 p.m.: Joba has pitched well. 5 5 3 3 1 4. If Swisher (or Cano) picks up that grounder, he’s allowed one run through five.
UPDATE, 4:03 p.m.: Meche was cruising along until this inning. Then a few hits, a bad error by Jacobs (who is just a terrible defender) and a double-play grounder account for three runs and the Yankees have the lead.
Joba has a 100-pitch limit and is at 88. I think that’s it for him. But Girardi is hard to read in these situations.
UPDATE, 4:28 p.m.: Justice prevails. That ball Callaspo hit in the fourth inning has now been ruled an error.
So the line for Joba: 6 4 3 1 1 5. That’s a good job by him.
UPDATE, 4:42 p.m.: Well, this is a shocking turn of events. With two outs in the eighth inning, Jose Veras walks Mike Jacobs and next thing you know, the Royals score two runs to take the lead.
Poor job by Veras and now Phil Coke.
What irony, Joba pitches well for six innings and the bullpen blows it for him in the eighth inning.
UPDATE, 4:55 p.m.: Soria is sort of like a mini-Mo. Very unflappable on the mound and great stuff. Best player on this team.
UPDATE, 4:56 p.m.: Soria fans the side. Bad, bad loss for the Yankees there.
Little early for the gameday post. No lineup out yet.
After watching the post game last night and hearing the music in the back…it made me think that it has been a while since I’ve seen/heard that from a Yankees team.
Having brought in guys like CC, Swish and even AJ is going to do wonders for this team…Damon could never do it alone and I think Jason couldn’t, bc he came in at time when the Yankees where still the 90′s Yankees.
It also made me think what will A-Rod be like once he gets back…it can really make his transition back to the team a very good one, which will, IMO make him at ease in tough spots…only if he dosen’t try to fit the mold of the new guys and just be who his…who ever that may be.
Happy Easter!
Assumed that rain was in the forecast for KC today when Girardi said last night that he expected today to be a very long day.
Isn’t it time to get Melky a start?
Five games and I’m already willing to jamb a pike into my ear to avoid listening to MKay. My God, he is so annoying. And you can’t even watch with the sound off and listen to the radio because then you have Sterling. One would think that a team with a new billion dollar stadium could hire some good broadcasters. Where is Kaat when you need him????
I hope it doesn’t rain. That would make me sad.
I think we’ll play baseball today. weather.com says showers with 70 percent chance of precip
they are, getting nothing out of Ransom Gardner Melky,three auto outs..These guys are AAA players at best playing on a team with the highest payroll in team sports. They needed to address the CF position this offseason & didn’t. They haven’t had a decent all around player in CF in a long time..
Happy Easter everyone.
Hope it doesn’t rain for the game
Rebecca et al…
Here is the background reading on the game.
http://presspass.mlb.com/pp_viewer.asp?d=44174
Back Bench: Thanks!
“they are, getting nothing out of Ransom Gardner Melky”
A litle premature in your analysis for all of them but particularly Melky who has only had 1 AB.
“They haven’t had a decent all around player in CF in a long time..”
Keep your eyes focused on Scranton, AJax hitting .462 this early season.
If you go to weather.com and look at the map, it looks like it’s raining in KC now but should stop before game time, and it looks like the storm are the two oreo cookies while KC is the creme filling…meaning that it should slide right by north and south of KC but at least allow the game to be started!
“they are, getting nothing out of Ransom Gardner Melky,three auto outs..These guys are AAA players at best playing on a team with the highest payroll in team sports. They needed to address the CF position this offseason & didn’t. They haven’t had a decent all around player in CF in a long time..”
You’re right. Melky’s been absolutely awful at the plate this year. 0/1?!!! Wow, he sucks!
2) What CF should the Yankees have gotten this past offseason? I want specific names, not some imaginary ‘Carlos Beltran type’ who happened to be a free agent and wanted a 1 year deal (you do realize that Austin JAckson is being groomed for the CF job, right?).
You do not need an All Star at every position. Gardener will be fine. He needs time to adjust. He is not going to hit bombs. You need to let him swing it out. As long as he plays solid defense, which he is doing, and gets on base at a .350 clip in the 9 hole, which he is pretty close to doing, I really don’t know what else you want. He is hard to double up, he can bunt runners over for the top of the lineup, if he does get on base, he puts so much pressure on the pitcher to keep him close that it will be a huge beneift to Jeter, Damon, Tex, as the pitcher will not have all of his attention devoted to them. He is a young kid that has shown development at every level he has been at over a long period of time, we need to be patient and let it play itself out. He certainly has not hurt us
“they are, getting nothing out of Ransom Gardner Melky,three auto outs..These guys are AAA players at best playing on a team with the highest payroll in team sports. They needed to address the CF position this offseason & didn’t. They haven’t had a decent all around player in CF in a long time..”
The team has played five games. Come back in off the ledge.
(04-11) 04:00 PDT San Diego –
Pitching coach Dave Righetti is a sentimental old guy.
In 2006, Righetti gave his uniform number, 19, to fellow San Jose native Kevin Frandsen, who idolized Righetti as a kid. Rags wore it with the Yankees. Righetti took Kirk Reuter’s old number, 46, until Opening Day, when he gave it to Bobby Howry. Howry asked for 46 because he had it as a Giants minor-leaguer in the 1990s.
Righetti now wears 32, last owned by Kevin Correia, who now pitches for San Diego. As Righetti noted, Bill Mueller, Trevor Wilson and Sandy Koufax also wore it.
“Wait till Woody finds out,” Righetti said. “I know what he’ll say, too: ‘You salt lick!’ ”
Why so magnanimous with his number?
“It’s not mine,” Righetti said. “That’s a Yankees thing. They remind you the team owns it, not you. You’re just renting. I’ve always felt that way.”
Need to get an early lead and win in 5 innings
sitting Matsui and Damon on the same day against the Royals ace? I am sure Giradi has a good reason for this
Gardner, Nady, Melky, Ransom, and Molina in the same lineup?
LOL that has to be an April Fools joke… right?
I assume Cano is not in LF but rather playing 2nd or maybe he is trying to learn a new position and being Swish is now ALL WORLD Joe figures he can play both 1st and 2nd at the same time
I don’t like Posada and Damon being out of the lineup when Tex is too.
I don’t know how this team with “no CF” and “automatic outs” across the board, won 3 games in a row and are averaging over 5 runs a game.
As someone else said, come off the ledge or find another hobby. We have enough people posting nonsense in here. We don’t need to add more to the list.
Its nice to have quality depth for a change and its nice Girardi isn’t shy about using it.
Its an older team. Everytime you can give guys some innings or days off is only going to help them as the season wears on.
No Matsui, Posada, or Damon against Meche. And Nady, AGAIN?
Yes, I know Nady had two hits last night. But he swung on an 2-0 count in his first at-bat. Cano is a more patient hitter than he is.
What is Girardi’s fixation with Nady? Do they use the same barber?
In the AL Nady and his .333 OBP(career and 2009) and 100 OPS+ makes him a 4th outfielder.
Nady should be the bench player who has to earn at-bats, not Swisher.
And if Godzilla is having trouble finding his stroke, isn’t a better idea to start him and drop him in the lineup?
Teixiera is out again. Either precautionary or he is having trouble hitting left-handed?
Yes, but Matsui is starting today, you fool.
I agree with you about Nady however.
LOL.
“UPDATE, 10:06 a.m.: Teixeira was in the original lineup then scratched. ”
That can’t be good
Since Kazmir is going for the Rays tomorrow I guess no Teixeira.
Joba may have to pitch the best game of his life to win with that lineup today.
We did take the series anyway. Anything more is bonus.
Dasa-
You have to give JOrge the day off he is coming off injury they already said they were going to be cautious with him in April no reason to go three days in a row, day game after night game with another game tomorrow and that game against the speedy Rays.
Hoppy Easter to everyone.
Happy Birthday to Rebecca and (?).
Can we settle this once and for all. Didn’t MLB change the rules? There will be no shortened games? They merely suspend them until another time?
Ron
April 12th, 2009 at 11:04 am
sitting Matsui and Damon on the same day against the Royals ace? I am sure Giradi has a good reason for this
————————————————————
Because Damon’s hitting .111 against him and Matsui hits .217 against Meche and needs a break. They’ll be playing on a rock hard turf in Tampa for 3 days.
GreenBeret7 April 12th, 2009 at 11:12 am
Ron
April 12th, 2009 at 11:04 am
sitting Matsui and Damon on the same day against the Royals ace? I am sure Giradi has a good reason for this
——————————————————————————————
Because Damon’s hitting .111 against him and Matsui hits .217 against Meche and needs a break. They’ll be playing on a rock hard turf in Tampa for 3 days.
———————————–
And where would we be without all that logic
Melky is 3-10 with 4 RBIs against Gil Meche
Nady is 3-7 with a 3B and HR off Gil Meche
Damon is 3-27 against Meche
Makes sense.
Since the same people whining about this lineup also decided the game was “over” on Friday night when they saw that lineup, don’t be offended if some of us ignore the ramblings.
They have already won the series. They aren’t going to overuse Posada, coming off major shoulder surgery, this early in the season.
They don’t have a day off for awhile and want to get Melky some AB’s. That’s the right thing to do.
They also have 3 straight games on turf and this is a good time to rest Damon for the first time this year.
Its not football no matter how much some of you try to make it so. Not every game is a “must win” game. Its about thinking long term.
When you have an older team, and you have already won the series and don’t have a day off for awhile, this is the perfect time to rest guys.
Baseball is all about thinking long term. As long as the Yankees keep winning series and keep their older players fresh, they will be fine.
Think they will get the game in today?
Good to see the daily lineup critics don’t take the Easter holiday off.
Posada rarely caught a day game after a night game unless it was against a prime team…during his peak years. With last year’s injury, there is virtually no chance he’d do it now in the cold, rainy weather.
Thanks GreenBeret7
I know there was some logic to this…
Damon was supposed to get a day off yesterday but he played and instead gets today off
Would you rather he get a day off in the Tampa series?
Happy birfday Rebecca but could have lived without the zombie joke.
Rishi
April 12th, 2009 at 11:13 am
GreenBeret7 April 12th, 2009 at 11:12 am
Ron
April 12th, 2009 at 11:04 am
sitting Matsui and Damon on the same day against the Royals ace? I am sure Giradi has a good reason for this
——————————————————————————————
Because Damon’s hitting .111 against him and Matsui hits .217 against Meche and needs a break. They’ll be playing on a rock hard turf in Tampa for 3 days.—————————————————-
And where would we be without all that logic
————————————————————
Logic can be a curse on a sports board, though. I’d give up my kingdom to be over reactive.
They win with that line-up and there is no stopping them this year!
What happened to Tex?
I’m still of the mindset that Ransom has been hitting the ball very hard so the hits should start falling for him.
I also don’t know what Gardner has to do to get the morons in here calling for a new CF to shut it.
Does he have to hit .900? Steal first base before a pitch?
It’s the first week of the season. The guy has made things happen already with his legs. He threw a runner out at the plate already in the game.
He made a great play last night running down a line to right center that was ticketed to go to the wall for extra bases, but Gardner ran it down and slid to stop it.
He and Ransom have done nothing to make the Yankees lose a game and yet people are in here calling for replacements.
Not to mention Nady looks like he’s getting in a groove and gets 2 hits last night and people are upset he’s playing?
Now I know who all the morons are who boo at Yankee stadium at the drop of a hat.
Go back to Wrestling.
NyYanksfan: Apologies. Guess my sense of humor doesn’t work for everyone.
The only thing in the line up that worries me is Teixeira being scratched again. That tells me his wrist/forearm is really bothering him.
Is he available for defense/pinch hit late?
NYYanksFan,
I had the same thought.
My second thought was, “What is Joba thinking?”
We need 5-6 strong innings from Joba. That’s the most important thing.
Rainy day in KC.
I wonder if Girardi will start Bruney again like he did last year in early April?
KC, without Guillen and possibly Gordon isn’t exactly an over powering lineup to face, either. It will be interesting how or if Gordon and Dejesus play after being hit by sabathia last night.
What is the story with Guillen? One minute he was scratched, and the next minute he was on the DL.
“I wonder if Girardi will start Bruney again like he did last year in early April?
”
I was just thinking that lol
With that line-up I wouldn’t be unhappy with a rain-out.
Why is Girardi obsessed with below average player like Gardner and Nady?
G Love,
You have to admit, its funny. Then again, some of these people also called CC and Tex “busts” after Game One and “demanded” Cashman’s firing.
Kinda hard to rip on Cody Ransom. He is a career minor league player who “only” has the job to replace the best all around player in the game. What do people expect (realistically) out of him?
Gardner? I’m waiting until Memorial Day to see where he is at. He does some good things and also some bad things out there.
I am hoping his issues in CF get resolved as he gets more comfortable in bigger ballparks. At the plate? You hope he can hit because his speed is a real weapon at the bottom of the order. If he can get on base at a decent clip, Jeter is going to see a lot of fastballs in his AB’s with Gardner on base and that’s a benefit to the Jeter and the Yankees.
Nady? He’s this years “whipping boy” on the blog. No matter what he does isn’t good enough for some people.
He got two hits last night and some folks are upset that he got hits in certain counts.
Absent Arod, there is ZERO RH power on the team. Meaning, Nady is going to be in the lineup and isn’t going to be traded by next week because some folks “demand”.
As I said earlier, they have some real depth for a change. Why not enjoy it?
m
April 12th, 2009 at 11:27 am
What is the story with Guillen? One minute he was scratched, and the next minute he was on the DL.
————————————————————
He has a partially torn right hip flexor.
http://www.kansascity.com/spor.....36668.html
So tell me “Joe”, who does Girardi play today?
He wants to rest Damon and Tex is out.
Give me the lineup.
Albert Pujols and Manny Ramirez aren’t available to play for the Yankees today.
If Tex can’t play, and they want to rest Damon before playing 3 straight games on turf, give me your lineup instead of whining about the lineup that’s been posted.
I mean, is it that hard to realize that the main reason the Yankees lost 2 games this season and aren’t 5-0 right now is that CC and Wang both turned in horrible starts in games 1&2?
If they both pitched their games, the team is undefeated right now.
Take a deep breath and give the players some time to perform.
5 games isn’t a sample size unless it’s little league.
I have to say, I am not a huge fan of this lineup. We’re losing a lot of production with Damon, Posada, and Tex out. Replacing them with Cabrera and Molina just worries me more. I think against a KC lineup like this it will be OK. But if we were playing a better team and their ace was pitching as well, you could mark it down as an L.
Joe, you don’t have to have a superstar at every position.
Thanks, GB7. That sounds painful.
And Girardi’s probably obsessed with Gardner because he doesn’t have Sizemore. And probably keeps Nady in the lineup because, well, maybe because he’s a power RH bat?
what a wacky schedule.
The Yanks don’t come back to KC all year – and don’t face the Royals again until the LAST week of the season in Sept. (in NYC)
If I was going to this game, I would feel a little ripped. No Arod, Texeira, Posada, and Damon. But I think going to see Chamberlain’s first start this year would be worth it.
There are to many extremists on this page. Those with the mindset of a 162 World Series games and those who say these April games don’t matter.
How about they do matter as you play in the toughest division in baseball but you won’t risk sabotaging your team in April with regard to your catcher. One thing that bothers me is a day off for Damon on this day where the lineup is particularly weak. It’s just Game 6 of the season, does Johnny Damon really need a day off?
We always seem to face KC in April. It’s so weird.
G Love,
There you go, talking logic again. Its easier to just rip the lineup and predict losses before they occur.
Let’s just play a 37 year old catcher coming off major shoulder surgery everyday because its a “must win” game.
Girardi has been perfect with the lineup so far. He is getting guys AB’s, resting the vets (notice that in 2 of the first 5 games, he has given Jeter some innings off. When have you ever seen that before?) and keeping everyone involved.
That’s what he has to do with this team. Between age and guys coming off major injuries (he will do the same stuff with Arod when he gets back) this will be a year all 25 guys will have to contribute in some way to help the team win.
I like it when managers use their entire roster instead of just running the same team out there day after day.
With greenies and other “help” aids, its unrealistic to expect guys to play every inning of every game anymore.
Teams with deeper and more flexible rosters go deep in the playoffs. I think the Yankees have finally bought into that concept.
It was less confusing when all the hate was focused on A-Rod instead of spread amongst 4 or 5 different players. Thank goodness we can all agree that Swisher is Babe Ruth reincarnate.
You play April cautiously.
You try to win every game you can, but you also sit players that may not be able to play every day (ie, Posada) and you don’t expend every available resource to win one game now since you may not have said resources available later.
Rebecca. Reading facebook today.
If Tiger can’t win the Masters, I’m putting all my eggs in the Kenny Perry basket. What a great story he was at the Ryder Cup.
Melky has good career numbers against Meche
And I’d rather rest Damon today than against the Rays
m
April 12th, 2009 at 11:34 am
Thanks, GB7. That sounds painful.
And Girardi’s probably obsessed with Gardner because he doesn’t have Sizemore. And probably keeps Nady in the lineup because, well, maybe because he’s a power RH bat?
————————————————————
Jeter, Posada, Cabrera and Cano all have good numbers against Meche. They’re about average against him in his career.3-4 record and about a 4.35 ERA. Except for Gordon, nobody on the KC team hits Chamberlain well, even in a small sample size.
Rebecca,
I’m sure the Royals don’t like it either. Opening with the Yankees is no benefit because teams usually sell most, if not all, of their tickets for their first homestand of the year.
Its much better for a team like the Royals to get the Yankees later in the year when they are looking to sell tickets. That’s when you get the benefit of the Yankees coming to town.
Global,
Between Damon’s shoulder, lower back and calves, its really preventive medicine to give him time off. He has minor aches and pains that turn into issues if they aren’t judicious with his time off.
Last year, Girardi was able to get Damon through the season, and have one of his best season’s, by managing his innings in a thoughtful way.
I suspect the same strategy is in effect with him this year.
glass half full theory.
What an awesome bench the Yanks have today.
Posada, Damon and Tex sound like great PH’s late in the game.
I know that Girardi is just resting people because it’s a long season. But as a fan, it sucks that many times managers rest key players on a Sunday. That is the day when many families make baseball a fun family day. For the kids to not be able to see the best players sucks. Why can’t they rest players during the week? Imagine going to a Sunday afternoon game and not being able to see Mattingly, Winfield and Rickey? That sucks…
This is unbelievable…the teixeria situation…already hurt? These guys are a bunch of babies..lou gehrig played with broken hands!!!
Ya im sure it’s just “tendinitis” like Girardi claimed it to be.
Thank gosh we got Swisher!!!
****WE NEED TO BENCH GARDNER…EVEN SEND HIM DOWN FOR ALL I CARE…HE CaN’t Hit whatsoever and not getting on base, which makes his speed WORTHLESS!!!!
—- Swisher in CF, Damon in LF, Nady in RF…now that’s a better outfield.
lol. On the mlb.com homepage, there’s an ad with some bobbleheads. I see the NY on the cap, but I’m thinking to myself that we don’t have any black pitchers that look like that. And I scroll down and see “C.C. Sabathia”. Guess they wanted to save clay by making him so thin.
“When batting right-handed, his left-hand would be his bottom hand, which generates the power. When he hits lefty, his left hand is more of a guide.”
i posted a response to this analysis of teixeira’s swing last night , but i think it’s worth revisiting for anyone who has interest in the mechanics of hitting. if as pete says the bottom hand is the power hand , then why do the top 13 home run hitters of all time have their dominant hand as their top hand ?
.. and thome and ted williams are the only exception to the rule for the top twenty.
if as peter says, the bottom hand is the power hand, then why wouldn’t having a hitter’s strongest hand ( his dominant one)on the bottom create the most power? it doesn’t seem to:
top home run hitters:
1Barry Bonds762 lefty hitting/left handed ( dominant left hand on top)
2Hank Aaron755 righty/righty
3Babe Ruth714 lefty/lefty
4Willie Mays660 righty/righty
5Ken Griffey, Jr 612 lefty/lefty
6Sammy Sosa609 righty/righty
7Frank Robinson586 righty/righty
8Mark McGwire583 righty/righty
9Harmon Killebrew573 righty/righty
10Rafael Palmeiro569 lefty/lefty
11Reggie Jackson563 lefty/lefty
12Alex Rodriguez553 righty/righty
13Mike Schmidt548 righty/righty
14Jim Thome (1)542 lefty/righty
15Mickey Mantle536 stronger when righty/righty
16Jimmie Foxx 534 righty/righty
17Manny Ramírez527 righty/righty
18Willie McCovey521 lefty/lefty
Frank Thomas521 righty’righty
Ted Williams521 lefty hitting/right handed
21Ernie Banks righty/righty
it would not surprise me to hear support from some mlb hitting instructors agreeing with peter’s opinion.
but again, if peter and they are right, why does the most power come from righty/righty or lefty/lefty with the dominant hand on top?
By the way guys, I don’t think anyone’s mentioned it, but maybe the reason the line up is as it is today isn’t just because of Teixeira’s wrist but because of the weather forecast?
If there’s a day to rest your everyday players, rainy days in outside stadiums are good choices.
Well, there are plenty of hitting instructors on this blog. I am sure one of them will give us their opinion on that subject.
Send Nady to Siberia.
Send down Gardner to AAA.
Play Posada everyday.
Shoot Ransom for not playing like Arod.
Canonize Swisher in Monument Park.
I think some posters have overdosed on Chocolate Easter bunnies this morning.
What Rebecca said is absolutely correct…they would be leaving players out today because of the RAIN, which, by the way, makes it seem unlikely we will play today. Which means all the complaining or worrying about who’s playing today is pointless.
Really wanted to watch some baseball today, but it seems VERY unlikely at this point.
Will Mike call for Jobber to be in the pen if he has a bad outing today?
http://www.wunderground.com/sp.....1239545400
It does look like a sandwich cookie.
Ben: I think they’ll start the game, at least, but they may have to call it short.
He could pitch 8 innings of no-hit ball and Mike would still want Jobber in the pen.
The rain is going to get worse as the day goes on, so they can’t delay it. If anything, they should try and squeeze it in before the rain gets heavier in the evening.
Too bad it wasn’t scheduled for 12:00 local time. Oh, well. Can’t do anything about it.
Not good news about Tex. It’s one thing if he wasn’t scheduled to play, but he was and now he’s scratched……I’m trying not to worry, but it’s kind of hard not to.
I thought the ‘no rain shortened’ game rule only applies to playoff games?
NITRO April 12th, 2009 at 11:55 am
Will Mike call for Jobber to be in the pen if he has a bad outing today?
======================================
No matter what Jobber does, Francesa will preach that he should be in the pen as the bridge to Mo
Really not a smart idea starting Joba in the rain
Girardi should do what he did with Kennedy last year and hold him out and start a reliever.
Tomko would be useful right now
That’s a silly chart… if a guy only hits from one side of the plate the top/bottom issue is irrelevant.
And you are wrong about The Mick. He hit for a higher average from the right side, but his HR frequency was better as a lefty.
I’m left handed and hit from both sides as a kid… I had more power from the right side (stronger hand on bottom). Ditto golfing from either side… better disatance righty, more accuracy lefty. (both mediocre at best, by the way)
A scratch here, a scratch there, might play and go 0-4, another day off, then the next thing you know its a DL stint
I hope Teixeira is okay.
hmm seriously, Girardi still isn’t playing Pena?
RE: Jobber in the pen
That’s basically because Francesser THINKS he knows about the Yankees. He’s clueless about AJax, Melancon.
If you asked him what he thought about Dellin Betances… he’d say “Is that the new Cuban place on the upper east side… i sawr a review in the Times”
The only concern I have about the Yankee line-up today is the fact that Teixeira was scratched again. With Alex still out,they really could use Tex’s bat.
Hiroto, a reader in Japan, sends word that Darrell Rasner won his first game. Facing the Lions, one of the better teams, Ras went the distance, allowing one run on three hits with no walks and eight strikeouts. He threw 116 pitches. Good for him.
======================================
Nice job Rasner!
My only concern with the lineup is the severity of Tex’s injury. If it’s only tendinitis, that’s something that can be rested and we can breathe again.
A long-term, serious issue would be problematic.
Of course Swisher could seamlessly slide into his position and give us production. But losing Tex will hurt the team because he’s one of the best players in the game.
That’s a nice lineup for the Grapefruit League. Hopefully Swish House drives in eight runs.
Yes, SA. With all the hullaballoo about Tex’s scratch I did forget about that. It’s nice to see Raz bounce back from a rough start. A complete game? Nice.
Bill Simmons in “Defense of A-Rod”:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=4050462
Mo forbid if Teix does land on the DL, hopefully Miranda comes up and be like Swish, forcing himself in the lineup. Miranda is already on a tear to start the AAA season.
“Look, we love to romanticize clubhouse chemistry, mainly because we don’t understand it, but also because it’s a story line with legs. These guys didn’t win because they were good, they won because they got along! They lifted one another, looked out for one another! They were a team! You know, the “Hoosiers” model. Does this apply to basketball, football and hockey? Absolutely. You can’t succeed individually without help from teammates, and you can fail individually because of teammates. That fragile dynamic cannot be compromised.
But baseball … baseball is an individual sport masquerading as a team sport.”
from the above article
It’s clear right now in Kansas City, but here’s the forecast:
“Cloudy. Showers likely early in the afternoon. Periods of showers late in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 40s. East winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation 80 percent.”
This is the Yanks only trip to Kansas City this year. I’m sure they will try to get the game in if possible. I’m really looking forward to Joba’s first start. Here’s hoping they play.
If anyone’s interested – front page of the NYTimes today (the main section, not the sports’) is a report on four players being named in an investigation of a CA doctor for illegal prescriptions. Troy Glaus, Todd Greene, Scott Schoenenweis, and Ismael Valdes from early 2000s – all named for steroid use. Glaus and Schoenenweis were quoted in the investigation.
My point is that, more and more, there is evidence that there was widespread use of PEDs for a long time, by many players, even non-stars. Saying “off with their heads”, ban them all, take away all their records is not a particularyly useful response. You’d be wiping out an entire generation of baseball records.
“If you asked him what he thought about Dellin Betances… he’d say “Is that the new Cuban place on the upper east side… i sawr a review in the Times””
Sounds par for the course for Mike the Mouth. He is just not that credible on the Jobber issue, as with many other things Yankee-related. Just whines a lot.
BTW Off-topic time – Placed a benjamin on Steve Stricker at 15/1 for the win this evening. Best putter on tour…hope he finds the form with the flat stick today.
my intuition tells me Gardner will perform better from the lead=off spot than from 9th. it’s a psycho-emotional thing.
well, you’re an idiot
A few points about the lineup and all this other nonsense. Let me first note that the lineup is still good enough to win, despite my complaints.
Today was a bad time to bench Damon, plain and simple. Teix is down with an injury, Posada needs a day off, shouldn’t Girardi wait for tomorrow to give Damon a breather? Now the lineup includes Gardner, Ransom, Molina, Cabrera which are basically 4 replacement level bats. It is really hard to win with those guys in there at the same time.
I know there are days that people have to be rested but shouldn’t Joe try to spread it out? Unless Damon was in dire need of a day off, I don’t get this at all.
Yeah, I wonder the same thing about Gardner. A change of scenery in the lineup sometimes gets you started. I’m not ready to give up on him yet, not by a longshot. Let’s give the kid a real chance, and not just a NY minute.
I love reading this blog. It’s by far the best source of Yankee discussion and information anywhere to be found. But am I the only one embarrassed by the occassional negativity here, especially by some of the most astute posters?
My God, you’d think that anyone who dare mentions that a lineup that includes Brett, Melky, Cody and Jose Molina may have some holes in it is committing blasphemy.In fact, they are merely stating the obvious.
The beauty of this Yankee team is that they are not going to have to mash the ball in order to win each game. Every day they are featuring a pitcher capable of beating the opponent. To acknowledge one of the weaker line ups they can feature is no sin. It just means that today is a day where the pitching needs to carry them through.
Between Molina and Melky, there is a minimum of six outs wasted. And Gardner and Ranson are close to being the same.
So the Yankees are throwing 2+ innings at bat right out the window.
OH LORD HAVE MERCY!!! IM ABOUT TO HAVE A HEART ATTACK! WHY? WHY?! WHY WOULD THEY PLAY MELKY?! CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHY?! CODY CANT HIT!! MELKY COULDNT HIT A BEACH BALL! AND WHY IS HE SO HIGH UP IN THE ORDER?!?
oh im calm now.
no. please someone explain this to me! why no damon??? ahhhh
Patrick – I think the weather has a lot to do with Tex and Damon being absent. It’s still a capable lineup and we have a more than capable starter on the mound as well. Three tough days of turf coming up for Damon and Posada.
Folks, it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Let’s not get too worked up about playing Molina and Melky and giving the regulars some rest. Let’s keep a long-term perspective on the team, shall we?
Besides, they haven’t even played the game.
LOL AJ got a birthday cake for Tex and it read: “Happy Birthday, Mark. From the Baltimore Orioles.”
This was from Kim Jones’ blog – she thinks the cake was from AJ, but Marc Carig (NJ.com) stated the cake was from AJ, so we’ll go with that. I love this kind of inside info that Kim provides in her blog – we can’t be in the clubhouse, so this is the next best thing.
Sure, the pitching needs to carry them, but why do it for Joba’s debut? The four vets had the best possible lineup or close to it when they pitched, but Joba gets the New York Scranton Yankees lineup to start his season.
I’m not saying he can’t handle it, but it is a little ridiculous to post this lineup on the sixth game of the season. Do that many players really need the day off after seven days of the regular season and six games?
“Well, there are plenty of hitting instructors on this blog. I am sure one of them will give us their opinion on that subject.”
christina-
it doesn’t matter if pete thinks this unless he got it from kevin long. if long thought this then i’d be wondering what it is that he’s teaching .
actually i would really like to see what his mechanical thoughts are for hitting, but i’ve never seen what his hitting philosophy is. i know long gets credit from arod and other hitters from time to time, but what he actually teaches is never publicized.
if he’s telling them their bottom hand is their power hand, i’d be concerned because i don’t think it works that way.
this is the kind of thing that the casual fan could care less about. they just want to see results, but mechanical changes and strategy approaches are a big part of the game.
watching swisher hit for example is really a treat because i like the idea for most hitters to work the count and see a lot of pitches the way he does ( there are exceptions to the rule though like mattingly and cano who are better with more free swinging).
it is interesting that the yankees have to go outside the organization to find a hitter who does this. swisher was taught to do this while in the minors. it was a learned skill. the yankees could teach it, but obviously they don’t to the extent the a’s do.
i think it’s safe to say that the yankees are not doing anything cutting edge with hitting. their best hitters are brought in at this point.
For starters, it’s a day game after a night game, so Posada is definitely not playing. Starting Molina is par for the course. Second of all, not having Tex in the lineup keeps Swisher at first. Damon is 35 and needs to stay fresh over the course of the season since he’s had to deal with nagging leg injuries in previous years. Melky is better hitting from the left side of the plate than from the right side and he hasn’t played at all during the year. Who are you starting in place of Ransom, Ramiro Pena? And Gardner can stay in center since he’s young and has a good glove. They don’t need to score 1,000 runs to win. Besides, they’ve scored plenty to start this season; they’ll find a way to push runs across the plate.
The key today to beating Meche will be to make hit throw strikes. He averages almost 4 walks per 9 innings for his career. He’s pitched well for KC,but this lineup could manufacture some runs if they are patient.
so we have three people who cant hit. molina ransom and cabrera. AND THEY ARE ALL IN A ROW! why isnt melky cabrera playing in the 9 spo did you see his one at bat so far? it was the worst at bat of the season.
We have to depend on the good players brett, jeter, swisher and nady!
cano played horibly last night! Matsui is playing horrible!
We are relying on 4 players to win he game? this is cuel and unusual for joba being that its his first game and all.
Is Kruk off the pills again, “It seem like Josh Beckett is already on his way to the Cy Young”.
After one start. Good job Kruk.
The line up today does not worry me.
Teixeira with a brace on his wrist does.
update on Tex above…
Ransom,Melky & Gardner ..wonder how many teams they would start for in the majors… wonderful scoring all these runs,but look at who they have played…they had their CFer a few years ago who wanted to play for them but they (Yankees)drop the ball on that
“Teixeira with a brace on his wrist does.”
what the…
Swish, please **stay** on fire until Teix is ready to be back.
The lineup today is lackluster at best. We just need to hope that Joba throws strikes and controls his fastball so he can get through six maybe seven innings. If he keeps us in the game we have a shot. Could be a low scoring affair today
you people are crazy, the lineup is still better then 75% of the starting lineups in babseball. relax! its stil april 12th, against the royals, with the rays up next…i dont recall reading one positive comment! you all need to calm down. im sure girardi knows what hes doing, thats why none of you are managing the yankees….
SJ, I liked your earlier point about this team needing all 25 players to contribute. That’s what a team is supposed to be and the earlier the Yankees get into that frame of mind, the better it will be for them in the long run. Let some of these guys contribute now (and not allow them to rot away on the bench), and even if they don’t succeed now, they may yet do so in the future. You don’t want to be thinking that your manager has absolutely no confidence in you to do your job, even as a bench player. If you feel that the manager has confidence, then you will feel better about yourself and that will lead to better performances (as opposed to being miserable because you think the team thinks you suck).
I can’t believe some of the posts I’m reading about the line up. Today’s the perfect day to rest some of the starters…
Oh crap about Tex…..
That teix update doesn’t sound promising…
People:
Please adhere to the guidelines on this blog.
No posting in ALL CAPS. Only morons do that. We discourage morons from coming here.
No attacking people with insults. By people I mean each other, players, writers, any human being, etc. If you aren’t smart enough to make a point without insulting somebody, then go find another site.
Do you know how silly you look complaining about the lineup before the game is played? Do you? Posada a 37-year-old catcher coming off major surgery. He cant play every day. Tex is inured. Damon can’t hit Meche and had played every inning. It’s also 45 degrees here.
Some of these posts are embarrassing. They’ve won three in a row and played great and people are worried about Cody Ransom? This just in: He’s Cody Ransom. If he was any good, he’d be starting for some team. As long as the Yankees win series and move forward steadily, it’s fine.
The team is playing a solid brand of baseball and yet negative comments persist. It’s ridiculous.
Okay, I’m a little worried about Tex. I guess let’s just continue to wait and see.
Bad news on Tex. Good news on Alex. I’m glad he’ll be on the field for intros at the trop. A little in-your-face reminder.
I’d be curious to know if Mark’s wrist feels worse, the same, or better.
spoiled.
Joba hasn’t really pitched much lately so I expect him to be pretty amped up and have some issues with his command today. Good thing the pen is rested.
Of course, the big story tomorrow will be about how he’s not fit to be a starter and echoed by Francesa, Madden, King, and Kernan.
“Joe Girardi said he expects that Alex will also join the team at Tropicana Field for the game.”
This is great news. The sooner Alex is back bonding with the team, the better.
Pete, any update on the weather?
Rebecca you know how it goes around here, soon as Girardi starts resting his older veterans due to inclement weather and for preserving them throughout the season then people come out like hungry wolves in criticism.
Tendinitis is an extremely annoying condition to have, since there isn’t a clear-cut method to treat it other than with anti-inflammatory medication and rest. It’s probably a flare-up of something he did on the field to aggravate it in the first place. These things usually just go away on their own, it just depends on how long it takes to go away. The important thing is that there probably isn’t any structural damage, just some inflammation.
Josh Johnson vs. Johan on TBS.
Pete,
I agree with your post, people need to chill out a little bit.
But I guess calling someone a moron isnt an insult.
The injury to Tex is a pain (for him more than us)…but, unless he is a very good liar, he doesn’t feel it’s anything more serious than a day – to – day thing. Why don’t we believe him? This isn’t Girardi, or Cash, saying it. It’s the player himself.
Here’s a novel thought – why don’t we try to believe his assessment of his own body?
Randy,
I don’t know, Long pretty much broke down Cano’s entire stance, from where he set his feet and hands to how he apporaches each AB and remade his stance/swing. That’s pretty radical in this day and age.
He spent a good chunk of his winter in the DR working with him and we have definitely seen the results thus far. He also spent time in Miami again with Arod in the off-season and they worked on a bunch of stuff.
Swisher and Tex (who worked with Rudy Jaramillo, a great hitting coach, in Texas) both loved the way Long worked with them from both sides of the plate in the spring.
He’s considered by many in the game these days as one of the best hitting coach’s now for a reason. He works hard, keeps things simple, and isn’t afraid to get in guys faces, regardless of their stature in the game. That’s tough to do these days and keep their respect.
Thus far, he has done a nice job of balancing that and getting the most out of the players.
Of course, the big story tomorrow will be about how he’s not fit to be a starter and echoed by Francesa, Madden, King, and Kernan.
================================
I can already hear Francesa tomorrow:
“This idear that the Yankees have of Jobber being a stahtar is frankly ridiculous folks. Jobber should be in the bullpen.”
“Why don’t we believe him?”
His lack if a medical degree?
Don’t think that it’s that people don’t believe him. I believe him, but don’t believe he really knows. Uncertainty sucks. Let’s see him get it checked out in Tampa and know for sure.
Josh was my dark horse for Cy Young before the season started…let’s see what he looks like.
Lack OF a medical degree.
The team is playing a solid brand of baseball and yet negative comments persist. It’s ridiculous.
————
That’s what happens when you don’t have registration. But LoHud prefers quantity over quality.
No, registration won’t eliminate all trolls and/or stupid commenters – but it should significantly decrease the volume of absurdity.
People seem to forget there’s a difference between baseball and college football…losing one game in baseball won’t kill your teams’ hopes of a championship!
“My god it is exhausting listening to Nick. How does anyone keep up with him”
how does anyone keep up with Dick Vitale?
it definitely a gift
Its the Yankees. People who root for the Yankees love to overreact
It’s a very natural thing to do, I love to do it myself when it comes to situations like this.
Just remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Sitting Teixeira for a few days now is much more preferable to sitting him for a few weeks during the season.
is it me or does that seem like a weak lineup?
Kevin Long threw pitches to Cano and punished him if he swung at ones considered balls. I think that would suggest Long does something to contribute to plate discipline.
Steve B, I agree – Tex is not a doctor and also he, like all players, just wants to believe the best, not the worst. What’s he going to say, that he thinks he’s got structural damage? That’s a possibility I’m sure he doesn’t want to even think about. You can’t blame people for worrying about something like this because a wrist injury can linger.
‘Keep your eyes focused on Scranton, AJax hitting .462 this early season.’
We’re watching, still it will be Sept. for him. He will recieve 300 – 400 ABs in AAA before he touches this level.
Just to switch the topic for a moment, what’s everyone’s take on the minor leaguers so far? The pitching looks very encouraging, and Austin Jackson is having an impressive start to the season. A nice beginning.
“Just remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.”
Never bought into this. Always thought of it as 162 sprints, each one counting as much as all the others.
I think the complaining about the lineup is weak. Damon was not supposed to play yesterday, but he had to due to Tex being out. You can’t plan for unforseen circumstances – that’s why they’re unforseen. He gets the day off today that he was supposed to have – period. It’s good that Joe is keeping the vets fresh – they have a long and grueling schedule ahead of them.
“People seem to forget there’s a difference between baseball and college football…losing one game in baseball won’t kill your teams’ hopes of a championship!”
Oooh hinting at the BCS debate are we? =)
went for a walk with only a long sleeve thermo this morning.
what was i thinking?
“Tex is inured”
Um, not to split hairs here, but if he were inured to his injury, he’d be playing!
(I’m seriously worried about him, but trying to keep it light until we know anything for sure! It’s not necessarily a big deal. I remember Carlos Zambrano had tendinitis last year and I’m not sure he even missed one start. Obviously none of us know how serious Teix’s is compared to his, but just thought I’d mention that since I know everybody is thinking of the time Joba missed last year. not every case is like that.)
That is one thin lineup.
Time for some guys to hit beyond their ability for a game.
anyone else listen to Kimberley Jones almost attacking Joba telling him he should be a reliever a few minutes ago on Yankees BP? – “Doesn’t a part of you just seem like you are a reliever?” “In what situation do you see yourself going back to being a reliever, either short term or long term?”
Shut face
Steve B:
That’s not healthy for your heart!
“anyone else listen to Kimberley Jones almost attacking Joba telling him he should be a reliever a few minutes ago on Yankees BP? – “Doesn’t a part of you just seem like you are a reliever?” “In what situation do you see yourself going back to being a reliever, either short term or long term”
umm. We were viewing different interviews then
Wes Helms batting cleanup for the Fish? Strange.
rebecca: happy Birthday to you
long time, few posts. i’m spending the year in europe, save a few weeks in june when i’ll be back in the states trying to catch a couple of games.
i hope everyone’s well. save for the first couple of starts, the team looks good, especially considering they’re missing their best drama magnet, er, player.
my only worry this year is health. teixeira’s wrist gives me a little concern because i remember similar progressions in past years ending with DL stints. hopefully it’s nothing, but i think it’s something to worry about.
hope all are well and having a fantastic easter. if you want to drop a line, i’m at kasey@kaseyanderson.com
if you’re in europe or have friends over here, tell ‘em to come see some shows.
Also definitely not worried about today’s lineup, the series is already won so the Yankees are playing with house money now. Although, it would be great to win today to make up for losing 2 at B’more. Then it would be like we won both series. Okay, that and I really want Joba to win.
But it’s not like we’re facing the ’76 Royals today either. Look at THEIR lineup for a few mins and it becomes a lot harder to complain about ours! Gordon is out and he hits Joba iirc. (must know something from their Nebraska days).
Vinny: Thanks!
Kasey: Great to hear from you! Wish I could hop the pond, as it were, and see some shows but I lack both money and time
oh, and happy birthday Rebecca!
BBB: Thanks!
I’m not a big fan of the Leo Durocher “win at all costs” mentality. It seems to wear on teams during the course of the season to where they have nothing left when it comes to playoff time.
Yeah, Kim just asked Joba if he thinks he’ll ever be a reliever again, and he wisely said he’d take it one day at a time.
Betsy,
If Tex had structural damage in his wrist, the KC doctor would have noticed it, or recommended he get an MRI, last night.
Since he was in the lineup today, I am assuming the injury is not serious.
Giving him a couple of days now gets the inflammation out of his wrist. If it persists longer than a few days, they may have to take pictures.
You don’t do MRI’s for every injury that crops up. No team in any sport does that.
Sometimes injuries are what they are advertised to me and that is minor.
If you freak out over every injury, you will be mentally shot by May 1.
Guys are going to get hurt this year. Some injuries will be serious, some not. Its the nature of playing 162 games in 180 days.
If Joba pitches well Francesa will down play it and say “it just the Royals. They’re not a good hitting team, I need to see more” . Or he won’t say anything about it at all.
Just watching Josh Johnson pitch. Wow. I forgot how nasty he is.
He could be a real under the radar Cy Young contender in the NL.
Hopefully he can stay healthy.
Betsy,
Acknowledging that the lineup is weak on paper is hardly complaining.
Nady, Cano, Melky, Ransom, Molina, Gardner…
It’s a good thing the Yankees 5th starter is one of the best young pitchers in the league. Is there a lineup with a worse 6 consecutive hitters in baseball? I guess another way of looking at it is there probably is Damon, Tex, A-Rod, and Posada is probably better than any 4 guys in any other lineup.
This team is so deep. It would be nice if Posada could catch and/or Damon could play LF to make sure Joba gets some runs. The Royals are sending out their No. 1, but I’m still pretty confident they can get this win.
I’m glad that Teixeira is being smart and taking time off instead of trying to be tough and making things worse. At least everyone should be rested for the Rays series except for maybe Matsui.
I don’t understand the disdain everyone has for those of us that are discussing the lineup. Sure there has been some complaining but some of us are just pointing out the fact that there are 4 guys in the lineup that aren’t good hitters. Bottom line, Joba is going to have to pitch a gem for the Yankees to win.
I don’t question the logic that Girardi has to bench guys to give them rest, I just think he shouldn’t bench several guys in one day.
All that being said, I’m really psyched to see Joba pitch today, he is so exciting to watch.
Happy Easter to everyone and Happy Birthday to Rebecca.
Kasey,
Welcome back and enjoy Europe! Good luck with the gigs.
Happy Birthday Rebecca1
Haven’t been back here in a while. Hope the weather holds up today, pretty amped about Joba’s first start. Josh Johnson is dealing on TBS, he might end winning a heck of a lot of games even in that tough division.
Oh and Happy Easter to everyone, and happy birthday Rebecca.
SJ44
Even using an MRI, it’s often difficult to make a differential diagnosis between tendinitis and something more serious. The outcome really depends on symptoms. If the pain subsides, usually after a course of anti-inflam drugs, it’s tendinitis. If it persists, then it’s usually something more.
‘Just to switch the topic for a moment, what’s everyone’s take on the minor leaguers so far? The pitching looks very encouraging, and Austin Jackson is having an impressive start to the season. A nice beginning.’
Austin needs more reps, so far his start has been hot but hopefully he developes more patience and lays off the outside breaking ball. Eduardo Nunez is a kid that is starting to get it and so is Reegie Corona. Manny Banuelos that LHP 18 yr. old throw in w/ Aceves is off to a damn good start, pay very close attention to his starts Betances and Zach McCallister.
Daniel Murphy WTF
Hehehe Murphy gets the yipps.
Thanks everyone! SJ isn’t your birthday around now, too?
“Nady, Cano, Melky, Ransom, Molina, Gardner…
It’s a good thing the Yankees 5th starter is one of the best young pitchers in the league. Is there a lineup with a worse 6 consecutive hitters in baseball? I guess another way of looking at it is there probably is Damon, Tex, A-Rod, and Posada is probably better than any 4 guys in any other lineup.”
Someone has not seen Canó play this season, nor have they seen that Nady did go 2/4 last night…
Nice to hear from you, kasey. Safe travels.
Oh, poor Murphy. But he was too nonchalant with that.
And what’s with Kim. That question is so 2008. And why ask it before his first START of the season?
no.27 — is there a worse 6 consecutive hitters in baseball??????
yes there are many….. look at our opponent for example.
Cano has been great so far and nady is a good hitter…
if you have to rest players, let them heal and run out the second team, Kansas City would be your opponent of choice. besides that, the yankee bench this year is amazing compared to other years. Tex is down. Swisher in. Damon down Cabrera in.
Yeah no. 27 you have it all wrong dude. There is nothing wrong with Cano and Nady, they are very good hitters.
Vinny b, I didn’t see that either, lol. She just joked with Joba about how his emotional nature sometimes seems as if it’s suited for the pen….
SJ, I may not make it to May 1, lol. I really don’t like being so pessimistic – I do tend to take think the worst case scenario with injuries simply because of the last couple of years. That said, you make good points – I think I’ll go take a chill pill. The most importantp point you made is that the KC doctor surely would have recommended an MRI if he saw something even questionable……
i can’t believe Gardner is leading off today ..the man is an automatic out.
his idea of a power shot is a pop up to short right,
We need a center fielder.
The Mick must be turning over in his grave.
A $200 million payroll ,this is dreadful…….HELP!!!!
“is there a worse 6 consecutive hitters in baseball??????”
Probably half of baseball cannot field a lineup as good as even this one. Silly thing to say.
Rebecca,
My birthday is Thursday. I’m heading tomorrow to Tampa to catch the 3 game series with the Rays and then to NY for Opening Day at the Stadium. This is my baseball week after non-stop work for the last 2 months.
No. 27, Nady is not a great player, but he’s pretty solid. I don’t get how Cano is considered a weak link at all – he’s a tremendously talented hitter.
“Slap a zero on the other team” and “I kid you not”.
Not a big Ron Darling fan, sounds a little too effeminate (sp?) for a broadcaster IMO. But those two phrases used in the same sentence and the fact that he was born here, he’s starting to grow on me.
I’m glad Alex will be back with the team in Tampa – rehabbing is a lonely process and I’m sure he’ll be thrilled to be back with his teammates and enjoying the camraderie that goes with being part of a team.
That should be a fun series in Tampa – would love to take 2/3.
SJ: Quite a gift! I got Amazon gift cards, haha! (my parents refuse to feed my Yankees habit).
Still, think it’s kind of cool you share a birthday with my dad!
Does any team currently have better 4/5 starters in baseball? Having Joba at 5 is a luxury.
No problems with rain of course in Tropicana Field but oh …….. those dumb cowbells.
Not complaining about CC, and I realize this is the NL we’re talking about. But jeez, Santana’s a tantalyzing pitcher.
luxury? He has to throw a shut out today for them to win, this is a split squad lineup, how can you not at least DH posada?? He must have lingering effects due to the injury that is not publicized
Why are fans crushing Gardner after 5 games! WOW im totally stunned. Has he not gotten a hit and played CF good? Has he cost the Yankees games? Am I missing something here?
Love how quickly JJ works…got some filthy break to his slider as well.
How many teams can run their #5 pitcher out and have him go toe-toe with a team ace the quality of Gil Meche and hold his own? Not many.
The Yanks won’t be bashing the ball until the lineup had Rodriguez, Posada and Teixeira in it and Matsui gets untracked. Right now, they’ll just do a lot of bunting, stealing and hit-and-runs. They have those types and they can win.
How many times have we had a stacked lineup and come up short? You just never know in baseball, so pre-whining is just senseless.
Joba needs to take a page out of Josh Johnson’s book. No nibbling, especially with the possibility of inclement weahter.
I’m not saying Cano is a weak link, but that group of 6 hitters has got to be one of the worst 6 guys in a row. Cano is off to a great start and I’ve said all offseason that I think he’s going to have a big comeback this year. At the same time, he did have a .305 OBP last season.
Melky, Ransom, Molina, and Gardner are all about as bad as it gets when you are talking about major league hitters. Mixing in 2 guys that had a .305 and a .320 OBP for us last year doesn’t make it that much better.
How many more teams have a group of six hitters in their everyday lineup that are worse than the Yankees? 5?
LOL @ Swish’s opening statement.
Happy Easter to all you lohudders! Just hopped in to say that I hope you all have a great day. I am loving our Yankees. I think Joe Girardi absolutely rocks as a manager. ROCKS!
Woo hoo! that I have Nick Swisher on my Fantasy team! Not so much woo hoo on some of my other players.
Take care and enjoy this glorious game of baseball.
Trisha
no. 27:
Quite a lot. The entire NL West, for one.
Oh yeah – over and out.
Oh yeah – over and out.
SJ44
April 12th, 2009 at 11:32 am
So tell me “Joe”, who does Girardi play today?
He wants to rest Damon and Tex is out.
Give me the lineup.
Albert Pujols and Manny Ramirez aren’t available to play for the Yankees today.
——-
SJ, don’t get me started on the Manny thing.
I don’t have a problem with todays lineup considering Damons stats against Meche.
By the way, Josh Johnson is lights out against the Mets.
Happy Easter. Also, a belated happy Passover.
Betsy
April 12th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
I’m glad Alex will be back with the team in Tampa – rehabbing is a lonely process
——
From the looks of things Alex hasn’t been too lonely.
Ransom would’ve caught that if he were on the mound.
Nice AB by the GGBG.
Those powder blue Royals uniforms…are something else. I’m having flashbacks to the George Brett Royals of the late ’70s and ’80s.
Y’all might wanna take a look at Mets-Marlins…
I’m watching the Mets game now.. No jinxing
Fair enough, if pitchers in the NL need to be included to prove how strong these 6 hitters are I must be way off. Check out that Dodgers lineup if you get a chance though.
Marlins Mets game is 1 hour old and in bottom 5. Santana with 9 k’s and Johnson doing ok.
Johan’s going to punch someone in the clubhouse before the season is over if they can’t score more than 2 runs a game for him.
Swish couldn’t even stay corporate in the intros, I LOVE IT !
And finally they used the 2nd base hole to move the runner over.
speed kills
So much for that terrible idea of leading Gardner off to start the game.
That Brett is fast
I loved speed
for the ‘new school’ baseball fans, who say speed doesn’t really matter.
that Run was for you.
go BRETT !
Broken bat hit by Castillo in 6th, oh well. Johnson is the real deal.
NYY hasn’t had a guy with that kind of speed since Mickey Rivers that could score standing up on a WP that only goes 10 feet.
Great job running up Meche’s pitch count in the 1st inning.
Hey everybody, the Marlins’ pitcher is no-hitting the Mets!
Never mind.
That gritty, gutty Brett Gardner!
that’s what happens when gardner bats lead-off.
gardner is the man!
http://www.nydailynews.com/gos.....s_say.html
I dont understand this man… he could do so much better.
Who the hell cares who A-Rod is banging?
I’m worried about Teixeria.
jint51
April 12th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
http://www.nydailynews.com/gos.....s_say.html
I dont understand this man… he could do so much better.
——
He could do everyone
nice work Joba
Nice inning for the Jobber
anthony its called multitaking. I can type this now, watch the yankees, worry about tex, drink some lemonade, and wonder what Arod is thinking.
its actually called multitasking not multitaking
I don’t care that you posted the link, but I cannot believe that people still care who the hell Rodriguez is having in his bed. Like seriously, get over it. He dated Madona, slept with hookers…get over it (again, this is not addressed souly to you)
Jesus….who cares. You guys would drool just to hold her coffee cup.
hi everyone
That’s BULLSH…. HE WALKED 3 times in that AB !
When’s the last time Robbie took six straight pitches?
Dustin Pedroia
http://deadspin.com/5208868/th.....in-pedroia
Holy crap I just said that for Robi Cano
GreenBeret-
She lives in my bldg on the upper east side… if you think she is attractive you need to get out more often
Anthony just a sign of more things to come as Arod gets closer and closer to returning.
I missed those weak pop ups from melky… glad to see him back at his best.
“UPDATE, 2:31 p.m.: Here’s a fascinating concept. Joba just pitched a 1-2-3 inning. Now he’s going to pitch another inning and maybe even six more because he’s a starter. See, you want the really good pitchers pitching more.”
Doris from Rego Park
April 12th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
GreenBeret-
She lives in my bldg on the upper east side… if you think she is attractive you need to get out more often
————————————————————
Coming from some clown that vultures a name from a dead woman from a call-in talk show, your opinion means zero.
pedroia is classy fits right in with that loudmouth papelbon.
Joba is nasty.
That last pitch to Cano was a strike.
If KC is supposed to be a surprise this year the fans certainly seem surprised. Not a very good turnout against the Yanks. I know its not a nice day but what else is there to do there today.
LOL… and Army Rangers are thrilled to have you vulture their name as well.
“I don’t know, Long pretty much broke down Cano’s entire stance, from where he set his feet and hands to how he apporaches each AB and remade his stance/swing. That’s pretty radical in this ”
sj44-
i’d love to find some articles about what long’s beliefs are. i more saying i don’t know what he teaches. i’ll keep my eyes open for articles, and if you ever see one ,pass it on.
i have an open mind to what long does, but when i see someone like swisher come in it’s apparent that he’s picked up an interesting approach that differs from what’s taught with the yankees. giambi and abreau had similar approaches, and they were all taught somewhere else. but this is best discussed another time when there’s not a game on.
and we all know a green beret is just someone who couldnt cut it in delta
Jobber!
‘That last pitch to Cano was a strike’
all those 3 pitches were balls.
Doris from Rego Park
April 12th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
LOL… and Army Rangers are thrilled to have you vulture their name as well.
————————————————————
There’s a considerable difference between Special Forces and rangers. I earned this name.
I like how Molina is calling the game for Joba. Good job mixing up the pitches and establishing the fastball for quality strikes.
A-rod’s a pro. At multitaking.
I think Green Beanies were a bit before Delta. John Wayne?
I hate the rain for potentially wasting quality innings from Joba today.
anybody know any free links to listen to the game online???
number 2 for prez
if you can bear john & suzyn:
http://stream2.wtsnam1270.com/
thanks joe…I actually enjoy listening to sterling(i know, im one of the few). on the other hand, cant stand suzyn..haha….thanks again!
damn it joba
I-Brandon (I LOVE ME SOME ME !)
April 12th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
‘That last pitch to Cano was a strike’
all those 3 pitches were balls.
—–
First one was definitely a ball. You can’t take that pitch on a 3-2 count either way
Joba’s getting knocked around pretty good this inning. Lots of long fly balls.
The SF was offically designated in 1952, but, much of the tactics and operations were part OSS and part Gen. Walter Krueger’s Alamo Forces of WWII. US lineage goes back to Francis Marion.
If he had this kind of inning in a crucial relief spot, we’d be cooked.
ok ..this must be the fight back for the game.
‘Joba’s getting knocked around pretty good this inning. Lots of long fly balls.’
A solo shot and a xtra bagger on a rainy day, if that’s getting knocked around you take it.
The difference between a .300 hitter and a .240 hitter is approx. 1 hit every 16 ABs (or about 4 games). Our ‘duds’ are NOT automatic outs. And duds on the other teams often get hits that beat us.
Over a year and multiple players, that 1 hit per 16 ABs makes a difference. For a handful of games a year, it’s anyone guess. Dud #1 has already been responsible for our only run. Yeah, it’s a ugly lineup, but part of a 162 game season with injured players.
Let’s just hope Joba has a good day.
hopefully the Yanks can get back ahead, doubt this game goes 9
nady looks awful.
Yanks have had some really ugly swings against Meche today. Good thing we made him throw so many pitches in the 1st inning. Anyone got a pitch count on him?
Joba getting squeezed and Meche getting calls?
Go Yankees!
Josh Johnson doesn’t believe in relief pitching.
Matsui is not hitting like Godzilla but GodZOOKY!
My friend just said that the Atlanta Braves announcers said that Tex was on the DL, can any one confirm this because I looked everywhere and couldn’t find anything.
how does he go from so sick. to such looking like sh…t
Is Joba gonna be the Yankees pitcher this year where he the pitcher does well enough to keep his team in the game but for whatever reason the team doesn’t get the runs for him. There’s always that one pitcher on the Yankees that has to put up with that nonsense.
“My friend just said that the Atlanta Braves announcers said that Tex was on the DL, can any one confirm this because I looked everywhere and couldn’t find anything.”
Pretty sure your friend is a bitter braves fan, Tex is day to day and he will be playing again this week.
Mehdi- This is just him being lined up with a pretty good pitcher in Meche. The Yankees aren’t scoring runs because Meche is dominating.
I sense meltdown.
Now it’s getting interesting in FLA
Come on Joba
Nice strike, Joba.
AL,
Yeah, your right on that one! lol
hmm get a grip Joba.
Same goes for you Josh
Wow 2 hour Marlins Mets game.
Josh Johnson was outstanding and so was Johan. Dropped 2 out fly ball by Murphy led to both runs.
The Marlins will be in this thing all year with their starting pitching.
Tight strike zone for Joba today not like the past couple of umps.
i can’t stand susan waldman…..john steiner stinks..he gets the call wrong often…these two just don’t get better..i’ve been listening for years and they literally don’t get better at there job…shouldn’t they fired?…yes. they should.
Joba looks thinner than he has the last 2 years, doesn’t he?
WTF !
Come back Tex
What the Hell?! TEX!
Uh Oh
Juan Miranda even fields that.
wow, thats some BS! damn.
Was that just a double Buckner?
Now I understand why Swisher’s UZR at 1B is negative.
wow
Brian G – John Steiner??? Really?? It’s John Sterling and your credibility is now shot!
That was called a hit?
Really?
How do these ‘official scorers’ get away with that BS?
friggin split squad team
These KC scorers are total homers. This is about the 3rd or 4th “hit” that should have been an error.
and this ump isnt quite as bad as the one AJ had, but he still sucks.
No way we are getting anything off of Meche and this game looks ready to call, we really needed Tex today.
I thought 1b was Swish’s best position?
Swisher is not a good fielder,he’s just a buffoon.
looks like next inning will be it hopefully we can tie it up
How many outs does Joba have to get this inning?
I want a rain delay. Meche wont be able to come back out and we can take our chances off their bullpen.
If the footing is that bad, get them of the field.
The Lord (Swish) giveth and taketh
Ballgame.
nice job swisher, you scrub
off*
That official scorer should be fired. Sorry, but that’s ridiculous.
“I want a rain delay. Meche wont be able to come back out and we can take our chances off their bullpen.”
This rain is not going away.
BBB
I thought 1b was Swish’s best position?
__
Nope, he’s a corner OFer.
If you asked the scorer, I’m sure he/she would say it was ruled a hit because neither Swisher nor Cano actually touched the ball.
The rain is killing this game. I bet there is either a rain delay after this or they play till it’s official. Either way, Yanks are screwed.
Nothing is wrong with Joba. The weather is horrible and Swisher AND Cano missed the ball that would have gotten him out of the inning unscathed.
it’s not joba’s fault, he did fine. The defense let him down. And our offense is a bunch of scrubs w/o arod,tex,damon and posada…
Why that slow grounder under swisher’s glove was not scored an error is beyond me.
When is the game official again? After 5 or 7?
‘The Millar wanna be is awful in the field.TRADE HIM!
And throw in that bum Rancid.’
Dude is a switch hitter hitting over .500 w/ the an automatic 3-2 per day in the resume for 09′, yeh I think we’ll keep him.
“What the hell is wrong with joba?”
surely you jest!!!
Come on bats. Get cranking
He’s swinging at strikes, this is a dangerous Robi Cano
Ransom should be cut.
It’s official after 5, 4 and half if the home team is leading.
Yeah but now we have all these auto outs following him in the lineup.
thanks Melk man
If the best you can come up with is to call a player names, please don’t post.
Like I was saying. Melky in midseason form.
thanks melky.. can you go stay on the bench now
Damon needed to play today. You can’t rest Damon & Posada at the same time with Tex & Arod out. They should have DH’d CC. He’s a better hitter than both Molina & Ransom. That’s not even a joke.
Same old Melky Cabrera. For the love of god, just release him already. He has no baseball instincts and no talent, and his roster spot can be used by somebody who actually can do something right and contribute to this team.
Doesn’t look like hard enough rain to me to call the game right now. They better at least let the Yankees continue till they obviously can’t. I’m not at all convinced this one is lost yet.
Fake ‘V’. Get a life. Please.
Ransom is almost unwatchable. I’m not hating, I knew this was what he was and didn’t expect much of anything different than what he’s doing. But seriously, his AB’s are really painful to watch.
‘If the best you can come up with is to call a player names, please don’t post.’
Huh ? Pete your talking to me. Melk Man is what Sterling calls him, what’s wrong ?
It’s time to bite the bullet and stop running guys out there who can’t get it done. Nady, Ransom, and Melky are near the top of that list. As soon as guys are ready to play, Melky needs to be released and Ransom with him.
Oh well, just checked Mcpherson signed with Giants yesterday. Missed this one Cash.
Brett Gardner is a great center fielder. A sure-fire hall of famer.
I’m afraid with all the yapping people forget that McPherson signed with the Giants.
now we know what the blind guy on American Idol is doing since he got eliminated – he’s official scorer in KC.
steiner, sterling, who cares?…steiner was the dude on espn…i have better things occupying his name in my memory…either way, i listen to these two on the radio and it makes me cringe every damn day…can no one call a baseball game?….dude just calls it early and wrong often…”st. nick”?????…”on the mark”?????….this dude is a bum…susan is a bum. BUMS!
Color me confused also as to why Cash didnt even explore the Dallas McPherson option. I mean its a no risk signing.
Pete saying that “Joba’s having trouble with the rain” might be too generous. It looks to me like what happened it fairly academic: the second time through the order they started hitting him, and hard. The error hurt but he gave up some rockets and all his pitches are suddenly up.
DT: LOLZ
A team with a 200 million dollar payroll should never, ever have to field a line-up that includes a Melky, Molina, Ransom & Gardner. Joba deserves better.
ok some one is pretending to be me i did not say brett gardner was definitely a hally of am although I believe his speed will bing him there.
what i did say is that melky is the worst player to ever play baseball
horrrible!
Put joba in pen and bring up Hughes
come on joba…
Do the umps need thier eyes checked ? he looked out to me.
I hope Jackson’s arm is considerably better than Gardner’s.
Brett Gardner is not a Major League center fielder.
Melky should be in cf with his arm
great arm brett lets see melky do that! but we wont.
YankeeRay
April 12th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Oh well, just checked Mcpherson signed with Giants yesterday. Missed this one Cash.
————————————————————
I’m sure that McPherson’s .920 fielding and 1 strikeout in every 2 and a half at bats will really be missed.
Whew! That’s over with
The ball rolls to the wall if Melky is in CF.
Tough crowd, it was a broken bat dribbler, both bat and ball going out there in the rain and Swisher slipped in the mud. What is it that you people want?
“ok some one is pretending to be me i did not say brett gardner was definitely a hally of am although I believe his speed will bing him there.”
What? His speed will take him to the Hall of Fame? Thats somehow better than saying he’s a Hall of Famer without qualification?
Yikes. He’s NOT a Hall of Famer, for any reason.
Not sure if anyone cares, but the pirates just pulled off a nice triple play. First of the season.
“A team with a 200 million dollar payroll should never, ever have to field a line-up that includes a Melky, Molina, Ransom & Gardner. Joba deserves better.”
WORD.
Cmon Yanks, bloop and a blast!
Thanks chrstina!
I sincerely hope we never see a lineup that even resembles this one again
Well looking at that lineup out there today for us, fair to say that Girardi seemed content to throw this one, for some unfathomable reason.
Wow, the Yankees are losing and it’s like the end of the world- they’ll never win another game.
That said, Swish has been great on O, but his D leaves something to be desired. I’ve also seen more than enough of Melky.
This weather is getting to Joba. Hopefully we can get a bloop and a blast but this offense without Tex, A-Rod, Damon and Posada is anemic I really hope Tex is back soon.
Furthermore, is this the lineup that (we) are going to pay $200+ to see opening day?? Unbelievable.
“Wow, the Yankees are losing and it’s like the end of the world- they’ll never win another game.”
I don’t think its about losing, I think its how stink and sour this lineup looks, best way I can describe it. Auto outs up and down today.
WOW, BS CALL!!!
should have seen this one coming with the team on the field today….you can’t possibly take your best hitters off the field and expect to win…. joba would have needed a shutout to win this game…..at least dhing posada or damon would have been better than matsui…my gawd the guy is hitting .105
yeah AROD fan this is it.
Brett Gardner hits the ball in the air with no one on and on the ground with Molina on first.
Ya I dunno why Girardi would essentially throw this game with the AAA line-up. Early in the season there is a difference between 4-2 and 3-3 how disappointing.
these double plays after lead off hits are getting really old
That play called for a Girardi tantrum. The umpire blew that call bad.
Girardi is a terrible manager
And no, you will not see this lineup Opening Day at home. relax. This lineup is a rarity. But the Yankees have fielded lineups worse than this and still won, and fielded better lineups and lost. Relax. Would you rather they play all the regs now and rest them vs Tampa who we might have to battle for a playoff spot? chill. goosfraba.
Disgraceful call, but set up by disgraceful at bats.
Try making him work? Terrible. Running out a lineup like this is clearly a weak attempt at winning this game. When are we going to see the pinch hitters?
good point. i guess it’s fair to assume girardi will change the lineup for opening day
.
Derek ‘soft infield hits’ Jeter
Quit whining about the lineup. They can’t play Posada and damon in evety game.
That was the start of an inning begging for bunts, though.
Fire Jeter – he’s 1 for his last 16.
Although I will say that it wouldnt have been a bad idea to DH Posada today with the way he’s been swinging the bat of late. But seriously, there are always going to be games like this. You lose the battle to win the war, thats the nature of a 162 game season.
dont say one word about that double play, thats melkys signature move!
“It’s Melky time,” I was typing as I got a phone call, just before the GIDP. Grrrrr.
Joba’s first start > CC’s and Wang’s first starts
we have Wang, Aj, Pettitte then CC right?
All in all, not a bad start for Joba. I didn’t expect him to be too sharp being his first start and all. He hasn’t pitched in almost 2 weeks it seems. And then when you lump in the rain and some shotty defense…not bad at all. He’s kept us in the game. If we get this from him all year it would be great.
Classy – impersonated by somebody who’s impersonating several other people (hint: I never use a fake ‘web-site’ to make my name bold, idiot).
Haha, can’t argue with you there Brettisgod. Plus your boy wasn’t out anyway.
Scranton has a better lineup today. Matsui is done
No one can defend this lineup that Girardi put out there today it is anemic at best and downright disgusting at worst.
Gardner CF
Jeter SS
Swisher 1B
Matsui DH
Nady RF
Cano 2B
Cabrera LF
Ransom 3B
Molina C
Matsui looks like he is 90 and waving his cane,
Nady only seems to get a hit when no one is on and it’s 2 outs.
Cabrera – the name says it all
Ransom – freaking bum needs to be cut outright.
Molina – well at least he has a good throwing arm
that’s over half the lineup that stinks to the core.
Cal, it’s one game. Damon was going to get a day off and it was supposed to be yesterday – because of Tex, it couldn’t be. Tex may not be able to play for a few more days – is he going to continue to play Damon until he gets back? No, I’d rather see Johnny get the day off he need and let the Yankees try to survive one day.
Joba has pitched well. He’s losing because of an error that was ruled a hit and a terrible Yankees offensive approach.
I don’t mind Posada getting the full day off. I don’t want to over tax him. We need him for the long haul. But the minute you realize Tex won’t play, you have to throw Damon back in there.
Joba’s real line-
6 4 3 1 1 5
I’d take 6 IP 1 ER any day of the week. How about our offense stops swinging at everything against a guy who should have been out of the game after 5 when he threw 30 pitches in the 1st inning?
Joba is not having a bad game.
Why in the blue hell is Melky Cabrera still in the majors?! Where can I try out for the Yankees, I am MUCH, MUCH better than him. Ransom is another one, just play Ramiro Pena in 3rd he can’t be worse than Ransom. Gardner sucks too but at least he can run.
Cal – Again I ask, would you prefer Girardi trot out that lineup vs Tampa?
Sometimes lineups like that are a necessary evil, I think he is just looking at the bigger picture and trying to trot out said anemic lineup at the most opportune time possible.
anyone else tired of michael kay “taking this baby” to the next inning?
“Scranton has a better lineup today. Matsui is done”
Scranton, ha, probably the River Dogs have a better lineup than this clown fest batting today.
Can we take advantage here this time PLEASE???
bretts arm is amazing there is nothing about him i dont like
maybe he isnt the best hitter but he is the fastest player in baseball and that means he is woth something. I think brett will be a lifelong yankee
Odds on Matsui DP?
“Anyone else tired of michael kay “taking this baby” to the next inning?”
I’ve stopped listening to Kay, he is very grating to hear, I just put the channel on mute and watch the action, that’s how bad he is to stomach.
Words eaten Thank You
Matsui is not done. But if he were (which he isn’t) Juan Miranda is only a phone call away. No worries.
Joba has done great for our #5, one rough inning and that’s it, he gave us at least 6, 7 if we’re lucky
This is it. Gotta score here with the middle of the lineup up. Of course, Nady coming up doesn’t elicit much confidence.
X com’on get it to Robi
This is AWESOME. You guys should write for the Daily News. It’s the 6th game of the year. It’s raining. And we’re quoting batting averages, as though .105 means anything at this time of year. What a bunch of terrible fans.
Even though Swisher went for that ball, it looked like the ball was going to go through anyway.
How about we take a pitch with 2 runners on, rather than swinging at everything and hitting into DP’s?
I’d srsly PH for Ransom in this game, IDK why but I would.
There you go X !
So people don’t like this lineup because they think it doesn’t Meche?
Sorry.
Because it doesn’t mash?
XXX!
DON’T SLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!!!!!
Sterling on the radio asks if Nady is bunting here….
Pete – go over and smack John on the side of the head.
X gon’give it to ya!
Now that was clutch
WOW! Shocking!
Now they better not strand these guys like they tend to do in these spots. And how about we pinch hit for Melky when he comes up?
WTG, Nady baby!
“doesn’t elicit much confidence.” Yeah, as though it’s such a crying shame to have an above average hitter batting 5th and, uh, driving in a run.
Nice one Nick!
wooooooooooot!!!
That better be called a hit!
Robi !
That better be a hit Mr. Official Scorer.
When did “channel Captain Obvious randomly” become part of the job description of baseball commentators?
This lineup is terrible. Why are we Yankee fans meant to suffer this indignity?
omg nady!!!
Thats why the Marlins traded Jacobs for Nunez
jacobs has missed a few easy plays over there at first this series. doesnt have much of a glove does he?
What is it with the right side of the infield?
LOL at these scorers. Now they give errors to the 1st baseman? lololol.
Hey look at that, a guy hitting the ball to the right side with the infield back! Situational hitting? You’d never think that existed watching this Yankees team in recent years!
Wow, how can they call that an error and Swisher’s error a hit? WOWWWWW
Hometown scorer strikes again!
I guess that’s how you get your kicks when your team is KC.
ruled an error
melky is awesome way to get the run in ha
Yes!!!
I’ll take the lead any way it comes along
Swish always tries to make up for his weak D.
Well, at least that was a useful fail for Melky!
On to the pen
4-3 Yanks. This is where our pen has to show their worth.
this lineup has only generated 3 runs in 5+ innings. Quick. Trade Cashman, put cement shoes on Cabrera and drop him in the river and lock Ransom in the dugout. I am humiliated by this performance!
Cabrera gets the run in, but totally destroys the rally. When guys are healthy, Melky better not ever see the light of day.
ransom going yard?
Nady playing for a big contract.
Its funny reading some of these comments saying that Damon would be our savior if he were playing. Like its automatic he would have hit Meche. Fellas dont worry. The Yankees will not lose on MY BIRTHDAY!!
GO YANKEES!! Even with this lineup!!
something needs to be done about official scoring.
nice comeback nonetheless
Now Joba can get the win!
Let’s Go Yanks!
Does Joba get the W if he doesn’t come back out?
I cannot believe this lineup is allowed onto the field. It is horrible being a Yankees fan. Sometimes we only score four runs against a team’s ace.
SoS it’s your birthday too? Hope it is happy!
Would be nice if we could get a little bit of a cushion now.
The official scorer is a deeply twisted individual.
Melky should never see the light of day! He should be sent to Charleston where he belongs so that Earle Rivers Gardner can dominate.
How can someone destroy a rally in an inning where a team goes from 2 runs down to one run up?
Seems like that might be a fairly successful rally.
did anyone else see the bench clearing brawl in the Sox v Angels game?
Beckett, being the usual POS that he is, started it.
is anyone warming in our pen?
Boston Dave – No, but more details, please!
Yes, Joba is the Yankees’ pitcher of record, or P.O.R. as we baseball insiders call it.
Happy Birthday S.o.S. and Rebecca!
another double play! melky you are just amazing. i expect to you in triple a tomorrow
Al from BK
April 12th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
Does Joba get the W if he doesn’t come back out?
—–
Al, youre scaring me
I hope the bullpen can hold it. Thanks to CC & Pettite they’re rested. I say Coke 7th, Bruney 8th, and somebody for the 9th…I can’t think of who though.
I may have PH for Melky or Ransom in this inning, but I’ll take the 4-3 lead!
the point is, melky ran them out of a bigger inning, bottom line. And yes Beckett is a scrub. I hope he gets a 15 game suspension for that scrub move
Exactly John.
BBB,
Thanks. It will be nicer once the last out is made.
Melky has no more options Brett, he’d be dead and gone.
Melky didn’t just kill the rally; he killed sunshine and joy.
mike scioscia coming out for more
can’t wait to see Joba pitch against Sox after seeing Beckett.
Dont let me see anyone praise melky he got a double play and that is crap. I do not care is he gave them a run they didnt even need it. DOWN WITH MELKY
Figgins was on 2nd and Beckett kept checking back on him, which is fine. Abreu was at bat and after Beckett checked back prob for the 4th time, he was asking for time.
Beckett turned around and started his windup, the ump finally granted time and when Beckett saw this he threw it at hard as he could at Abreu’s head (Abreu was just standing there defenseless).
Benches ended up clearing – I didn’t see any punches or anything. Justin Speier gets tossed.
Then, Beckett walks over to Scoscia as the teams are going back to their dugouts and he says something to Scoscia that pisses him off.
The benches clear again thanks to Josh keeping it going. Torii Hunter ends up getting tossed and another 5 minutes goes by before it settles down.
Nobody from Boston gets tossed, of course.
anyone care to provide a recap of this brawl for those of us not watching/watched?
Thanks Nick! I believe Boston Daves special day is also today.
who did beckett throw at?
Wow. Beckett really is an ass.
I think Scoscia just got tossed for yelling from the dugout. He has reason to be pissed off. Beckett just tried to end Abreu’s career and only Angels players got tossed for it.
And people think Joba is a headhunter… What Beckett did is dangerous and just unacceptable.
tough call on the 2-1
nvm, thx Boston Dave. I just gained an inch or so of respect for Hunter for standing up for Abreu. Beckett’s probably just butthurt that Abreu hits him well or something. And, how shocking no BOS players got tossed!
“Al from BK
April 12th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
Does Joba get the W if he doesn’t come back out?
——-
Al, youre scaring me”
Sorry total mind lapse, I know Joba is the pitcher of record.
I left the game after going down 3-1. And now we’re up 4-3? Nice. It’d be nice to take this one.
back to back jacks for pukeilus and j.v. drew
back to back HR for the Sox….
ugh
“I do not care is he gave them a run they didnt even need it.”
Yeah, useless tack-on run!
Boston Dave, happy birthday to you too, if these rumors are true.
I hate Boston. That city shouldn’t even be in the United States. It should be in North Korea or something.
Also, maybe this goes w/o saying but it’s basically the most classless thing in the world to start a brawl and/or be headhnting with a team who just underwent the terrible tragedy the Angels did. And Beckett doesnt even get tossed? wow.
did this guy jacobs ever play for the mets?
if the Sox take a big lead, they better watch out because the Angels have alot of emotion (Adenhart) and Josh Beckett just gave them a reason to lash out with some pitches at players heads.
They are playing flo rida “you spin my head right round”…really is that even appropriate for a baseball game.
and Beckett’s motivation would be what? Abreu’s jersey from last year? being retarded? PMS?
Jeter with all that range
boston would be bearable if it werent for the people living here (boston)
No one thinks Joba is a head-hunter except for Youkilis.
Whatever, let them hit back to back jacks, they just pissed off the baseball gods with their classless jailhouse brawl too.
Besides….we’re winning our game and thats what really matters
Good inning for Bruney.
Another nice clean inning for Bruney. Follow up with Coke against the three left handed bats in the 8th.
Nick,
thanks – my bday was yesterday.
Happy Birthday to Rebecca.
Nice job, Bruney! So much for ST, lol.
If the Yankees can win this game with this lineup, going into Tampa……well, this is not a game we would win last year (or even be competitive in).
jint, yeah Jacobs is a former Met, they traded him for Delgado.
Insurance runs …. insurance runs. NEED insurance runs.
nobody else on the Sox did anything. Francona’s a good guy – just trying to get his team out of the mess. This is all on Beckett.
“did this guy jacobs ever play for the mets?”
Yep 10 HR’s in less than 100 AB’s I believe. Mets fans considered him the “Next”.
3 outs to get mo, please keep the lead
Another birthday?
This is like that Cheers episode where Woody gives out free birthday drinks.
If we hang on it looks like we will be just a half game out of first and climb to second place in the standings. Toronto and Baltimore getting beat.
Lets see if a Sox player gets one in the ear. Were the pitchers warned?
Francona may be a good guy but he has too many a-holes on that team. At the very least he is an enabler.
wow what a catch
jint51
April 12th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
did this guy jacobs ever play for the mets?
————————————————————
Yes, he was traded to Florida a couple of years ago with acouple of others for Delgado.
This is a good test for the ‘pen today…so far, so good…
Bruney gets it done! Who throws the 8th?
Let’s Go Yanks!
What happened to Marte?
ugh, that was a nice catch. I still loathe Bloomquist for that phantom “steal” a couple years back when he was with Seattle.
Rumor has it that Commissioner Bud Selig was trying to get Girardi on the phone to suspend him over the lineup but inclement weather prevented the call from going through.
Gardner wuz robbed!
Nice catch, looked like Swoboda
wow, what a catch
can’t wait to be play Boston, they must have the record for being involved in bench clearing incidents, not a coincidence
An enabler? Because he cant take the d-bag out of Josh Beckett? Who could??
Nice. Josh is still a class ass.
It’ll be interesting to see how the media spins THIS one. They love the Angels even more than the Red Sox. The Angels can do no wrong.
Brett Gardner’s plate approach is unimpeachable. It’s going to bum you guys out, but Melky will get more ABs…unless we sign Willie Mays
Bruney should start the 8th.
Jetes not getting around on fastball
I better not see Marte even take his jacket off. No way.
Oh dear god. Does anyone else NOT trust Marte? I’d rather see Coke.
booooo I want Coke!
Marte warming up? Why not go with Coke Zero?
They pro Red Sox media will say that Abreu calling time was bush league and Josh was provoked into throwing at him. Watch.
I’m scared of Marte but he needs the work.
Marte
we’re gonna lose.
Brian Cashman really missed the boat in his failure to sign all available major league relief pitchers, thereby allowing other teams to use their bullpens against the Yankees.
m,
Beckett can always say the ball slipped or something (which is bs). But after the first ‘brawl’ he should have just stayed on the mound. He clearly walked over to Mike Scoscia and said something to him to really piss him off.
No class.
Come on guys! I admit that Beckett is a jerk but don’t act like Boston is the only team that ever does that.
I remember a Sox/Yankee game when Manny was hit at least twice in the same game and many of you thought it was great.
I’d rather see Coke, Veras, Edwar, Alba, or Mo for two innings before Marte. I really do not trust that guy.
Maybe they’re holding Coke back for the Tampa series. He’s better suited against their hitters than Marte, I’d think.
Official scoring changed. Joba only allows 1 ER. Yeah!!!
they changed that base hit to an error on swisher so joba gave up only 1ER
Boston Dave,
Thanks. I’ll probably watch the replay. Pardon my French, but he’s such a wad.
Marte? :worry:
Oh no not Marte. I’d rather anyone else in this bullpen right now.
Damn Longoria already has 5 homers for the year. Over under 100 homers for 09.
ray,
did they throw a 95mph heater at Manny’s head while Manny was just standing there with his bat down?
I doubt it.
If Jon Lester threw this, it’s probably a different story. But I know how much of a piece of garbage Josh Beckett is, so it makes it more likely that he was really trying to hit Abreu in the head.
Come on ray, remember what those spots were? Do you think Mo is trying to hit Manny in an 0-2 count to put runners on in the 9th inning of a close game?
Is that the first error for the Yanks this year?
4 ejections for the Angels, 0 for the Sox on a play that they didn’t even start.
Marte hasn’t pitched since game 1. That’s why he’s in there.
ray (sox fan)
April 12th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
Come on guys! I admit that Beckett is a jerk but don’t act like Boston is the only team that ever does that.
I remember a Sox/Yankee game when Manny was hit at least twice in the same game and many of you thought it was great.
……………..
Get real. In case you haven’t noticed, this is a Yankee board.
put him away damaso
Ray – yeah, but to throw at the Angels and start with them now after what they just went through? Thats kinda hard core imo.
melky doesnt look as jovial as he used too
“I remember a Sox/Yankee game when Manny was hit at least twice in the same game and many of you thought it was great.”
That was clearly effective, though. I remember a Yankee/Sox game in which Manny was too scared to even swing the bat!
SoS – We made one yesterday (or Fri?) but were the last team in the majors to have one apparently?
“I remember a Sox/Yankee game when Manny was hit at least twice in the same game and many of you thought it was great.”
—————
the reason Yanks fans prob thought it was great was because the Yanks never threw inside to Manny and he ate them alive. whether he got hit or not, it was nice to see them throw inside to Manny to attempt to get him off balance.
your example couldn’t be farther from what happened today in Anaheim – thankfully nobody got hit or hurt.
GJ Marte. He always makes me hold my breath though. But I really think overuse was a big part of his hijinks last year.
Also, when are we gonna see Edwar? Has he pitched once?
God, Marte is awful. Maybe we can execute an on-field trade for Juan Cruz right now.
“I remember a Sox/Yankee game when Manny was hit at least twice in the same game and many of you thought it was great.”
Did he happen to hit a bomb during the game and proceed to stand at the plate adoring it? Im surprised he doesnt get hit more often.
Veras? :I hate these mix-and-match changes:
BBB, Edwar pitched in Baltimore for 2+ innings in the 2nd game I believe.
john do ever have anything positive to say?
My point is that both Yankee and Sox fans have a tendency to be biased in how they look at things.
Joba can throw a heater at Youkilis and it is all good. I readily admit that Sox fans are just as biased. Many Sox fans will defend Beckett or Papelbon no matter what. I acknowledge that.
why can’t they use mo for 1.1 innings?
too bad we dont have joba in the pen to lock down this 8th inning
BBB,
I second that…just plain wrong.
If we win this game don’t forget that run in the first inning that was all Gardner and his speed.
We lose this type of game last year.
Ransom had an error yesterday IIRC so it’s not the first
no 4-out saves for Mo unless it is mission critical…surgery etc
wheres joba when u need him
Thanks BBB. Couldnt watch the game yesterday. Had to take the kids to the cheap movies to watch Coraline. It was either Coraline or Yankees baseball. Tough call. They won.
ugh, why does Veras always walk people?
this is a tight strike zone though
“That was clearly effective, though. I remember a Yankee/Sox game in which Manny was too scared to even swing the bat!”
Nick…my friend…lol…as I recall that was during the time that Manny was in one of his funks and most people feel like he wasn’t going to swing no matter what in that at bat against Mo.
I can’t trust Veras in a tight situations. He doesn’t have nearly enough control.
What a waste Veras can never throw strikes.
ray,
very true but I assure you there is no bias in this particular case.
like I said, the fact that it’s Beckett doesn’t help because he really is a jerk. If it were any other starter on the Sox, frankly, it might be a different story.
Ray – But how can you ignore the context in which this fight happened? Nobody should be starting anything with the Angels right now after what they just went through. It is downright classless and completely indefensible. This is not just your garden variety bench clearing brawl and its certainly not the same as one in a random game between two longtime hated rivals.
That pitch that they called ball 4 was over the plate at the knees. I don’t know what that umpire is looking at. Hopefully Coke makes it not matter.
Mo needed to come in.
Can’t throw a 4 out save? Oh, ok. I don’t care if it’s a save or not. Put him in here and then take him out after 3 outs.
There’s a runner on base – we can’t be taking chances.
JOJO,
good point.
I’ll take a win against a quality pitcher without the Yanks 2 best hitters and their starting catcher any day.
Jint51:
Do you think I’m serious? I’m reacting to the insanity of the majority of posters on this board who live as though the outcome of this April ballgame will either bring great triumph or ignominious humiliation. Also, the ones who think that every Girardi decision is horrible.
“Joba can throw a heater at Youkilis and it is all good.”
I get what your saying ray. Dont think he was defenseless calling a time out when Joba threw at him. But you have to admit its pretty funny watching Youk crap his pants at the plate.
DAMN THAT SUCKS
DAMMIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
oh come on…
oh for f***s sake!!!
Oh well…..
You’ve gotta be kidding me….
I would have made the same move. Sadly…
Joe Girardi over managing yet again.
well the Bridge to Mo fails
that is ridiculous…really ridiculous…
Thanks, Girardi.
Good work.
This is ridiculous
Well let the second guessing begin….
Just leave Marte in there.
kee-rapp.
who’s up in the top of the 9th?
coke sucks
What a joke. Let’s keep putting lefties in vs righties
Yikes.
“like I said, the fact that it’s Beckett doesn’t help because he really is a jerk. If it were any other starter on the Sox, frankly, it might be a different story.”
Boston Dave, I will certainly grant you that is quite true.
Wow
$^R^&%E^YHRVYWVQR
thats the only got damn hit thats dropped in front of Gardner all year. This SUCKS.
Giradi can do no right. First you wanted to see Veras or Coke for a full inning. Now he’s “over managing.”
wow i did not know gardners arm was worse than johnny d’s
Losing this game with Mo in the pen is just disgraceful.
You’ve got to be kidding
PLEASE GIVE US MARK MELANCON!!!!!!
Girardi blows another one. Where is Mo?
Cant get four outs–or Girardi wants to be the hero?
Well, so much for that…..
Joba needs to be in the pen this game convinced me now its us against Soria. Game over.
Angels on the board
Howie Kendrick is going to be really, really good (if he isn’t already)
how can the combo of veras and coke not get one freaking out
Brett Gardner is not a center fielder.
I think we might have jinxed Coke Zero.
Abreu is up with 2 on against Beckett
payback time?
Mariano.
Rivera.
Must.
Be.
So.
Angry.
In.
The.
Bullpen.
Right.
Now.
Well, that stinks. Girardi got the matchups he wanted, but, it didn’t work.
This is why we need a CFer with an arm better than a 5 year old.
and now Soria will come in so thats the ballgame. damn!!! Why didnt we PH for Melky or Ransom!!!
wow we just found our gold glove CF…..
yeah baby
2 RBIs for Abreu!!
eat it Beckett
“Joba needs to be in the pen this game convinced me now its us against Soria. Game over.”
Because Sidney Ponson would have held the Royals?
would have been nice to get out of here and steal this win… oh well look forward to the tampa series
WE HAVE THE BEST CLOSER IN THE HISTORY OF BASEBALL! What is Girardi doing?
Mixing and matching. Should of just kept Marte in to face the righty. He can get out righty out.
Are you kidding me? Girardi blew this game to pieces! I’m going out.
game over.
coke sucks.
COKE SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCKS!
just 1 out.
1 out, sir.
I just threw up my Easter dinner… That was bad substitute pitching there.. All that momentum gone!
jint51 April 12th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
wow i did not know gardners arm was worse than johnny d’s
the throw obviously slipped out of his hand or he never got a good grip…the field is soaked
I don’t have a problem with Coke, but Veras really has no business being in a close game.
He always looks scared out there.
C-ya!
extremely bad bullpen managing by girardi methinks
Abreu hits in a go ahead run against Beckett. Now 3-2.
Is it the baseball gods?
“JOJO April 12th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
I’d rather see Coke, Veras, Edwar, Alba, or Mo for two innings before Marte. I really do not trust that guy.”
HAHA
HAHAHAHA!
You guys are incredible. I might be a little bit disappointed about the loss. But your insane reactions kind of make it worth it!
Marte is the problem because he can’t get 3 outs. By having to take him out with the bases empty you are hoping that the next guy comes in and is sharp even though it’s a cold, rainy day. Over managing by Girardi. This aint the NL.
Gardners arm is really a liability.
And everyone wanted Coke in there.
Should have left Marte in there and I agree with 4 out save for Mo, this was a big game to give back.
3 consecutive doubles to guys I barely ever heard of.. OMG!
Yanks pen finally cracked
they’ve been amazing the past few games. I guess you gotta take a game like this here and there.
ugh
Coke Zero is not actually as good as Coke Classic.
This was a Torre Loss.
Coke didn’t pitch well, it happens.
But the problem is that Girardi keeps giving the ball to Veras in important situations. He needs to realize that Veras, Coke and Edwar are 7th inning guys and Marte and Bruney should be the 8th inning guys. Bring in Mo to mop up anything that’s too dicey.
No, it is the manager that sucks. How long before a change to a real baseball man.
why can’t girardi bring in mariano for 4 outs? he has the best closer in the game and he can’t use him! That alone deserves to get him fired
the loss sucks – but this is more on Veras/Coke than Girardi…get the freaking out it’s the Royals for god’s sake…the bottom of the order at that!
yeah, it definitely happens. sucks though, it was right there for the taking.
the sky is falling! trade for ichiro, stick joba in the pen, sign barry bonds, trade for doc halladay, fire cashman…
It’s not horrible bullpen managing. You figure that either
Veras or Coke can get one out. They didn’t execute.
I would’ve left Marte in after getting the quick second out.
But these guys gotta execute.
And I still trust Coke more than Marte.
ray,
Abreu swung at the first pitch too. He hardly ever does… I’m sure he was amped to get a hit there.
p.s. if you were thinking about watching the C’s today, don’t bother. not good so far.
Any manager should know that in this kind of weather, that pitchers will take time to adjust to the mound out of the pen. WHY ARE YOU CONTINUALLY TROTTING GUYS OUT OF THE PEN WHEN THE RELIEVERS LOOK FINE?
DISGRACEFUL.
Losing this game is a heart breaker, especially with how hard that lineup fought and how bad a lineup you put on the field.
How can Mo not even be warming in that spot?
Just dumb.
You have to win games like today. Don’t give me the “It’s Early” crap, every game counts the same in the standings. Games like today will be the reason they are do or die later in the season.
why the hell didnt he bring in mariano for the 4 out save
Soria isn’t that great.
The game isn’t over yet – we have Posada and Damon to pinch hit if needed and we are the Yankees. It’s a true story.
But Girardi really messed this up. I can’t understand not giving Veras the chance to go at the next batter or give Mo the ball so that we can get out of a situation with a runner on.
What’s so bad about having Mo throw 3 outs, 1 in the 8th and 2 in the 9th? Then you take him out if you’re so concerned about the 4 out save. Mo has done it many times. The closer is there to get out of tough spots. It doesn’t have to be in the 9th and for a save. Let’s get real here.
Man ive always hated this over specialization of relievers in baseball 3 pitchers for 3 outs….come on
terrible, terrible, terrible managing. no reason to play “matchups” with Bruney pitching well. He’s hitting the strikezone, he’s got 95-96 mpg speed. Why bring anyone else in? You go from sitting on Rivera for the ninth to not getting to use him because you just lost the game by moving too much.
If you have to go to someone, go to Mo for 1.1 inning. Don’t get people work in a 1-run game in the rain.
Joba’s start wasted, come back effort wasted, I hope Girardi gets grilled for this over-managing. Either Marte should have faced the righty or Mo should have come in for 4 outs!
Rishi- who decided to use those jerks instead of the best reliever in baseball? Hank? Hal?
“Mixing and matching. Should of just kept Marte in to face the righty. He can get out righty out.”
my sentiments exactly… take one deep Robi
Wow. So far Rishi is the ONLY one with perspective. You made the roster. You need to get one out. It’s YOUR fault, not your manager’s.
Coke is bad for you today.
Robi please bring your Mannyfied self in the 9th.
“Should have left Marte in there and I agree with 4 out save for Mo, this was a big game to give back.”
Having Mo pitch more than 1 inning on April 12th after he had offseason shoulder surgery is dumb.
Well, I bet next time he’ll use Mo for 4 outs…
guys,
the bullpen has been amazing so far. you just gotta deal with a game like this, hopefully only on rare occasion.
doesn’t make sense to play “what if”, just hope this isn’t the norm.
I guess the silver lining is we might as well get these Veras suckfests over at the beginning of the season so Girardi harbors no delusions about pitching him in the 8th. Every walk is one walk closer to a Mark Melancon callup.
Are you kidding me!!! Soria was the best closer in baseball last year!!!
Where is Proctor when u need him ?
Jose Veras: Joe should never have brought me in.
Edwar: Yeah, what was he thinking?
Phil Coke: Guys, guys. The worst decision of all was bringing me in.
as soon as jacobs was walked mo should have been in the game…… now we gotta go through one of the best closers in the game
It’s melkys fault
That is the game. Bad performance by the bullpen and bad selections by Girardi. Sweep would have been nice but not the end of the world. Things are starting to go right. Let’s see what happens in the next series.
The good news is that our tough division rival from Toronto has already lost.
Walks kills if you can’t throw strikes you don’t belong in the 8th inning Veras is too inconsistent
Luckily for Girardi this is a get away game if this game were in June against the Sox his job would be on the line.
finally. 1 out…after giving up the lead.
I might have put Mo in……he hasn’t pitched much at all. This is a depressing loss.
Coke was flat.
He didn’t need to bring in Mariano for the 4 out save. Doing so would have been ridiculous and this blog would have flipped out over it. He just micromanaged, plain and simple, and it cost the Yankees a game that would have been a great one to take. It sucks but please make these miscues in April vs the Royals instead of in Sept. vs the Sux
have some of you been paying zero attention??
Mo CANNOT go for four outs right now CANNOT…we may want him to, but he can’t (at least according to the latest I read) so really – i’ll take the loss over him getting hurt again. Veras/Coke/whoever need to be able to get one freaking out. I do agree that maybe you leave marte out there to just finish it since he appeared to have been on a good roll there.
how can anyone criticize girardi for overmanaging when everyone wanted coke instead of marte to start the inning. i don’t think he trusted marte to get a righty out and he might have been right. just because coke gave up the lead doesn’t mean marte wouldn’t have given up a homer to butler.
Luigi,
I distinctly remember the Yanks getting to Soria in a game last season and winning.
He’s good, but it doesn’t mean they can’t do it.
Why not bring in Rivera for a 4 out save with a righty in Butler at the plate?
4 outs away, that’s unacceptable managing.
>Soria was the best closer in baseball last year!!!
no he wasn’t.
not even close.
Veras not throwing strikes was the killer.
also, Molina had the pinch runner picked off – that would have ended the ending.
I guess people don’t understand the concept that Mo had offseason shoulder surgery and they are going to avoid using him for more than one inning, especially during the first week of the season.
Give me a break. Learn the game and understand it before you guys talk such nonsense.
Girardi had the matchups he wanted. It didn’t work out. It happens.
Hope for the best in the 9th inning and move on.
KP,
seriously.
no point in second guessing. the Yanks pen has done their job most of the time so far.
newsflash – bullpens don’t hold every single 1 run lead. it happens.
“Coke Zero is not actually as good as Coke Classic.”
Nick,
I think you have it mixed up. I thought that was New Coke that wasnt as good.
If only Joba were the 8th ininhg guy.This never would have happened.
Horrible job by Girardi. It’s a one run lead and he doesn’t put Mariano in for a four out save if he is so concerned with all this mix and matching. Just give it to Mariano for god’s sake!
Can’t wait to get outta KC bad weather, bad umpiring and what a bad taste left.
I hate giving away a game like this. At the end of the year you know Boston or Tampa will be a game or two away in the standings. But what can you do? It happens.
ok, when does the “matsui must go!” chant start? he’s done.
If Girardi had brought in Mo for four outs and Mo got injured he would get killed relentlessly on this board.
The bottom line is the players didn’t do the job today, plain and simple.
Well lets look at the Positives Joba pitched well only one walk, and Joe learned a lesson today Veras is too inconsistent
I can deal with Hughes as the 5 if we never lose a game like this again.
yea but for someone to say he isn’t that good is a joke…hes Kansas City’s version of Joba…just that they kept him in pen
The last pitch from Veras was a strike by the way.
so that sucked
The Celtics are really missing Leon Powe.
Joba=pen. Hughes=rotation
No silver lining in this game, just awful and we could have made up ground on the Jays/O’s who both got killed today.
You don’t go “oh well” about this kind of game. You should be MAD to lose a game in this fashion, especially one that was well in hand, with them having stepped on the throat of a weak team.
This isn’t just “an early game.” This game counts for 1 win, or 1 loss in the standings. How much does a game count in August? 1 win, 1 loss in the standings.
EVERY YEAR they are put into “do or die” late season runs because of GAMES LIKE TODAY. Losing a game like today completely destroys your momentum, leading to more losses, and not only that, but when you blow games against weak teams, that’s one more time you have to beat Boston in September.
There is NO EXCUSE for losing a game like this. NO EXCUSE. Whether it’s September or April, this loss counts the same, and it should not be treated as a “give away” game regardless of when it is played, ESPECIALLY when you have a RESTED Rivera in the pen ready to go.
if he can get on we PH Teix ?
still took 2 of 3…..sweeps are nice, but winning the series is the important factor.
If Joba was in the bullpen he wouldn’t of pitch six innings today idiot..
I guess i wanted to bake the cake and eat it too for my birthday. Guess ill have to settle for eating it. Crappy present.
Wait… so the manager can’t control the players’ performances on the field?
If only Joba were the 8th ininhg guy.This never would have happened.
———
Yep, Joba never once gave up a run when he was a reliever. Not a single run.
Picking Veras just based on favoritism over Melancon was yet another bad call by Joe.
please, let’s not make a bad loss worse with the Joba to the pen garbage.
Why don’t we just move Burnett to the pen instead? Then we wouldnt have to worry about whether he could pitch 200 innings in a season, and I bet he’d do well there too! He has the adrenaline! And fist pumps! And tats!
Seriously…just stop, it’s like saying Bruce Dickinson should sing backup for Iron Maiden.
Yeah, this was the kind of loss that really grates at you. I would much rather have lost the game 3-1 than this way. Veras walking the tying run is annoying (he walked the leadoff man yesterday with a big lead) and it’s disturbing. You’ve got to bring the game home against the Royals……..no excuses.
Darn it I wanted the sweep, 2 out 3 is still good.
I think I’m gonna be avoiding the blog for awhile I just get too mad.
Good job, Coke. You have proven that you can handle a high leverage situation.
Stupid loss. Joe can’t wait for the press conference. Veres killed us with walk. HR would have been better than a walk, make the guy hit you.
Silver lining is Joba looked good. Best 5th starter in the majors. And we almost won a game with a line-up of scrubs.
MATT
MAriano had offseason shoulder surgery they dont want to use him for four outs yet. what is so hard to understand
Matt, seriously. Just because they lost today hardly means they are going to lose tomorrow. Calm down.
thanks for nothing joe, use mo, they sweep. now they need to win 2 out 3 or is a 4 and 5 roadtrip
this is all on girardi… micro managing at the worst.. I hate managers that do this.. Marte gets 2 quick outs.. then brings in Veras just to get a matchup.. walks him.. then against a switch hitter brings in COKE IN THE 8tH?!? LEAVES him in to face 3 RIGHTIES????.. why not Mo for a 4 out save????…
Melky and Coke better be in the ****ing minors by tomorrow, I don’t know who they are sucking off to be up here.
1) WHY PITCH TO THE HOTTEST GUY ON THE FIELD WITH AN OPEN BASE!!!!! I don’t care that he is he 8th hitter.
2) VERAS is a volume innings pitcher- NOONE trusts him.
He needs to join Torre(the great author) in LA so he can blow his arm out via the Tanye/Proctor WAY. THen bring up Robertson Tomko whoever.
Veras is ok but not for a team that has this much depth – he is valuable to someone else and we can get another quality higher ceiling position Single A player from someone.
I guess the bullpen isn’t perfect all the time.
what a shame.
The Royals were playing like they were ready to move on from this weekend, UNTIL GIRARDI MESSED AROUND AND TOOK OUT RELIEVERS WHO WERE CRUISING.
WHY WOULD YOU TAKE OUT RELIEVERS WHO ARE EASILY RECORDING OUTS IN A ONE RUN GAME? Who cares about lefty-righty matchups. How about OUTS?
Mo not even getting into this game is the worst move of them all. You don’t lose with your 4th or 5th best reliever. Girardi should be ashamed of himself. Games like today are the ones you kick yourself for when you fall a game or two short at the end of the season.
NO EXCUSE. Kansas City was dead, had no momentum, and was playing like they were praying the Yankees would just finish them off and leave town. No manager in baseball would have made the move Girardi made in that inning removing Veras and bringing in Coke, especially after Veras was looking fine but got squeezed.
that last pitch was filthy.
tough loss, but not the end of the world. according to meatloaf, two out of three aint bad. couldn’t really expect to win with that lineup anyway. on the positive side, good start for joba, everyone is rested up for tampa.
“Yeah, this was the kind of loss that really grates at you. I would much rather have lost the game 3-1 than this way.”
Yeah, because losing a game 3-1 is much different than losing a game 6-4.
“Baseball is all about thinking long term. As long as the Yankees keep winning series and keep their older players fresh, they will be fine.”
I would send Coke to AAA immediately, that guy is just awful. He blew the series and the game for us. What a jerk, seriously. I hate this bullpen, it has NO major league players besides Rivera and Bruney, and of those only one is great. Just ONE great bullpen pitcher. That is totally unacceptable.
Veras is most definitely playing himself out of the 8th inning. I never ever liked him and wanted the Yankees to trade him last year when his stock was high. But at least he’s playing himself out of the 8th inning and doing it now rather than earning a long leash now and blowing more games later. Soon Melancon will be up and we wont have to tolerate any more of this from Veras in the 8th.
in the meantime, the loss does grate at you b/c it would have been such a good one to get. but, life is short. too short to worry about making up ground on the Blue Jays and Orioles, imho.
Over to the Masters. Phil (not Tiger) trying to accomplish the greatest comeback in Masters history.
At least we know this team is a fighting team – I don’t think with this lineup last year that they would have even come back. That’s what makes it disheartening. Veras walking guys (like yesterday with a big lead) is disturbing…..and although I like Coke a lot, people were automatically making him the bridge to Mo even though he only pitched 16 or so innings last year. I like the pen, but today brought up several question marks.
“The Royals were playing like they were ready to move on from this weekend, UNTIL GIRARDI MESSED AROUND AND TOOK OUT RELIEVERS WHO WERE CRUISING.
WHY WOULD YOU TAKE OUT RELIEVERS WHO ARE EASILY RECORDING OUTS IN A ONE RUN GAME? Who cares about lefty-righty matchups. How about OUTS?
Mo not even getting into this game is the worst move of them all. You don’t lose with your 4th or 5th best reliever. Girardi should be ashamed of himself. Games like today are the ones you kick yourself for when you fall a game or two short at the end of the season.
NO EXCUSE. Kansas City was dead, had no momentum, and was playing like they were praying the Yankees would just finish them off and leave town. No manager in baseball would have made the move Girardi made in that inning removing Veras and bringing in Coke, especially after Veras was looking fine but got squeezed.”
No matter how many capital letters you use it still doesn’t mean that you’re correct about using Mo for a four out save after he had offseason surgery.
Masters time
Meanwhile Mark Melancon continues to look good in AAA.
Seriously why the we need to see Vares walk and continue to give up runs, then that’s when Melancon will get the call.
Yeah it’s early but we know what Vares is. Great stuff shaky command.
4 outs away it happens…walks kill and Veras kill us today Id rather the guy hit the ball a mile then give up a walk, coke wasn’t so hot but at least he didn’t walk anybody, I hate walks, hate them, hate them, hate them!
*I don’t get Joe’s Bonehead moves, in a close game.*
Time to Bring up Melancon
This ‘bullpen by committee.’ thing is a joke. this type of loss can deflate a team, now they have to face kazmir tomorrow
At least this happened early in the season… I think it’s clear that Veras and Coke should not be in there in the 8th inning… Bruney and Marte only, please.
What are you talking about Raymagnetic? Sheesh – you pick on everything I say and if you don’t know what I mean (that it would have been easier to lose 3-1 when we were already down) than to lose THIS way, then you are just clueless and looking to pick on my posts.
Joba tosses 6 innings of 1-run ball and has little to show for it…
Amazing how it can all fall apart in one inning, isn’t it?
But it’s only one game…we’ll win tomorrow!
Jesus. It’s a loss. Hitters didn’t hit, fielders didn’t field and most of the pitchers made mistakes.
This is the point when the idiots take over and make the board untenable.
Damaso Marte is your setup man. Why yank him just to fulfill the overrated match-up strategy? If he’s in for the eighth, he’s in for the eighth.
Where all the Phil Coke fans?
This guy is awful. Send him and Veras bye bye and bring up Melancon/Robertson
“Yeah, this was the kind of loss that really grates at you. I would much rather have lost the game 3-1 than this way. ”
Look at it this way… this team has shown a propensity to battle back so far this season. Unfortunately today in the 8th, the Royals hitters hit a few decent pitches (not great location from Coke, but not bad), had a bit of luck (the bloop) – that’s baseball.
Because Melancon is a savior. Everyone wanted to proclaim Phil Coke as the second coming even though he was bound to have his struggles. Now – trash the pen and bring up Melancon – he’ll never struggle.
‘Time to Bring up Melancon
This ‘bullpen by committee.’ thing is a joke. this type of loss can deflate a team, now they have to face kazmir tomorrow’
The SKY IS FALLING
Get a grip, Matt. lol, geez.
And send your caps lock button into time-out. It needs one.
It’s not Joe’s fault that there is nobody in the pen that is trustworthy.
We played 2 close games this year– down 1 run in BAL on Opening Day and today…. and the pen killed us in both games.
This is what happens when you have a collection of mediocre arms, none of which are good enough or have good mental makeup.
We don’t have a Scott Shields or JJ Putz.
Here comes Tiger
Fact is, the Yanks have now gotten 4 straight good starts. If the starters stay healthy, this team is going to steamroll.
Joba Chamberlain and the Yanks deserved the W today. Too bad they didn’t have a dominant, shut-em down 8th inning guy with a nasty slider and a 101mph heater in the bullpen. They had a pitcher like that a couple years ago, some kid who flew through the minors. I forget his name.
Melancon 1.2 0 0 0 0 4 0.00
Vares instead of Melancon?
“It’s a loss”
“that’s baseball.”
Some people here need these reminders tattooed on their foreheads. It’s a shame this blog has to disintegrate into hysteria after every loss and no one is able to discuss anything rationally without nonsense like send down Coke and Joba to the pen.
Jimmy Page for rythym guitarist!!!
see how dumb it sounds?
Vin, I agree……I do like that they fought back. This team would not have done that last year. I’m not about to trash the pen – it was one game. Coke will probably be fine – Veras? The walks suck – althought he last pitch he threw was not bad.
Well, we start anew tomorrow against the Rays. That’s the good thing about baseball – you get a chance to start over. I can’t believe people think this is going to deflate the team after only 6 games.
bring melky back to cf…. we don’t need offense… we need defense… guys r running around the bases when they see BG fielding the ball….
The experts said that the bullpen is a weakness and everyone got upset. They were 100% right.
Who do you trust in that pen to get outs in a 1 run game outside of MO?
I hate this loss, but Pete – a bad, bad loss? Come on……that’s a little dramatic.
Melky needs to disappear forever, he is the worst baseball player in… forever.
“This is what happens when you have a collection of mediocre arms, none of which are good enough or have good mental makeup”
Now we’re waxing intellectual on their mental makeups? Really? Really??
Mo blew a game or 2 against KC last year iirc. If only he had been mentally fit to face them, huh?
Too bad the bullpen blew it, but all they can do is get right back up tomorrow and do better. Mo for a four-out save: he’s coming off shoulder surgery, and it’s the first week of a six month season. The other relievers are there for a reason. It stinks to lose a game like this, but what’s done is done, and they did take two out of three. On the bright side, Joba did pretty well and kept them in the game. And the offense continues to come through. If CMW reverts to his usual 18-20 game winning self, it’s going to be a fun season for the Yanks with such a formidable starting rotation.
A loss is a loss, they all suck. The pen didn’t get the job done today and guess what-it might happen again one day. But for the most part the pen has done their job so far.
The good news is that we have a another game tomorrow and so on. We will survive.
“robbie
April 12th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
bring melky back to cf…. we don’t need offense… we need defense… guys r running around the bases when they see BG fielding the ball….”
How many dp’s did melky ground into today? Maybe they would’ve score more runs had melky not been in the lineup. Melky is a worse defender than gardner anyways, albeit he is okay and has a good arm. Gardner’s range and offensive tools are just better.
I thought acorns fell from trees in fall, not in spring.
There is no reason for any Chicken Little to be proclaiming “the sky is falling”, given that.
“Joba Chamberlain and the Yanks deserved the W today. Too bad they didn’t have a dominant, shut-em down 8th inning guy with a nasty slider and a 101mph heater in the bullpen. They had a pitcher like that a couple years ago, some kid who flew through the minors. I forget his name.”
Alternate reality April 12, 2009: Yankees are losing 12-4 in the 8th inning. Joba comes in and fans the side. w00t!
Seemed like the strikezone was tight for Veras… I was out, so I’ll have to catch the first 6 1/2 innings on the DVR and see if the umpiring was consistent – not like it matters now.
I think a big tell will be how they come back and play tomorrow in Tampa. Last year’s team would parlay this loss into a 3 game losing streak, but I just don’t see that with this rotation. And the Yankees still have the best bullpen in baseball – sometimes the combination of bad luck, and not quite having it for that day can lose the game, but again, that’s baseball.
Trevor April 12th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
Melancon 1.2 0 0 0 0 4 0.00
Vares instead of Melancon?
——————————–
Who’s this Vares guy you’re talking about?
I have no faith in Wang tomorrow, especially going up against Kazmir
We needed this game. I don’t care how good you are, losing a game like this is DEFLATING.
This one belongs squarely on the shoulders of Girardi. One of the things a good manager has to learn is not to over manage. There were two outs in the eighth with nobody on. There was no need to take Marte out. Was he in trouble? No. Did brining in Veras give them some kind of advantage? No. Was there a need to bring in Coke with one on and two out after Veras faced just one hitter? No. All bad decisions and it cost his team the game. I think that sometimes Girardi believes all the talk of how smart he is and he over manages. I noticed this a few times last year and today he did it again. Terrible way to end this series and when this happens it usually carries over to the first couple of games of the next series. We’ll see, but let’s hope not.
Girardii should have left marte to finish the inng stupid move by him phil coke has almost no clue to pitch in tha 8th whats Girardii doing turining into pennella?
“guys r running around the bases when they see BG fielding the ball….”
You’d be better off actually paying attention to the games. There have been a few occassions this year of guys holding up and not running on Gardner. Gardner’s speed in getting to balls is far much valuable than Melky’s stronger (but not necessarily more accurate) arm.
I dont have a problem with Joe taking Marte out, if Butler had hit a bomb to left everyone would be moaning and groaning anyway. My problem is that he brought Veras a fastball pitcher to face a fastball hitter, he had Edwar Ramirez in there who has a killer change probably would have had Butler out in front for an easy strike out plus it would have been more effective against Pena from the left side…o well hindsight is always 20/20
What you guys don’t get is that there’s a difference between kinds of losses.
You get beaten sometimes, it happens. However, to beat yourself with boneheaded plays and just plain over managing is just unacceptable. The bad play that cost them those 2 runs early as well was a huge factor in this game. Not one, but TWO guys missed that weak ground ball.
Every loss counts the same, whether in April or September. That’s what people don’t get, and these losses can kill you down the stretch when you are fighting for a playoff spot.
People always go on and on about how “it’s early.” Well it’s not great to start off poorly either. The Yankees were playing .500 ball through mid-June the last 2 years, and that just doesn’t cut it. You can’t afford to keep starting off that way, because you won’t always be able to play well enough to come back, as we saw last year.
They played a good series, but losing a game like they lost today is a horrible way to end it, especially when you are facing some much better teams coming up. You don’t want to all of a sudden find yourself 8-11 because you let a few of them get away and all of a sudden find yourself 5 games out of first after the first few weeks of the season.
I agree with those that pinned this one on Girardi. There was no need to take Marte out with two outs and nobody on. No advantage to be gained. And once you brought Veras in, you may as well let him pitch to a couple of guys. Walking one was not a deal breaker. The bad news is that this kind of loss usually carries over to the first couple of games of the next series. Let’s hope not.
Awful loss- I agree Pete.
When we’re on that brutal West Coast trip in late September fighting for our playoff lives, we’re going to remember this loss.
Another great outing from Coke and Veras today, who needs Melancon… he just keeps putting up 0s in Scranton while our pen implodes in big spots, no need to make a change.
this blog has disintegrated into an avalanche of hyperbole. Later guys, i’m out, gotta go run a few errands before my Heat take on your Knicks. And BTW, my Heat are a prime example of what happens when you go all out to win one game that doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things. It costs you any chance you had at the 4th seed and April games against the Knicks become must wins if you want to even hold on to the 5th.
Today’s loss sucks but looking at the big picture I’d rather have all our best players fresh for the 3 games vs Tampa. Not exactly counting the minutes to Wang on turf though, but hopefully he can continue some past success he’s had vs TB getting their young hitters to expand their strike zones.
Happy Easter and have a good one all.
“Girardii should have left marte to finish the inng stupid move by him phil coke has almost no clue to pitch in tha 8th whats Girardii doing turining into pennella?”
Billy Butler:
.642 vs RHP
.956 vs LHP
That’s why. Veras shouldn’t have walked him.
Too bad the Yankees lost, they were in good position to win. Should have kept Marte in there. At least Joba pitched well and the offense showed some fight. Bad loss but still, we took 2 out of 3.
*Joe didn’t you learn last year,when Melky and Cano are* *bunched together in bating order,IT’S A BAD THING!*
“When we’re on that brutal West Coast trip in late September fighting for our playoff lives, we’re going to remember this loss”
One last thing…
If I had a dollar for every time I heard a statement like the one above that we were going to remember some first-half loss in September, I’d have…..well, I don’t remember how much, because most of the games I was promised I’d remember turned out to be inconsequential and forgotten!
just sayin.
Remember when I made that post about how I couldn’t believe all the experts praising our bullpen? And then people called me crazy for questioning everyone but Mo?
Oh well…
But you can just as easily counter with the fact that lefties hit Marte BETTER than righties last year. If you have the right guy to go after Butler with than fine, but you don’t since Veras is too erratic, unless you choose to bring in Mo, which he didn’t.
The guy just got 2 easy outs. Let him get the 3rd, and don’t give the other team any hope. When they see you mixing and matching like that, it makes them feel like they have a chance because you look scared out there. Kansas City had no momentum and was ready to take their 3rd loss to the books. Don’t give them any hope.
What has Edwar done to upset Girardi? He hasn’t pitched since game 2 in Baltimore. He did throw 26 pitches.
Phil Coke “I blew the game for our team today.” Wow, way to be a stand-up guy.
Call up Melancon and David Robertson
how long we going to carry passengers on our team in Ransom and Melky?
Alternate reality April 12, 2009: Yankees are losing 12-4 in the 8th inning. Joba comes in and fans the side. w00t!
Lol you silly little goose, you. Unfortunately I was busy dealing with “actual” reality, so I missed that game, but someone needs to talk to Girardi about using his 8th inning guy with an 8 run deficit. That sounds like mop up work to me.
Girardi just didn’t give them a good chance to win this game, from the lineup to his extremely questionable bullpen moves. Why carry a guy like Pena on the roster if you won’t use him to spell a guy who’s 1 for his last 20? And when you actually, miraculously have a chance to win a game you had no right to be winning with the lineup you ran out there, you barely tried to even steal it. Joe’s gotta do more than that.
Matt, we GET it – this was a bad loss, but it’s still just a loss. If you want to think that this is going to lead to the Yankees going into a tailspin, that’s your prerogative. If the Yankees do that, then they are not as good of a team as we think. It’s 6 games into the season – not one month. The loss stinks – Nick made a bad play and yet they still almost won. The team fought back – I’m impressed by that. The pen does have some kinks to work out, but overall the Yankees are fine. If they are losing games like this in the middle of the season, like the Mets did last year, then there is a problem. Until then, chill out.
Maybe the Yankees will lose tomorrow – Kazmir is a very good pitcher. If he shuts them down, it will not be because of today’s game.
I TOTALLY BLAME THIS LOSS ON GIRARDI..GIVING ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE A REST, THEY DONT DESERVE A REST. ITS THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON!!!
YOU DONT SEE THE RED SOX GIVING PEOPLE A REST. WHO’S BETTER A HURT TEIXIERA OR A HEALTHY MELKY??? hmmmm TEIXIERA!!!!!!
DAMON SHOULD HAVE BEEN PLAYING TOO…THE POSADA THING I UNDERSTAND, BUT HE SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST PINCHED HIT!
GIRARDI IS A CRAPPY COACH..FIRE HIM BEFORE HE SCREWS ANOTHER SEASON OF POSSIBLE WORLD SERIES AND LET TONY PENA TAKE OVER.
The difference between Hughes and Joba is not much. The difference between Joba in the pen or no Joba in the pen is huge.
Joba in the pen, the Yankees win this game, and probably the opener. Stupidity….
Robertson/Melancon>Veras, Edwar send those 2 packing.
vin
April 12th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
What has Edwar done to upset Girardi? He hasn’t pitched since game 2 in Baltimore. He did throw 26 pitches.
Phil Coke “I blew the game for our team today.” Wow, way to be a stand-up guy.
————————————————————
Gotta like a pitcher that doesn’t say the batter just hit a good pitch. He just put it the way he saw it. “I just kept missing my spots. I stunk.”
If we have a 2-1 lead against Tampa tomorrow in the 7th-8th…. are you really going to feel comfortable?
Face it, nobody in the pen is trust worthy. The late innings are going to be an adventure every night.
Jake, all-caps alone is only a partial commitment. If you’re not willing to *bold* your comments, how can we be sure that you’re really serious?
Coke = Chris Hammond
We kept Melky on the roster so no other team would pick him up…jeez i would pay another team to take him
The difference between Hughes and Joba is not much
———-
Really?
You mean the guy who was handed a starting slot in the rotation, pitched poorly, and didn’t win a single game all year is not much of a difference than what Joba can do?
Not to mention Hughes missed three months of the 2007 and missed three months again in the 2008 because of injuries.
Hughes has not proven anything yet. They depended on Hughes last season and he couldn’t deliver.
Now you want to depend on him again and change the makeup of the entire team because the pen blew one game?
That sounds pretty irrational and downright ludicrous.
We need Melancon up here
Unlike most of these others clowns, he actually throws strikes.
Time to send Coke to AAA, we can’t have him keep blowing games for us. He couldn’t get the bottm of the Royals order out for crying out loud.o
*Jake* if the Yankees don’t make it to post season,and*
*make a WS appearance,JOE is gone!*
*I didn’t get this nothing line up today.*
Too many pitching moves by Girardi. I thought I was watching Tony LaRussa.
Melky replacing Gardner? Please. We know what Melky can/cannot do. Give Gardner more time.
Don’t panic, we have a long way to go.
I have a feeling this is going to feed a losing streak a loss like this carries for awhile and without Tex I can’t see us scoring many runs.
Anyone who doesn’t thnk this is a good bullpen, either:
A) didn’t watch many games last year,
B) doesn’t watch any other team besides the Yanks.
Gain some perspective on the types of guys/arms they have then come here and discuss. A knee-jerk approach rarely works with baseball, and probably less so with a bullpen. Fact it, these guys are in the bullpen because they couldn’t cut it as starters. Some of them are going to have tough games. You people wouldn’t make good Mets fans. LOL
if red sux win, the yankees will be tied for last place with them
I’m not going to trash the pen because they had a bad day, Floyd. I missed Marte’s inning, but I agree that Joe should have left him in there. Veras is annoying with his walks, but that last pitch wasn’t bad. This is life with a bullpen – the Yankees have more good than bad. They will probably have more mad losses along the way, but again – this team fought hard in a game they shouldn’t really have been in in the first place. It’s a different team than last year.
The bigger issue is that Veras or Coke gave up 3 runs before they got 1 out.
Bullpen by committee means that usually none of your arms are good enough to pitch in big spots, so you’ll try and ride the hot hand. Riding the hot hand of mediocre relief pitchers is not a smart strategy at all, you will never know they they blow it. Coke has blown 2 games for us already in this short season.
Who are we supposed to trust in this pen? Having a bunch of guys who throw hard does not guarentee success.
Makes me laugh when people think our bullpen is good…We have played the O’s and the Royals,and guys were crowing how good our pen is
other than Mo…our bullpen cant be trusted
Our bp is good. Girardi is just stupid
*ROSA I’m on St Louis today,Joe’s is anal like La Russa,*
*BOTH over manage.*
Al, this is a good team. I’m really proud of them for fighting when they had every chance to just cave against Meche. Give them some credit for intestinal fortitude – they aren’t going to fall apart after one bad loss.
I’m probably the biggest Phil fan out here, but he’s not ready (next year!) and Joba is – Joba did just fine.
Betsy
April 12th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
I’m not going to trash the pen because they had a bad day, Floyd. I missed Marte’s inning, but I agree that Joe should have left him in there. Veras is annoying with his walks, but that last pitch wasn’t bad. This is life with a bullpen – the Yankees have more good than bad. They will probably have more mad losses along the way, but again – this team fought hard in a game they shouldn’t really have been in in the first place. It’s a different team than last year.
————————————————————
I can’t fault Girardi for not leaving Marte in to face Billy Butler. Butler can hit anybody. Perhaps Veras got squeezed on the last pitch, but, hard to say. He missed on the first 3 pitches, so, he can be faulted on that. Coke just didn’t get the job done. It doesn’t happen often. This just happened to be the worst time for it to go wrong.
Using the wrong guys in the wrong spot doesn’t make the guys bad, it makes the manager bad.
Remember when Ramirez gave up the grand slam to Teixeira last year? That’s a case of wrong guy, wrong spot. Veras to face Butler wasn’t the worst move, but taking him out to bring in someone cold who wasn’t used to the mound was a bad move, and Veras actually was throwing some decent pitches on the corners there that weren’t called.
Whats wrong with Hughs being number 5 starter and Joba in the 8th inning???!!! that right there cost us a Win! Job will never have a complete game put his self back in the pen..
Al,
I agree. Doesn’t help that we are facing Kazmir and the AL champs in their building tomorrow. Wang has been shaky too.
Now we have a depleted lineup and a questionable bullpen with no real 8th inning guy.
This is not going to be easy, looks like another April under .500.
good shooting by the Navy Seals today…
“Coke has blown 2 games for us already in this short season.”
today is the first time Coke has given up a Yankee lead (or tie)
so, I guess your statement isn’t exactly correct.
You’re right GB. Usually I’m a pessimist, but I can’t believe the hand-wringing that is going on. Ok, I can understand it about this game, but to assume the team is going to fall apart facing the Rays? The Rays are good, they are very good. Guess what? So are the Yankees. There are a couple weeks left in April and already the team is going to have a losing month? Oh brother.
The team showed fortitude by battling back against a tired Gil Meche and the KC Royals?
Wow, some people have set their standards low. Last year’s team set the record for battling back only to come up short. Check the game logs.
Thanks to Girardi Mike Francesa gets to go on a six hour rant tomorrow on how Jobber needs to be in the bullpen because he wasn’t THAT EFFECTIVE as a starter and the BP blew the lead without him.
Whats wrong with Hughs being number 5 starter and Joba in the 8th inning???!!!
———
One guy has demonstrated he can get major league hitters out no matter his role and the other hasn’t.
Not too hard to understand.
Our ‘great bullpen; couldn’t even get out guys like Billy Butler and Albert Callaspo
You really expect them to do anything against Crawford, Pena, Longoria (who is on pace for 100 HRs), Burrell, Upton, etc?
And Kazmir and Garza are power pitchers, better by far than anyone we have faced this season, Kazmir owns us and we’re probably going to be without Teix.
This was a huge game for us. But such is a life when you have a bullpen with 0 reliability. Outside of MO, they are all shaky.
good teams do have an 8th inning guy to get to the closer. it looks like there will be try outs for the next month for this role.
good start for joba. that’s four good starts in a row now. if this team going to do well, it will ride the starters and figure out the other stuff. the starters are coming around so that’s a good sign.
usually when wang has a bad outing, he( and eiland) makes adjustments and he comes back strong. hopefully we’ll see the good wang tomorrow.
injuries are an issue with this team as any team. having arod and teixeira out make it kind of pointless to get down on the team that’s in there. of course,it’s not the yankees best line up. but it is nice to have a first baseman like swisher to fill in for teixeira.
Betsy
April 12th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
You’re right GB. Usually I’m a pessimist, but I can’t believe the hand-wringing that is going on. Ok, I can understand it about this game, but to assume the team is going to fall apart facing the Rays? The Rays are good, they are very good. Guess what? So are the Yankees. There are a couple weeks left in April and already the team is going to have a losing month? Oh brother.
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It hurt the offense that with Rodriguez out for a while, and with Teixeira hurt, and add that both Damon and Posada needed the day off, especially on a cold, rainy day. Damon is something like 0-24 agaist Meche, anyway, so, he wouldn’t have been much better than Cabrera. Swisher’s error was probably the deal breaker and changed how the last two innings were played, but, in all, the guys just didn’t do their job.
just saw pedroia hit into a second double play today.
he’s got a bad temper
Boston Dave – Coke gave up that 2-run HR to Izturis to make the game 8-5 when we were only down 1 run on opening day,
Ok, Orestas – so you don’t give the Yankees any credit for battling back with this lineup…you chalk it up to Meche being tired. Again, it’s your prerogative, but I think you’re casting a rosy glow on last year’s team. I don’t say that last year they didn’t try ( I would never accuse a team of that), but they often looked like zombies. The Yankees had a depleted lineup today (for whatever reasons) against a good pitcher and they battled back. If you can’t find any positives in that, then fine.
Boston Dave – Coke gave up that 2-run HR to Izturis to make the game 8-5 when we were only down 1 run on opening day,
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It really doesn’t matter because Joba never got used when the team was down.
Girardi only used him when they had a lead or the game was tied.
GF, I do think you’re being hard on Phil. He’s not a scrub pitcher -he had obvious injury issues last year. I agree with your main point because Phil is just not ready, but I would expect to see him up here at some point this year and I would expect him to do pretty well.
It’s the same crap every time the bullpen gives up a lead. Keep in mind that today, the only reason Chamberlain would have been used is because a pitcher like Chamberlain put them in the position in the first place. He’s a starter. Call in to Francessa and the two of you can cry together. feel free to go into a corner and suck your thumb, now.
Dan, how about this? The pen just had a bad day. There is a huge difference between being being a bad pitcher and being bad for a day. People were already giving up on the game much earlier and we ended up taking the lead. Let’s just give up on the season now to save ourselves some grief and aggravation. Again, the Rays lost to the O’s 6-0 yesterday. Does that mean they are going to wet the bed this season? It’s one game.
gb7-
what’s you take on the team? despite my dislike of cashman, i’m liking what i’m seeing so far.the rotation is healthy, teixeira is better than i thought, and swisher is a nice addition.
cano has snapped put of his funk. posada can throw and hit.
i especially like seeing a good starter going out there every day. if they can avoid injuries this team is looking pretty good.
sill
April 12th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
if red sux win, the yankees will be tied for last place with them
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And this is of what significance at this point of the season ?
randy l.
April 12th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
gb7-
what’s you take on the team? despite my dislike of cashman, i’m liking what i’m seeing so far.the rotation is healthy, teixeira is better than i thought, and swisher is a nice addition.
cano has snapped put of his funk. posada can throw and hit.
i especially like seeing a good starter going out there every day. if they can avoid injuries this team is looking pretty good.
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If there was one move left to make during the off-season, it was wanting Cashman to go after John Buck when KC was trying to unload the contract. He’s not a great hitter, but, he’s got power and he’s a good receiver…..good at blocking the plate and the ball….strong arm that Tony Pena could help in making the release a little quicker. Other than that, not much to do once Rodriguez and Teixeira return to the lineup. I still like the bullpen, though. If they’re committed to Gardner, nothing you can do, but, I like Skip schumaker in St. Louis to play center and either hit 9th or lead off.
“Thanks to Girardi Mike Francesa gets to go on a six hour rant tomorrow on how Jobber needs to be in the bullpen because he wasn’t THAT EFFECTIVE as a starter and the BP blew the lead without him.”
Its funny that you said that because I was thinking that too
And so …. it’s off to cow bell land. OUCH ! ! !
early season games are just as important as late season games….Gardner,Melky,Ramson are AAA players at best..another thing Joba will be lucky to win 10 games this year he should be the 8th inning guy period( watch how many games they lose in the 8th inning). The Yankees are 3-3 after playing those two teams with their SP ?
most of you guys don’t like Mike Fran but he’s right on with Joba…anyone know how many innings he average as a starter last year
why didnt girardi use edwar ramirez today instead of veras?? edwar could have pitched today… he hasnt pitched in 3 days now!!! incredble…
I haven’t seen Coke mess with the Yankees chances of winning this bad since the days of Steve Howe. We can’t blame Joba for the terrible bullpen performance. Who the heck are Coke and Veras anyway? I realize we can’t replace Joba with another Joba as the setup guy, but we should at least have major league caliber talent.