lohud.com

Sponsored by:

The LoHud Yankees Blog

A New York Yankees blog by Sam Borden, Chad Jennings and the staff of The Journal News

Game 36: Twins at Yankees

Peter Abraham
May
16

YANKEES (18-17)
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira DH
Rodriguez 3B
Swisher 1B
Cano 2B
Cabrera RF
Gardner CF
Cervelli C

Pitching: RHP Joba Chamberlain (2-1, 3.89).

TWINS (18-18)
Span CF
Harris 2B
Mauer DH
Morneau 1B
Kubel LF
Cuddyer RF
Buscher 3B
Redmond C
Punto SS

Pitching: RHP Nick Blackburn (2-2, 4.32).

TIME/TV: 1:05 p.m., YES.

ON A LITTLE ROLL: The Yankees have won three straight, four of five and five of the last seven. At 18-17, they are above .500 for the first time since May 4.

COMING AROUND: Mark Teixeira is 6 of 16 over the last four games with three RBI. His batting average has climbed from .191 to .213.

GETTING OFFENSIVE: The Yankees have collected 28 hits (15 for extra bases) and drawn 19 walks in the last three games. However they have left 30 men on base.

SWISHER’S SLUMP: Swisher’s batting average is .239. His strikeout average is .319.

CAPTAIN COMEBACK: Derek Jeter has five home runs. He didn’t hit his fifth last season until July 12, the 87th game of the season.

GRITTY AND GUTTY: Brett Gardner is 7 of his last 19 with four extra-base hits and four RBI.

NO PATIENCE FOR PATIENCE: When Robinson Cano walked in the sixth inning last night, it was his first in 96 plate appearances.

PITCHING IN: The Yankees have allowed seven earned runs in their last 27 innings.

BULLPEN BRING IT: Yankee relievers have allowed one run in their last eight innings.

A-ROD UPDATE: Alex Rodriguez is 2 of 21 since his home run. But he has been drawing walks, including four last night.

ALBIE’S ARRIVAL: Jonathan Albaladejo’s last seven outings: 7 5 2 0 4 2.

ROAD KILL: The Twins are 3-9 on the road.

Late report today, so the lineup may be a bit. Back with much more later,

UPDATE, 11:01 p.m.: Still no lineup. Girardi is waiting for Alex to arrive.

UPDATE, 11:57 p.m.: Brian Bruney will head to Scranton and is scheduled to pitch an inning tomorrow. If that goes well, he will likely be activated on Monday or more likely Tuesday. … Sounds like Xavier Nady will lead to Tampa in nine days when the team goes on the road. Spoke to Jose Molina, who was on his way to the cages to hit and throw. He said his leg feels better but he’s still a week or so away from going to Tampa to ramp up his rehab.

Girardi said Teixeira feels fine. They’re just giving him a day as DH. How about Nick Swisher? The season started with questions about how often he would play. Now he plays no matter what.

UPDATE, 12:26 p.m.: Mariano Rivera is signing for the people down the right field line and has been there for a while.

JOBA’S WARM-UP ROUTINE UPDATE, 12:37 p.m.: I’m going to document Joba’s warm-up as best I can. He just walked out to the outfield.

12:38: Playing catch with Cervelli as Dave Eiland watches.

12:41: Playing some longer toss with Cervelli.

12:43: Back to 60 feet. Throwing harder now. Still in outfield.

12:45: In the bullpen now.

12:46: Threw 7 pitches to a standing Cervelli.

12:47: Now throwing to a squatting Cervelli. Nice and easy.

12:50: Throwing with a little more purpose now. 18 pitches in.

12:53: He’s throwing hard, but not full out. 30 pitches in.

12:55: Taking a little break after 35 pitches. Talking to Cervelli.

12:57: Back on the mound.

12:58: Throwing to Cervelli with Mike Harkey standing in the lefty batters box.

12:59: He’s 8 pitches in. Harkey doesn’t have a bat (which is in accordance to MLB rules, I believe).

1:00: 12 pitches in. Joba seems to be throwing a game speed

1:01: He’s done. By my count, he threw 15 pitches. Now he’s headed in with Eiland and Cervelli.

1:03: So there you have it, Joba’s “simulated game” lasted about four minutes and he threw 15 pitches. We’ll find out soon enough if that helps him.

UPDATE, 1:12 p.m.: Joba fanned Span to start the game. But in what appears to be something that can’t be a coincidence, the gun doesn’t work on the scoreboard and isn’t on YES, either.

UPDATE, 1:16 p.m.: Joba retired the side in order on 14 pitches, 8 strikes. Whatever they did worked today worked just fine.

UPDATE, 1:40 p.m.: Trying to find out what happened there. It seems Cuddyer missed second base on his way back to first. But the run counts.

UPDATE, 1:42 p.m.: Yeah, that’s it. Run counts as it scored first. Cuddyer out because he slid into second, went past the bag and didn’t touch it on the way back.

UPDATE, 2:01 p.m.: The Yankees and Bank of America are doing a good thing that ends this weekend. The ComBAT Hunger food drive includes the Yankees donating $100 for every hit they get at home from April 16 until tomorrow. Meanwhile, BoA is matching any donations that fans make on line up to $50,000. More than $20,000 has been raised by fans so far.

So let’s do our part. I’ll start with $50. Go to www.foodbanknyc.org and donate a few bucks. The Food Bank says that $1 can provide five meals.

If everybody reading today kicks in a few bucks, we can do a good thing. So get on it.

Thanks.

UPDATE, 2:26 p.m.: Outside of the third inning, Nick Blackburn has been remarkably efficient. But Yankees lead 3-2. … Swisher looks like he needs a day off. His bat is slow.

UPDATE, 2:53 p.m.: Joba gave them a quality six (6 3 2 2 4 6) and now they need to come up with six outs before handing the lead to Mo. Tall task.

UPDATE, 3:00 p.m.: Of course scoring a few runs here would help make getting the ball to Mo a lot easier A-Rod has a chance with runners on first and second and nobody out.

UPDATE, 3:03 p.m.: A-Rod strikes out. He is hitless in his last 11 at-bats and 3 for 26 (.115) on the season in eight games with one extra-base hit. His range at third base has been limited, too. That you expect given the nature of his injury. But you have to wonder whether the lack of offense is attributable to the injury, being rusty or something else.

UPDATE, 3:08 p.m.: Jose Veras with a lead? Really?

Not for long.

UPDATE, 3:12 p.m.: Leadoff walk and a rocket single. First and second and nobody out. Look for the fundamental Twins to bunt the No. 9 hitter then let the top of the order work.

UPDATE, 3:13 p.m.: Yep, sac for Punto. Veras out, Phil Coke in. Veras can’t even handle the bottom of Minnesota’s order. He walked .211 hitting Brian Buscher to start the inning. Brian Buscher. Just brutal.

UPDATE, 3:21 p.m.: Phil Coke just saved his manager’s bacon right there by getting out of that inning.

Meanwhile, here is the classic case of how all managers use closers the wrong way. One-run game. Minnesota has Mauer, Morneau and Kubel due up, their best hitters. Rivera should pitch the eighth inning. This is where the game has to be saved, not the ninth.

But nobody ever does that because it would open them to criticism. It’s too bad. It’s Russian Roulette to send somebody else out there in the eighth inning.

UPDATE, 3:33 p.m.: And there you have it, Coke gets Mauer out then Morneau puts one in the second deck.

I don’t blame Girardi because there isn’t a manager in the game with the guts to do it. But that is where the game needed to be saved. That is where the Yankees needed their best reliever, not home-run prone Phil Coke.

3-3 and it’s anybody’s game.

UPDATE, 3:37 p.m.: 4-3 Twins. That’s asking too much of Coke there.

Now what is interesting is Minnesota may not have Joe Nathan today as he has worked four days in a row and threw a lot of pitches yesterday. Yankees have two shots to at least tie it.

Well, that assumes Edwar doesn’t make it worse. Big assumption, that.

UPDATE, 3:51 p.m.: Nice pinch hitting by Godzilla as he doubles to left. Jeter bunts (although I’m not crazy about taking the bat out of his hands). Now Damon has a shot to tie it.

UPDATE, 3:53 p.m.: It would seem Tex has arrived in the Boogie Down. 4 for 4 with four RBI and two extra-base hits.

The four hits match a career high. Brand new ballgame again and another chance for A-Rod.

By the way, don’t you walk Tex to get to A-Rod? I know he’s A-Rod. But he’s not himself.

UPDATE, 3:58 p.m.: Alex walks and it’s a chance for Swish.

UPDATE, 4:02 p.m.: No dice for Swish. Enter Sandman.

UPDATE, 4:07 p.m.: Mo had two strikes on Span and there were like seven people clapping. The crowd seems a little worn out by the tumult of the day.

UPDATE, 4:10 p.m.: Mo does his job. He seems to be back to being Mo. Now Robbie Cano puts one out and everybody goes home happy.

Or will Melky be the Walk-Off Wonder again?

UPDATE, 4:14 p.m.: Girardi is going to use Mo for another inning. I didn’t realize this game decided something.

Explain this to me, please. If you’re willing to use Mo for two innings, why doesn’t he pitch the eighth inning when you needed him?

UPDATE, 4:18 p.m.: This is a first guess: I don’t get this. They have used Mo carefully all season and now May 16 against the Twins is the seventh game of the World Series apparently. This is asking for trouble.

UPDATE, 4:25 p.m.: Mo ducked out of a jam thanks to a nice running catch by Gardner. They better win this now and keep the bullpen on ice.

UPDATE, 4:37 p.m.: Alfredo Aceves out of the pen. Why not use Mo for three? I don’t get it.

UPDATE, 4:40 p.m.: Nice play by Jeter. Suck it, UZR. Meanwhile, it would be wise to win this game now as Mauer and Morneau will get up in the 12th.

UPDATE, 4:44 p.m.: Matter of time there. Yankees win as A-Rod walks off with a blast. He has eight walk-off jacks in his career, five with the Yankees.

That’s four in a row for the Yankees. Nice win for them.

This entry was posted on Saturday, May 16th, 2009 at 9:45 am by Peter Abraham.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Print This Post Print This Post | Email This Post Email This Post

1,342 Responses to “Game 36: Twins at Yankees”

  1. Trevor

    The Yankees are going to have Joba throw an inning before the game in attempt to eliminate his first inning problems.
    Hopefully it works.

  2. hclunited

    David Ortiz benched by Red Sox after hitting only .208 and no homers. Girardi sticks with Teixeira batting .191 and it pays off as he’s up to .213 now. Now, give A-Rod a little time to start revving it up.

    Go Yanks!

  3. Scranton

    Ortiz is D1.

  4. lswaha

    Ortiz is off the roids…

  5. Bronx Jeers

    Is Swisher still feeling that elbow?

    Or is this just what it looks like when a guy with a career .245 avg goes through a nasty slump?

    We’re probably going to be doing a lot of line up dissection today concerning Melky and Gardner over Swish.

    Don’t look now but Gardner’s got his OBP up to .330. His avg is .256.

    I’ll give him credit. He won the job, then sort of lost the job, and now is making the most of what little time he gets. He’s a scrapper alright.

  6. C

    Swisher should sit

  7. C

    cano has been slumping

  8. DJ

    When Pete writes pitching lines like 7 5 2 0 4 2, what does each number mean?

  9. Jr

    Swisher’s elbow is fine. This is just what happens when a player comes back down to earth. He still works a good at bat though, so I cant knock him in terms of that. But it is time for Nicky boy to take a seat.

  10. Bronx Jeers

    When Pete writes pitching lines like 7 5 2 0 4 2, what does each number mean?

    innings-hits-runs-earned runs-walks-K’s

  11. Teixeiramvp (I'm keeping the faith) (Not the troll)

    Cano slumping a little but not too much. I think Tex may be finally heating up.

  12. Teixeiramvp (I'm keeping the faith) (Not the troll)

    I predict a bench clearing brawl today.

  13. Roger(the new amsterdam yankees )

    I still think that gardner isn’t as good as pete and others say.But i’m glad he played a good game.I’m rooting for the yankees and not for team melky or team gardner.Let the best man play and help the yankees win.And right now gardner AND melky should play.Swisher should sit…

  14. Teixeiramvp (I'm keeping the faith) (Not the troll)

    I’ma big Gardner fan and I think he’ll have a fine year. But Melky? Hey, if he’s doing well you got yourself one of those nice problems.

  15. AD

    That Punk Gomez better stand about 4 feet away from the plate today. I hope Joba sends a clear message

  16. murphydog

    “I predict a bench clearing brawl today.”

    I like Joba’s pre-game plan to throw a simulated inning before the game (after warm ups). I’d like it better if he threw a simulated inning at Gomez’ ribs.

  17. DocBooch (officially panicked 5/13/09)

    Throwing an inning when he is on a strict inning count this year makes no sense to me. Besides, he doesn’t throw 97 until at least the 3rd inning (confirmed on Gameday).

    I think he needs to get more pumped up for the game, he doesn’t grow a sack until he gets into trouble and realizes he’s Joba ******* Chamberlain.

    I read some of Joe Torres book and he told a story about Roger Clemens pre-game workout. If Joba did what the Rocket did, he’d go out there mowing people down. I’d tell you what he did, but it might not be condusive to this blog. ;)

  18. SJ44

    I wouldn’t hit Gomez until a time comes when a game against the Twins is out of reach, up or down.

    Then, I would nail him.

    Paul Konerko almost kicked his butt last year over the same stuff.

    He’s a punk. But hey, it got Tex going and that certainly didn’t hurt him in that AB in the 9th! lol

  19. Teixeiramvp (I'm keeping the faith) (Not the troll)

    I hope Gomez is not necessarily plunked but absolutely brushed back.

  20. Teixeiramvp (I'm keeping the faith) (Not the troll)

    Hey guys, Brett Garder has two more HR’s than Big Papi!

  21. Laura - Win together, strike out alone!

    “I read some of Joe Torres book and he told a story about Roger Clemens pre-game workout. If Joba did what the Rocket did, he’d go out there mowing people down. I’d tell you what he did, but it might not be condusive to this blog.”

    Tell us, Doc – or I’ll start spoiling LOST for you again. :P

  22. Neil

    There’s a dilemma with Boston. The seriously eroded skills of Ortiz with an albatross contract and at least temporarily replacing him with Baldelli who could go on the DL at any time.

  23. DocBooch (officially panicked 5/13/09)

    Homers in consecutive games no less….regular Babe Ruth!! Even hitting a homer for the kid in the hospital (although he told the story completely different than what Kay said it was)

  24. DocBooch (officially panicked 5/13/09)

    Well, Clemens would have the trainer rub three types of liniment over his whole body. Hot, hotter and smoking hot. Just before he would go to the mound for his warm ups, the trainer would take the hottest one and rub it all over his testicles and he would snort like a bull.

  25. murphydog

    “I wouldn’t hit Gomez until a time comes when a game against the Twins is out of reach, up or down.

    Then, I would nail him.”

    Agreed 100% – but in the ribs, not the head.

    I wasn’t familiar with the Konerko incident. Obviously this punk has a reputation. As I noted in the prior thread, he’s a product of the same organization that gave MLB Alexi Casilla and Lasting Milledge. Coincidence?

  26. Teixeiramvp (I'm keeping the faith) (Not the troll)

    Boston scares the you know what out of me.

    I think we could beat em but I wouldn’t bet any money on it.

    Francessa’s new thing is that Boston is better at every position but third base and shortstop, and that includes first base, left field, and catcher (although I guess he means while Posada is out).

    He also says Boston’s starting staff is better. I don’t believe that.

  27. Laura - Win together, strike out alone!

    “There’s a dilemma with Boston. The seriously eroded skills of Ortiz with an albatross contract and at least temporarily replacing him with Baldelli who could go on the DL at any time.”

    Yet they still find ways to win. It’s enough to make you want to hurl.

  28. Laura - Win together, strike out alone!

    “Well, Clemens would have the trainer rub three types of liniment over his whole body. Hot, hotter and smoking hot. Just before he would go to the mound for his warm ups, the trainer would take the hottest one and rub it all over his testicles and he would snort like a bull.”

    Okay, now I wish you hadn’t told me that. LOL!!

  29. Teixeiramvp (I'm keeping the faith) (Not the troll)

    The frickin Mets annoy me to no end, they come back down 5 to 1 to beat the Giants, after facing Tim Linececum no less.

  30. DocBooch (officially panicked 5/13/09)

    After I read that, I haven’t picked up the book since..:o

  31. Laura - Win together, strike out alone!

    “I wasn’t familiar with the Konerko incident. Obviously this punk has a reputation. As I noted in the prior thread, he’s a product of the same organization that gave MLB Alexi Casilla and Lasting Milledge. Coincidence?”

    I guess I don’t get Gardenhire’s position or his anger last night. He never struck me as someone who’d endorse playing the game the wrong way, particular in a way that could lead to injury. I guess it’s just a case of a manager sticking up for his player no matter what.

  32. murphydog

    “I hope Gomez is not necessarily plunked but absolutely brushed back.”

    I’m not usually a hit ‘em guy, but this jerk needs to feel the sting. I just hope the umps don’t issue a pre-emptive strike before the game, warning the benches in advance. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen that before and that’s not cool. Let the players police this one themselves; Gomez has this one coming.

  33. SJ44

    Francesa doesn’t know what he is talking about. He probably can’t name 10 guys on the Red Sox. He does that routine to generate phone calls.

    The Red Sox have a very good team. Guess what? Despite winning all 5 games against the Yankees, they haven’t put any real distance between themselves and the Yankees.

    They also have as many, perhaps more, problems than the Yankees at this time.

    Ortiz, Beckett and Lester have not pitched well. Dice-k is still out. SS is a shaky position.

    What if Bay and/or Lowell cool off? What if their starters don’t get it together? What if John Smoltz isn’t the “answer” that the Red Sox hype machine think he is?

    At this stage of the season, EVERYBODY is a work in progress.

    That’s why the key is staying close until reinforcments arrive and the guys who are cold get hot.

  34. Teixeiramvp (I'm keeping the faith) (Not the troll)

    Well SJ, it looks like, maybe, Tex is heating up.

  35. murphydog

    “I guess I don’t get Gardenhire’s position or his anger last night. He never struck me as someone who’d endorse playing the game the wrong way, particular in a way that could lead to injury. I guess it’s just a case of a manager sticking up for his player no matter what.”

    It could be Gardy didn’t see the play and didn’t have a chance to confer with his 1st base coach before Girardi got in his face.

  36. Laura - Win together, strike out alone!

    “I’m not usually a hit ‘em guy, but this jerk needs to feel the sting. I just hope the umps don’t issue a pre-emptive strike before the game, warning the benches in advance. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen that before and that’s not cool. Let the players police this one themselves; Gomez has this one coming.”

    I’m all for sending Gomez a message, but Joba can’t be the one to do it. He already has a rep for throwing at guys. We don’t want to make that situation worse. We play them again the next two days after today. We’ve got plenty of time to have one of the relievers hit him.

  37. SJ44

    Laura,

    Gardy is just protecting his player. Just as Girardi was doing with Tex last night.

    That was a “boys will be boys” moment.

    Gardy knows Gomez is a punk but, he’s HIS punk. lol The manager will always have a players back. At least the good one’s do.

  38. Teixeiramvp (I'm keeping the faith) (Not the troll)

    By the way, I’d take a hot Tex over a hot
    Youk any day. Of course, you’re comparing those two it’s seperated by a very small margin.

    And seriously, he’d take Bay over Damon? I know Bay is hot right now, but come on!

  39. Teixeiramvp (I'm keeping the faith) (Not the troll)

    I like Gardenhire. He does a good job with that Twins ballclub.

  40. Laura - Win together, strike out alone!

    “Gardy knows Gomez is a punk but, he’s HIS punk. lol The manager will always have a players back. At least the good one’s do.”

    Makes sense although remembering how close Gomez came to taking Tex’s hand off still gives me chills….and not in a good way.

  41. DocBooch (officially panicked 5/13/09)

    You take away the games head to head and the Yankees have a better record. We’ll figure them out. There is a reason why our records head to head are almost .500 and we won the majority of seasons against them.

  42. Teixeiramvp (I'm keeping the faith) (Not the troll)

    We need to beat Boston next time out or it’s gonna get in our heads.

  43. DocBooch (officially panicked 5/13/09)

    SJ, thanks for talking me off the ledge a few days ago. I was ready to fire Girardi but I’m starting to come around now

  44. Fran (the original)

    You know that David Ortiz is in trouble when Brett Gardner has twice as many HR’s as he does.

  45. Teixeiramvp (I'm keeping the faith) (Not the troll)

    Remember how I mentioned that I love Nolan Ryan’s new method for training young pitchers (if you weren’t at the blog when I mentioned this, read this article and it’ll explain)? Here’s the article on it.

    http://web.yesnetwork.com/news.....amp;vkey=7

  46. SJ44

    Tex,

    He was always going to get going. You could see the tide turning in Baltimore. Much better AB’s, even though the results weren’t there yet.

    That’s how it goes with slumps. Most people just look at results. However, you have to look at the AB’s. The results come after the AB’s improve.

    For the last 8-10 days, his AB’s have been better.

    I’m not worried about Mark Teixiera. He is too good a player to have a season long slump.

    The bridgejumpers may think so. However, they called another one “over” too early last night so I don’t look for logical insight from them re: Tex.

  47. Teixeiramvp (I'm keeping the faith) (Not the troll)

    Fran (the original)-Actually, twice zero is zero. Gardy is beating Ortiz by an infinite ratio of HR’s.

  48. DocBooch (officially panicked 5/13/09)

    I like the fact that Girardi took exception to Gardenhire yelling at Tex. Gardy was wrong for that…should have went out there and made sure his player didn’t get thrown out and yelled at Girardi not Tex.

  49. murphydog

    “Gardy knows Gomez is a punk but, he’s HIS punk.”

    Fair enough. But if Gardy doesn’t want to lose his CF for a while to the DL, he should “counsel” the young man not to take cheap shots at gold glove legit stars who play the game right.

  50. Teixeiramvp (I'm keeping the faith) (Not the troll)

    SJ44-Hey, does re: Tex imply I’m a bridge jumper? What I said was I was worried a bit about TEx, and rightly so since this is his worst start ever and I’m not going to recant here. I always figured he’d get over it, but when you’re batting 200 in mid May that’s a problem.

    By the way, if someone using my name called last night’s game over it wasn’t me. I wasn’t on the blog. It was a troll.

  51. pete

    Girardi seems to be doing a pretty good job of playing matchups with gardner and cabrera (gardner having the better eye but weaker bat vs. hard throwers; i know they are essentially both lefties but that isn’t the only thing that plays into the matchups game) and riding hot streaks. When everybody is cold it’s easy to say that he’s a bad manager, but, like last year with the bullpen, he seems to be able to find the hot streaks in the fringe/bench players right as they start, which can’t be easy considering that a cabrera or gardner who isn’t hot is a waste in the lineup. I give him some credit for seeing how guys are doing not just based on game numbers.

  52. Tom in N.J.

    I’m just glad that Teixeira wasn’t moved down in the order…

  53. Teixeiramvp (I'm keeping the faith) (Not the troll)

    Tom in N.J.-I still would have done it.

  54. SJ44

    The thing about Ortiz is, this is the first week a team (the Angels) pitched him as if he wasn’t David Ortiz anymore.

    Until that time, teams pitched him like he was still Big Papi.

    I think that’s why Tito stayed so long with him in the 3 hole. He was not getting a lot of pitches to hit. When he did, he missed them.

    This week, Tito saw the Angels go right at him with fastballs. Seeing how slow his bat is right now, that’s when he knew he had to give him a few mental health days.

    His bat, at least right now, is s-l-o-w. He couldn’t get on top of 88 fastballs in the inner half from that Palmer kid. Those are balls he smokes when he is right.

    Doc,

    We all, myself included, forget just how long a season this is. That’s why panic, while fun for the blog, is not the order of the day.

    Its just one long grind.

    The Yankees have some holes. No question about it. However, so does everybody. No team is perfect. Not even the Red Sox.

    You just keep grinding, look to win as many series as possible, and then see where you are at the end of each month.

    Its the best way to get thru the season.

  55. DocBooch (officially panicked 5/13/09)

    Pete, hopefully he sees Swisher pressing and starts Gardner and Melky today. Swish needs a day off

  56. Fran (the original)

    Teixeriamvp – you’re right. Math was never my strong subject.

  57. Teixeiramvp (I'm keeping the faith) (Not the troll)

    I thought we had a pretty good first month.

    I refer to A-Rod’s return as opening day two. So right now after OD2 we are 5 and 2. A nice start.

  58. DocBooch (officially panicked 5/13/09)

    Very true SJ, it isn’t always bad to have a Stienbrenner moment though. What worried me is that the injuries were starting to be an excuse and I saw the team where they were last year….out of the playoffs. I’m glad they are starting to turn it around and haven’t lost their heart as you call it.

  59. SJ44

    Tex,

    Wasn’t talking about you. Was talking about bridgejumpers in general.

    They kind of reached their apex after the Halliday game. That’s when they really lost their collective minds.

    That cracks me up because even when the Yankees were a 900+ run offense, they didn’t touch Roy Halliday.

    Funny how that start set them off.

  60. Fran (the original)

    Teixeira is starting to hit just as Alex comes back. Wonder if he is seeing better pitches with Alex batting behind him.

  61. Teixeiramvp (I'm keeping the faith) (Not the troll)

    SJ44-Okay, thanks. Yeah, I was seriously not worried at all after the Halladay game. In fact, I liked the pitching matchups and felt pretty confident about the series.

  62. murphydog

    By Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com

    05/16/09 1:35 AM ET

    NEW YORK — In the top of the eighth inning of Friday’s game, which was won by the Yankees, 5-4, first baseman Mark Teixeira exchanged some heated words with Twins center fielder Carlos Gomez.

    Teixeira felt that Gomez had run too close to the line, which could potentially injure him when he fielded the throw from catcher Kevin Cash. After the pair had a verbal spat, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire and Yanks manager Joe Girardi came out to add some words of their own.

    “I just wanted to make sure nothing escalated,” Girardi said.

    Girardi also wanted to check on Teixeira’s wrist, which he had problems with earlier in the year.

    “Ron came out, he started yelling at my player, and I didn’t say anything to his player,” Girardi said. “That I didn’t necessarily care for.”

    Gardenhire was equally dismissive following the game, calling the incident “heat of the moment stuff.”

    “He’s defending, I’m defending,” Gardenhire said of Girardi. “That’s what we do — defend [our players].”

  63. stuart

    ortiz and tex are apples and oranges. i have no clue if ortiz is done but he is 4 yrs older then tex almost 5, and before his renaissance in boston he stunk. tex has been a stud since 17. papi probably took roids, doubtful tex did. big difference in long term potential….

    great win. SJ.. hughes stunk but battled and only gave up 3 in 5 innings not a bad outing. he needs to learn when he is not on you have to battle, what do you think about that????

  64. Teixeiramvp (I'm keeping the faith) (Not the troll)

    Fran (the original)-I don’t know…maybe…

  65. Bronx Jeers

    I have Gardner rounding the bases at about 14.3 seconds. from crack of the bat to hand touching the plate.

    I love it that he popped up still chewing his gum.

  66. Teixeiramvp (I'm keeping the faith) (Not the troll)

    14.3 seconds.

    Wow.

  67. stuart

    when is the last time the yankees had a bunch of 25 or younge guys running around the clubhouse???

    this team should be better then they are so far but is likeable with the comebacks and youth home grown..

    pena, gardner, melky(resurrected), coke, hughes, joba, cerevelli, and on..I thought they had zero talent in the minors?????

    they need to straighten out the pen and then the ycan take off…bruney is key and melancon forcing them to bring him back up is key.. there pen and starters are still walking way way to many batters…..

  68. S.A.--The sun will come out tomorrow

    Morning..er..Afternoon everyone.
    Let’s hope the Yankees continue winning. :)

  69. SJ44

    The one thing, among others, the whiners are wrong about is, the heart of this team.

    These guys have fought all year.

    They have had a TON of distractions, from Arod, injuries, poor starts and performances from some of their stars, Wang falling apart, the new ballpark, 32 games in the first 33 days, lots of travel, etc.

    Through it all, these guys kept grinding. They give themselves a chance to win on most nights.

    That’s how you judge whether or not a team has “heart”.

    When somebody complains the team has “no heart”, because they are 2 runs down in the third inning and aren’t hitting, that’s just emotional nonsense.

    This team fights. That shows Girardi has not “lost the locker room”.

    Do they have holes? Yes they do.

    They don’t hit consistently with RISP. Didn’t do it the last year under Torre, the last 4 post-seasons under Torre, last year under Girardi, and so far this year.

    Why? If I knew the answer to that, I’d tell the Yankees and its problem solved. Its a great unknown.

    The starting pitching got off to a terrible start and the bullpen has been awful.

    Now, the pitching is showing signs of life. CC’s last two starts have been great. Joba has pitched very well for the most part, after his first inning. Pettitte and AJ have been servicable. You have to think they will get better.

    Hughes? Work in progress and hopefully will be back in Scranton next week. That would mean Wang is back.

    This team needs Chien Ming Wang to be back to his old self.

    If that happens, their starting pitching is the best in the division and will give them a chance to win every night.

    Bruney may be back next weekend. If he is, that lengthens the bullpen a bit. That can’t hurt.

    They just have to keep grinding and win as many series as possible until the roster gets back to normal.

  70. Teixeiramvp (I'm keeping the faith) (Not the troll)

    This team has got more heart than any team since the championship years.

  71. Teixeiramvp (I'm keeping the faith) (Not the troll)

    What do you think the odds are of a CC CY Young (I know about Greinke, bu stil)?

  72. Bo knows

    You have to admire Gardenhire as a manager. He can see Alex is rounding into form so he’s pitching him just out of the strike zone, see if Alex will get impatient. Because if Alex gets hot, there went the series, maybe even a sweep. That ninth inning at bat was classic, advantage Alex, a more focused hitter. Last year he was swinging at anything near.

  73. m

    Looks like the afterglow hasn’t faded yet on the blog.

    Re: the team doing better with Alex. Maybe they were really anticipating his return (good thing). I think inserting even a less than 100% Alex has the same effect that adding Matsui and Posada in the past had. They lengthen the lineup with their presence alone. I don’t know the number, but I am simply shocked at how many walks he has taken since his return. His second at-bat is typical of what we’ve seen before, but otherwise his eye and patience have been off the charts.

    re: Swisher. Same thing as Cano before. If you continue to swing on stuff in the dirt in 2 strike counts, pitchers will keep throwing it at you. They’ll keep doing it until you adjust.

    re: Hughes. I’m so happy the team took him off the hook. Wasn’t Detroit, but certainly not the Orioles. Bent, but didn’t break. Maybe the pithching experts can help me out here. But it seems that Hughes isn’t finishing off his pitches.

    All in all, a good complete team effort. Damon-Gardner-Cabrera today, please. And who knew that Teixeira had so much fire? Caliente!

  74. BBFan

    If Gomez does not run responsibly outside the grass during the first at bat, expect Joba to grill him the next time around.

  75. Betsy

    SJ, good post- I completely agree. I get frustrated with this team at times, but I have never questioned their heart. Lack of execution is not the same thing as lack of desire, but I think people do make that mistake. They’ve come back in games a lot where either the pitching puts the game out of reach (after the comeback) or they just don’t have enough – so, those games go down as losses, but the team came back all the same. It seems like they’ve had an awful lot of late inning heroics this year, too……..

    I like your description of the SP – and maybe the pen is settling down a little, too. Bruney will be back soon …..who knows with Marte? – and that will be huge.

    I love seeing how excited this team is after a win like that – they look like little boys, jumping over railings and jumping up and down, lol. YES did a bad job of Melky being pied – all we saw was AJ wiping his face – but MLB showed the whole thing. That was fun to watch, lol – I’ve never seen a Yankee get pied before…….

  76. Teixeiramvp (I'm keeping the faith) (Not the troll)

    I think that the rules need to be changed regarding losses. Let’s say a starter comes in and allows one run over seven innings. Then in the eighth the bullpen allows a run. So in the 9th your team gets a run but loses 2-1. Is that the starter’s fault? He allowed one run, which was made up.

  77. Teixeiramvp (I'm keeping the faith) (Not the troll)

    Mystique and Aura, now dancing at a swanky new joint, right across the street. :-)

  78. SJ44

    Stuart,

    He fought much better last night than he did in Baltimore.

    That said, he didn’t pitch well. 10 baserunners in 5 innings. Not good.

    Here is the thing with Hughes. He’s not as bad as his greatest detractors think he is, nor as good as his greatest supporters think he is.

    What concerns me about him is, after 5 years in the organization, he still has command issues with almost every pitch. He can’t even command his fastball on a consistent basis.

    I don’t that put on the kid. That’s on the organization. That’s not doing a good job of developing a kid with his skillset.

    The meltdown issues? That’s on him. He can only fix that. Last night was a step forward in that area. That’s a good thing.

    He really shouldn’t be the #6 pitcher on the staff. He’s just not ready to be a contributing starting pitcher on a contending ML team at this time.

    Its not lack of effort. The kid is trying as much as a human being can try to be good. Its consistency and fighting through the difficulties. Those are his areas of weakness and you don’t correct them in the majors. Especially on a team like the Yankees.

    That’s why when folks say, “he has nothing left to prove in AAA”, I say BS. He has EVERYTHING to prove in AAA.

    He has to improve his entire game.

    Give him a year with Scott Aldred in Scranton and then let’s see what he is.

    Right now, its unfair to the kid and the team to run him out there, even as a fill in starter for Wang. He’s not ready yet to assume that level of responsibility.

    JMHO.

  79. jonathan c.

    I would bet that as we see the starting pitching improve, the hitting with RISP will improve.

  80. Teixeiramvp (I'm keeping the faith) (Not the troll)

    I really don’t care what the RISP avg. is as long as they score runs. And they scored five runs yesterday. Good job.

  81. Bronx Jeers

    Arod’s new intro music is Kanye’s “Amazing”

    It actually fits him perfectly.

  82. BBFan

    For every thing that went wrong with the injuries, it is amazing where the Yanks stand this morning.

    They are only 2 games behind the Red Sox in the loss column. That too after REx Sox had that long winning streak. This really exposes Red Sox weaknesses and I highly doubt they will make it to the playoffs this year.

    Yanks are ahead of Rays three games in the loss column. Who would have thought about it given all the injuries to date.

    This team is going to be whole again in a week or so with Posada and Bruney returning. Then watch out.

    In the Twins series, I thought yesterday favored the twins with Liriano on the mound. We won it. Next three games favor us from pitching point of view. Also, the team is on a high from Yesterday’s dramatic win. I expect a four game sweep, or at least three out of four.

    Go Yanks.

  83. Aunt Becca-Optimist Prime

    I STILL can’t stop thinking about last night.

  84. Teixeiramvp (I'm keeping the faith) (Not the troll)

    I’m glad Posada wasn’t hurt too badly. I’m kinda worried that Girardi will be leaning too much on a less than 100% Bruney, but who knows? Maybe he’ll be sharp.

  85. Ace

    Nick Swisher should be benched today. We have to keep Mellky and Gardner in the lineup.

  86. Teixeiramvp (I'm keeping the faith) (Not the troll)

    The low point of yesterday’s game was that steal of Swisher’s almost hit.

  87. Bronx Jeers

    Watching the encore.

    Swish looked really dejected after that 9th inning groundout.

  88. SJ44

    Can Rishi or somebody with ESPN Insider do me a favor?

    Keith Law was at the BC-UNC game yesterday and has an Insider story on the draft prospects in that game.

    If Rishi or anybody with an Insider account saw the story, and he had any comments about my nephew, could you let me know in this post?

    I have to start getting ready for a very busy day and I will check in later.

    Thanks in advance. I really appreciate it.

  89. Teixeiramvp (I'm keeping the faith) (Not the troll)

    I’m also watching the encore.

    By the way, I would have faced Cano had I been Gardenhire.

  90. m

    Rebecca,

    Stupid jock guy (cubs fan) was all over Span for his lax play on Gardner’s homerun. Said if the Yankees win, he needs to be benched. Anyway, after that, the Yankees had the bases loaded at some point and he was saying the Yankees need this win. It’s the kind of game that could save their season. Let’s hope that none of the starters drop the baton and keep it going.

    If the rotation becomes what we envisioned it, the Yankees will be as intimidating as we envisioned it.

    Interesting, I think the Jays have played 6 AL east games, the rest of the teams have played at least 19. And the Red Sox are 9-0 against the Yanks and the O’s. Something’s going to give.

  91. Aunt Becca-Optimist Prime

    SJ: I’m on it.

  92. Aunt Becca-Optimist Prime

    “North Carolina right-hander Alex White was so-so on Thursday at Boston College with some serious heat in attendance, including four GMs (San Francisco’s Brian Sabean, Pittsburgh’s Neal Huntington, Seattle’s Jack Zdurencik, and Washington’s Mike Rizzo) and several additional scouting directors. White sat at 88-92 and threw a ton of offspeed pitches while not getting many swings and misses on the fastball. He has hit 95 several times this spring and ordinarily shows average velocity above what I saw yesterday.

    Tar Heel first baseman Dustin Ackley doesn’t need to help himself, as he’s already expected to be the No. 2 pick; with Seattle’s brass in attendance he took a good BP but was caught looking twice during the game, including once in the ninth with the tying runs on base. He took infield in center but played first base during the game.

    *BC catcher Tony Sanchez caught well and made two nice plays on tough pop-ups on a grey, rainy day, but also struggled at the plate.* The kid who made himself some money was Eagles closer Mike Belfiore; the lefty was up to 93 with a sharp slider, and struck out four of thirteen hitters while recording a three-inning save. The post-game buzz was that he probably doesn’t get into the middle of the third round and could go in the second.

    For full reports on each of these players, check our draft database, with new reports today on all four as well as Dallas Baptist pitcher Victor Black and Puerto Rican outfielder (and nephew of Carlos Beltran) Reymond Fuentes.

    * I spoke to Rizzo for a while before Thursday’s game, and the question of whether the Nats would take a more signable player at #10 came up. Rizzo said that they currently have no set strategy on that pick: If the player they like the most happens to be a signable player who’ll take slot or even a discount there, great, but they’re not limiting themselves to such players when lining up the board, and they will take a tougher sign if he’s the best player available when they pick. That selection is compensation for their failure to sign Aaron Crow after last year’s draft, and as such, it is “unprotected,” meaning that they will not receive a compensatory pick in 2010 if they don’t sign their pick there this year.

    * With the first and probably second picks solidified, attention has turned to San Diego. Scouting director Chief Gayton loves Grant Green, but appears to be alone in their front office in that regard. GM Kevin Towers apparently loves Donovan Tate, and there is a sentiment in their organization that they need to add athleticism to their organization. The performance-oriented group there has apparently pushed for Kyle Gibson, and VP of Scouting and Player Development Grady Fuson does have a long history of taking polished college starters high in the draft.

    * Consensus has Atlanta taking local prep star Zack Wheeler, but they had a huge contingent in to see him during arguably his only bad start of the spring. They’d love to find a bat at #7, but that player isn’t there this year – they’re not on Tate – so they’re considering Wheeler, Tyler Matzek, and Shelby Miller, at the least.

    * Tate’s stock is taking a big hit due to questions about his desire to play the game. One scout who’s seen him asked (rhetorically), “Does he like playing baseball?” The sudden switch in his stance on football – he’s not playing it as a high school senior, but now says he intends to play both sports at UNC – has turned several teams off and questions about his price tag as a Boras advisee are also helping push him down the board, with no team after San Diego clearly tied to him.”

    * Kentucky lefty James Paxton has his own draft stock take three hits recently: He chose Scott Boras as his adviser, knocking him off some teams’ boards; he was hit hard in an almost must-win situation for Kentucky on Thursday night, showing reduced velocity (88-92 mph according to one scout who saw him); and that may turn out to be his last outing of the spring, as Kentucky will only make the SEC tournament if they defeat Florida again today and Vanderbilt loses again to lowly Tennessee. Vanderbilt, meanwhile, moved junior Mike Minor from the #1 spot in their rotation to #2 and inserted freshman phenom Sonny Gray – who was a potential first-round pick last spring before injuring his ankle while running to first base – into the vacated spot.

    * One senior getting some buzz for after the top three rounds is USC’s Anthony Vazquez. He’s a two-way player who has a good swing from the left side but doesn’t profile in a corner due to lack of power and probably can’t stay in center because he’s a below-average runner. He’ll be drafted as a three-pitch pitcher with good command of a fringe-average fastball at 87-90 mph with some sink, an average curve, and an average changeup. He’s been moved into their weekend rotation and should start tonight against Loyola Marymount.

    * Rumors persist that the Giants are leaning toward taking a prep pitcher at #6, with Matzek and Wheeler the main candidates.

    * Texas lefty Matt Purke is also apparently looking for a bonus well over slot — rumors have him asking for anywhere from $2 million to $3 million, regardless of where he’s drafted — which is making Matzek, Wheeler, Miller, and Oklahoma lefty Chad James all look more attractive in comparison. “

  93. pat

    “Arod’s new intro music is Kanye’s “Amazing””

    Is it? It could have been written about him.

  94. Teixeiramvp (I'm keeping the faith) (Not the troll)

    m-Jays are not for real. Sox are, somewhat at least. Yanks will win their fair share of games vs. them.

    I think you start calling it a winning streak when you get up to five.

    By the way, the Rays have not impressed me. I picked them ahead of the Sox, but they are not getting it done.

  95. m

    Tex,

    Maybe I should’ve said that I hope the rotation doesn’t drop the baton. I’m not looking for a perfect streak, though that would be nice!

  96. Teixeiramvp (I'm keeping the faith) (Not the troll)

    m-Let’s see if Joba gets past the first inning.

  97. Teixeiramvp (I'm keeping the faith) (Not the troll)

    Gotta go guys. Go Joba!

  98. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    So last night we learned this team has some guts left

    Gardner could have had 2 inside the park HR on back to back ABs

    Brett rounds the bases quicker than that Reds SS :lol:

    Melky has a bit of clutch in him

    Alex is drawing walks in the clutch and not letting the umpires take his game away

    Tex when pissed plays better

    And Hughes didn’t break

  99. Christina

    Are the Yankees really having Joba throw an inning in the bullpen before the game? Reminds me of Kevin Brown all over again. Let’s hope not.

  100. Guy Incognito

    ohh these late games! Didn’t get home until well after midnight but it was well worth the wait. I have a Friday package @YS and so far I’ve seen three games and three walk-off wins courtesy of Melky Cabrera. A strange streak to be sure.

    I must say that (probably similar in the game thread) the crowd last night was VERY restless until the 7th inning. People not happy with Hughes (”Hughseless”) even though I pointed out that he had a pretty good game. Can’t please everyone.

    And the new Stadium is still kind of a drag, but I got to feel the upper deck shake at the end there.

  101. stuart

    joba needs to pitch well to get on a real streak.. no let down….

  102. pat

    “Are the Yankees really having Joba throw an inning in the bullpen before the game?”

    Yup

    They are even going to have batters stand in against him in the bullpen from the left and right side same as the Twins line-up but not swing, then have him sit down to simulate a half inning and do it again.

  103. raymagnetic

    I missed the end of the game last night. Thought it was over after watching Phil Coke’s HR only to be presently surprised when I watched the news at 1 AM.

    Can someone give me a quick sypnosis of what Gomez did that’s got everyone angry with him? I’d like to join in the he’s a punk choruses as well. :)

  104. Trevor

    Teixiera DH today.

  105. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    “Arod’s new intro music is Kanye’s “Amazing””

    Atleast it’s not “Material Girl”

  106. raymagnetic

    By the way Papi Stinks :)

  107. stuart

    interesting lineup today. i like it. swish and 1B and Tex DH..matsui day off. the little guys in the lineup also.

    please no complaints……..

  108. Ace

    So Matsui gets the day off. It’s a pretty good lineup. Let’s see how well Joba and Cervi work today.

  109. pat

    DHing Tex to get Damon, Swisher, Gardner and Cabrera in the line-up.

  110. m

    Brandon,

    You can also add that Carlos Gomez is either a punk, clueless, or both.

    And what’s with Gardenhire using Nathan 4 straight games? No wonder the Yankees were able to rally.

    re: Joba throwing a bullpen. I thought it was his energy level. But maybe it’s his velocity, which is quite low in the first, and improves noticibly as the game goes on. So, if the bullpen can improve his first inning velocity, it’s a great move. Fewer, more effective innings is preferable to more innings with a high first inning ERA. (sorry for that, couldn’t find a synonym for inning)

  111. Buddy Biancalana

    SJ44-

    Here is the Keith Law post:

    Checking the stock of top prospects

    Saturday, May 16, 2009 | Print Entry

    Posted by Keith Law

    North Carolina right-hander Alex White was so-so on Thursday at Boston College with some serious heat in attendance, including four GMs (San Francisco’s Brian Sabean, Pittsburgh’s Neal Huntington, Seattle’s Jack Zdurencik, and Washington’s Mike Rizzo) and several additional scouting directors. White sat at 88-92 and threw a ton of offspeed pitches while not getting many swings and misses on the fastball. He has hit 95 several times this spring and ordinarily shows average velocity above what I saw yesterday.

    Tar Heel first baseman Dustin Ackley doesn’t need to help himself, as he’s already expected to be the No. 2 pick; with Seattle’s brass in attendance he took a good BP but was caught looking twice during the game, including once in the ninth with the tying runs on base. He took infield in center but played first base during the game.

    BC catcher Tony Sanchez caught well and made two nice plays on tough pop-ups on a grey, rainy day, but also struggled at the plate. The kid who made himself some money was Eagles closer Mike Belfiore; the lefty was up to 93 with a sharp slider, and struck out four of thirteen hitters while recording a three-inning save. The post-game buzz was that he probably doesn’t get into the middle of the third round and could go in the second.

    For full reports on each of these players, check our draft database, with new reports today on all four as well as Dallas Baptist pitcher Victor Black and Puerto Rican outfielder (and nephew of Carlos Beltran) Reymond Fuentes.

    * I spoke to Rizzo for a while before Thursday’s game, and the question of whether the Nats would take a more signable player at #10 came up. Rizzo said that they currently have no set strategy on that pick: If the player they like the most happens to be a signable player who’ll take slot or even a discount there, great, but they’re not limiting themselves to such players when lining up the board, and they will take a tougher sign if he’s the best player available when they pick. That selection is compensation for their failure to sign Aaron Crow after last year’s draft, and as such, it is “unprotected,” meaning that they will not receive a compensatory pick in 2010 if they don’t sign their pick there this year.

    * With the first and probably second picks solidified, attention has turned to San Diego. Scouting director Chief Gayton loves Grant Green, but appears to be alone in their front office in that regard. GM Kevin Towers apparently loves Donovan Tate, and there is a sentiment in their organization that they need to add athleticism to their organization. The performance-oriented group there has apparently pushed for Kyle Gibson, and VP of Scouting and Player Development Grady Fuson does have a long history of taking polished college starters high in the draft.

    * Consensus has Atlanta taking local prep star Zack Wheeler, but they had a huge contingent in to see him during arguably his only bad start of the spring. They’d love to find a bat at #7, but that player isn’t there this year – they’re not on Tate – so they’re considering Wheeler, Tyler Matzek, and Shelby Miller, at the least.

    * Tate’s stock is taking a big hit due to questions about his desire to play the game. One scout who’s seen him asked (rhetorically), “Does he like playing baseball?” The sudden switch in his stance on football – he’s not playing it as a high school senior, but now says he intends to play both sports at UNC – has turned several teams off and questions about his price tag as a Boras advisee are also helping push him down the board, with no team after San Diego clearly tied to him.”

    * Kentucky lefty James Paxton has his own draft stock take three hits recently: He chose Scott Boras as his adviser, knocking him off some teams’ boards; he was hit hard in an almost must-win situation for Kentucky on Thursday night, showing reduced velocity (88-92 mph according to one scout who saw him); and that may turn out to be his last outing of the spring, as Kentucky will only make the SEC tournament if they defeat Florida again today and Vanderbilt loses again to lowly Tennessee. Vanderbilt, meanwhile, moved junior Mike Minor from the #1 spot in their rotation to #2 and inserted freshman phenom Sonny Gray – who was a potential first-round pick last spring before injuring his ankle while running to first base – into the vacated spot.

    * One senior getting some buzz for after the top three rounds is USC’s Anthony Vazquez. He’s a two-way player who has a good swing from the left side but doesn’t profile in a corner due to lack of power and probably can’t stay in center because he’s a below-average runner. He’ll be drafted as a three-pitch pitcher with good command of a fringe-average fastball at 87-90 mph with some sink, an average curve, and an average changeup. He’s been moved into their weekend rotation and should start tonight against Loyola Marymount.

    * Rumors persist that the Giants are leaning toward taking a prep pitcher at #6, with Matzek and Wheeler the main candidates.

    * Texas lefty Matt Purke is also apparently looking for a bonus well over slot — rumors have him asking for anywhere from $2 million to $3 million, regardless of where he’s drafted — which is making Matzek, Wheeler, Miller, and Oklahoma lefty Chad James all look more attractive in comparison.

  112. tampayank

    surprised Girardi hasn’t DHed AROD yet, maybe he’s feeling good

  113. Buddy Biancalana

    Becca-

    You’re quick!

  114. G. Love

    Such a great win last night.

    Outside of Coke giving up the HR to Mauer, the bullpen worked last night.

    Hughes didn’t melt down and showed some guts.

    Gardner showed he’s heating up and is a weapon on this team.

    Melky showed he’s a different hitter right now than he was last season. Taking Joe Nathan the other way in that situation? That’s hardcore.

    What I would love to see today is some kind of emotional carryover which I think would be beneficial to Joba. He feeds off that stuff.

    I wish the weather was nicer and I hope that doesn’t dampen things, but a win like last night is the kind that can send this team a big confident roll.

    The one thing this team needed to do in my opinion was learn how to win those kind of games together. They’ve got a few under their belts now and I think they are starting to realize they can come back and win at any time.

    Now we need to see them blow the opposition out and flex a little.

    Hopefully, Joba comes out dealing today and has a classic performance.

    I feel like he’s been building up to a run as a starter that is going to make our jaws drop.

  115. Christina

    thanks Pat. Not sure what that proves, but maybe it is a mental thing or something.

  116. you gotta have faith (right porch giveth and the right porch taketh away)

    not a bad lineup, everyone gets what they want.

  117. SJ44

    Thanks Rebecca. Very much appreciated.

  118. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    “You can also add that Carlos Gomez is either a punk, clueless, or both.”

    Not for nothing I didn’t think hat he did was a big deal, then I watched the replay and let me just say it constitutes an a..whooping

  119. pat

    Numbers seem to indicate the Yankees have been able to handle Blackburn pretty well in the past.

  120. Guy Incognito

    Raymagnetic:

    Gomez topped a ball in front of the plate (maybe he bunted). Cash picks it up and fires down to first. Gomez is running inside the baseline, and Teixeira has to reach around him to catch the throw. Tex catches it and pulls his arm back just as Gomez passes by, almost catching Tex’s arm.

    Tex yells at the MIN dugout “That’s twice now;” Gomez had run inside the baseline earlier in the game. Gardenhire yells back and then Girardi gets involved with Gardy for yelling at his player. The benches don’t empty, but players are milling around the entrances to the dugouts, the Yankee outfielders ran in, and the bullpen doors opened.

    Yankees get the last laugh, Melky pied by A.J.

  121. David

    Swish hitting 5th? I’m all for playing him, but drop him a few slots at least…

  122. 86w183

    For the person who says Teixiera and Youkilis are comparable…

    They are IF you only consider last season and this one. Prior to that Tex was a star and Youkilis was just progressing.

    As it is Youkilis has zero 30-HR seasons and one 100-RBI campaign.

    Teixiera has five of each.

    Tex is also a year younger.

  123. Will Moller

    Noted something from the previous post:

    “Two cool things: Brett Gardner was the first player to run to Cabrera to celebrate. And CC Sabathia was having a great time in that pile. This team really does have a good vibe.”

    While I appreciate this thought, and was going to post on it myself, I then thought, “who on the Yankees is faster than Brett Gardner? Of COURSE he was the one to get out there to celebrate with Melky first” *laugh*

  124. Aunt Becca-Optimist Prime

    Interesting line up.

    I’m going to be down in manhattan all day, so sending best wishes for another awesome win.

  125. raymagnetic

    Thanks Guy Incognito. Sounds like Gomez is a punk to me too. I remember when Brian Roberts broke his arm on a play that wasn’t dirty against the Yankees.

    Wouldn’t be happy if the same thing happens to Tex.

    Hopefully somebody teaches him a lesson TODAY. :)

  126. K-ace

    Is Tex Ok?

    Just wanted to know if hes DH for a reason or just because Matsui needs a day off.

  127. SJ44

    Thanks too Buddy! lol

    All in all, I’ll live with that assessment. Especially since I got good news from the Yankees, Rockies and Rays yesterday.

  128. jax gmen

    The “cha cha chicas” kids on deck is on now

  129. Christina (pics of Bruney and Swish new hair on my blog)

    Is this Swisher’s first start at first this year?

  130. m

    raymagnetic,

    I think Tex took exception to the fact that it was the second time. And maybe getting clipped on the wrist had somehing to do with it, too.

    Here’s the video:

    http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com.....p;c_id=nyy

  131. Eric

    “Is this Swisher’s first start at first this year?”

    No, he made a start there in that Royals game. Made an error which led to 2 runs. Joba started that game too

  132. Fran (the original)

    Looking forward to the game today. Hope that Joba and Eiland have made the necessary adjustments so the 1st inning is a 1-2-3 inning for Joba.

    See you all later.

  133. NYYanksFan

    “Leading off the sixth, with Minnesota up, 3-1, A-Rod drew another walk, but he was stranded when Cabrera grounded out to second. This led to a nice freeze-frame of A-Rod stopping to chat with Cabrera. A-Rod pointed to left field and mimicked a swing, teacher counseling student. Cabrera said later A-Rod asked him about the pitch he hit, telling him to stay strong and remain patient.”

    http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com.....s-revelry/

  134. Javitt

    Can Gardner not play a corner outfield position?

    I know he is faster, but I feel like Melky is the best CFer on the squad. He also has the strongest outfield arm on the team which is much more beneficial in CF than right where it doesn’t take a whole lot to get the ball in quickly.

    If you want to play them both out there with Damon, then why not have Brett in RF and Melky in center?

  135. m

    Weirdness. At least he wasn’t drunk. And his brother-in-law has Lou Gehrig’s disease?

    http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....id=4171349

  136. Bad Scooter

    I’m still not a fan of our bullpen, but do you notice that they’re pitching better since our starters are going longer in games. CC, AJ and Andy are consistently going 7 or 8 innings and that’s huge.

  137. NYYanksFan

    No Gomez in the line-up so everyone’s hoped for payback will have to wait.

  138. Betsy

    Tex DHing? I hope he ’s ok…….I guess he must be if he’s in the lineup. Gomez is a punk – it hurts just watching the replay as he could have broken Tex’s arm. I had to turn it off when they showed the Roberts’ replay – ouch, the poor guy looked like he was in agony.

    It really would be nice to have a blowout today – the Yankees just haven’t had many of those. Last time they won a game like this (against the Angels), they lost the next day and ended up on a losing streak. It sure would be nice to solidify last night’s win with another one.

  139. Peter Abraham

    Javitt:

    There is not one professional baseball person I know who doesn’t think Gardner is a much better CF than Melky,

    Melky has a better arm but that is it. Gardner covers more ground, takes better routes to the ball, makes better decisions with the ball, etc. Plus an arm comes more into play in RF, so Melky is better there.

  140. timor

    I took a listen to the finish of last night’s game on the Twins’ radio broadcast archived on mlb. When Matsui came to the plate in the ninth, the play-by-play guy actually said that Matsui “runs better than average. He’s not a speedster by any means, but he runs better than average.”

    I kid you not. But at least he got it right identifying Pena as the pinch runner for Arod, which is more than Sterling could do.

  141. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    “Leading off the sixth, with Minnesota up, 3-1, A-Rod drew another walk, but he was stranded when Cabrera grounded out to second. This led to a nice freeze-frame of A-Rod stopping to chat with Cabrera. A-Rod pointed to left field and mimicked a swing, teacher counseling student. Cabrera said later A-Rod asked him about the pitch he hit, telling him to stay strong and remain patient.”

    Blasphemy everybody knows AL is a me player :x RUBBISH

  142. m

    Props to Gardenhire for benching Span if he did it for the play on Gardner’s ITPH.

    Crede left the game with back problems. Is he the one who had chronic back issues with the White Sox?

    Pete, how does Alex look? He’s played every game in the field since he came back. Talk about iron man.

  143. Bronx Jeers

    “I have a Friday package @YS and so far I’ve seen three games and three walk-off wins courtesy of Melky Cabrera. ”

    Yes! us Friday nighters have had the best games so far. I couldn’t go that Wed afternoon game but I’m still counting it in my “portfolio” :lol:

    Don’t know if you are a previous Fri Plan holder but if not let me tell you it’s been the best april-may by far.

  144. DocBooch (officially panicked 5/13/09)

    I think if Tex’s wrist was bothering him he wouldn’t be hitting. Smart to let him sit from the field, will be less confrontation on the basepaths and they can just concentrate on playing ball. Joba would be smart to let bygones be bygones and did what he did in Baltimore when Huff showed him….get the W

  145. Jason

    Swisher is hitting .094 this month… ouch.

    The worst part is Nady probably won’t be able to play the field much when he comes back, so Swisher is pretty much the everyday RF no matter what. Let’s hope the top of the lineup gets it going then we can survive the .240 average/180 strikeout performance of Swisher

  146. DocBooch (officially panicked 5/13/09)

    “showed him up”

  147. DocBooch (officially panicked 5/13/09)

    Not true Jay, you can DH Nady and have Melky and Gardner play the OF. The bench gets stronger when he comes back when we can finally dfa Berroa

  148. Betsy

    http://www.nj.com/yankees/inde.....runey.html

    Good news on Bruney…….

  149. Javitt

    “Javitt:

    There is not one professional baseball person I know who doesn’t think Gardner is a much better CF than Melky,

    Melky has a better arm but that is it. Gardner covers more ground, takes better routes to the ball, makes better decisions with the ball, etc. Plus an arm comes more into play in RF, so Melky is better there.”
    —————————————–

    Thanks Pete. Love the blog. Everyday you present at least one interesting angle about the team I hadn’t thought about. I have turned a lot of Yankee fans across the country onto this site. Keep up the good work please.

  150. Bronx Jeers

    There is not one professional baseball person I know who doesn’t think Gardner is a much better CF than Melky,”

    Gardner made that catch Thurs night in the 8th look too easy. That ball was smoked off CC and Gardner was there in plenty of time.

    Gardners’ arm is not too shabby. It’s not a howitzer but he makes good throws.

    Kevin Long looks like Millar in 10 years. Minus the ridiculous facial hair.

  151. DocBooch (officially panicked 5/13/09)

    Your best arm should always be in Right since its a longer distance to third and can nail guys going from first to third on a base hit. Common baseball knowledge. See O’Niell, Mondesi et al

  152. Dev 203

    I suppose you could play Gardner/Melky in the lineup for extended stretches and keep Swisher on the bench, but what are the chances that Gardner keeps hitting like this to warrant being in the lineup over Swisher, as bad as he may be?

    Girardi should take advantage of the hot hand.

  153. Betsy

    Sounds like good news on Nady as well…

  154. Guy Incognito

    Bronx Jeers:

    I’ve had the Friday plan since 2000. I’m sure you know the stories. A LOT of rain. Giambi walkoff granny vs. Twins in 2003. The same pitchers over and over again, Ted Lilly, Pettitte. Clemens 300th W and 4,000th K in the same game vs. StLouis.

    Friday night, at least at the old Stadium, was a fine time. To say the crowd gets “interesting” on Fridays is not doing it the proper justice. The new place is certainly providing its share of end-of-the-week drama.

  155. Night Owl

    Swisher is a .240 career hitter. I don’t know why people are so surprised. He is not the .300 hitter he was in April and not the .100 hitter he is now. But he is merely sliding down to his career average.

    Players like him CAN be valuable but they are extremely frustrating to watch and have the propensity to kill plenty of rallies.

  156. DocBooch (officially panicked 5/13/09)

    As long as he is getting on base, Gardner should get the nod. Let him keep his OBA over .350 then I say start him. Of course, he isn’t there yet but he is kreeping up with his slow start

  157. Angel - A tale told by idiots, full of sound and fury - signifying nothing.

    Good luck with your cooking today too, SJ. Hope you have a great day with all those B.C kids

  158. DocBooch (officially panicked 5/13/09)

    Gardners line for MAY .368/.520/.895/1.415

    RUTHIAN, lol

  159. Laura - Win together, strike out alone!

    “Crede left the game with back problems. Is he the one who had chronic back issues with the White Sox?”

    Yes. Crede is this generation’s Don Mattingly when it comes to back problems.

  160. DocBooch (officially panicked 5/13/09)

    Ok Laura, we’ll end the Mattingly comparison right there. :)

    I’m sorry, love me some Donnie Baseball

  161. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    .368/.520/.895/1.415

    What the ? how many ABs ?

  162. DocBooch (officially panicked 5/13/09)

    19 with 5 walks….hardly a representative sample size but it was 9 games with 6 starts

  163. Tom in N.J.

    19, Brandon, 25 plate appearances.

  164. pat

    There were 3800+ tickets for todays game on StubHub yesterday and only 2 tickets left right now. It’s amazing what an exciting win can do for ticket sales.

  165. Tom in N.J.

    Did Kim Jones really just call last nights game a “spontaneous victory”?

  166. RS

    I like our chances for today’s game. Blackburn throws a lot of strikes, but hopefully the Yankees will be ready to swing the bats early.

    Nathan will surely be unavailable, so the Yankees have the edge in the bullpen. Just need a good outing by Joba.

  167. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    “19, Brandon, 25 plate appearances.”

    K:BB

  168. djsunyc

    interesting approach with joba before the game…he will be pitching to a batter while warming up.

  169. DocBooch (officially panicked 5/13/09)

    2 tickets left? Nice, about time we are filling that place. Let’s hope it continues

  170. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    “Did Kim Jones really just call last nights game a “spontaneous victory”?”

    Must be talking about some other game ;)

  171. djsunyc

    > pat May 16th, 2009 at 12:35 pm

    >There were 3800+ tickets for todays game on StubHub yesterday and only 2 tickets left right now. It’s amazing what an exciting win can do for ticket sales.

    pat – that’s b/c alot of scalpers gobble up the cheap seats so they can sell them outside the stadium…

  172. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    “interesting approach with joba before the game…he will be pitching to a batter while warming up.”

    I’m glad they’re finding use for Angel Berroa.

  173. Tom in N.J.

    2 k’s; 5 walks; 1 hbp.

    4 out of his 7 hits have been extra-bases: 2 3bs, 2 hr.

  174. pat

    2 in Section 108 for $50 each is all that was left about 10 minutes ago.

  175. Bill R

    Hi,

    I’m new in responding to this blog. Great blog. Been a HUGE Yankee fan since 1964. This team has chemistry, and I feel that they’r ready to get on a roll…Unfortunately, I have limited access to a computer, so my replies may be minimal..
    Anyways, please help me out: I know Brett Gardner is “BG”, but what does “GGBG” stand for?

    Bill R (Ras #45) – bet nobody knows who #45 was and why I use that signature…a hint: It’ll give away my age…

  176. Bad Scooter

    GGBG = Gritty Gutty Brett Gardner

  177. Tom in N.J.

    Gritty-Gutty-Brett-Gardner..

  178. Stultus Magnus (Storm the Moat)

    Holy sh@t! I didn’t realize Cano walked yesterday (not including the IBB). I hope he’s ok…

    Let’s go Yanks! Where’s Gomez, dammit!?? Sissy…

  179. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    “2 k’s; 5 walks; 1 hbp.

    4 out of his 7 hits have been extra-bases: 2 3bs, 2 hr.”

    That’s a bit impressive hopefully that continues in his next 20 ABs and he starts getting on a roll. I swear if I have one wish is for that kid to start hitting the ball w/ some authority, last night 7 pitch AB he turned on an inside 93 mph fastball from Nathan and gapped it. You hear him after the game and watch his inside the parker and how the team rallied around that, he’s been a leader in the clubhouse at every level. I hope he can do it in this level.

  180. Rick

    Gardner and Cervelli are the leaders of this team

  181. djsunyc

    this guy is driving at 99?!?!?! is that even legal?!??!

  182. Doris from Rego Park

    took my son on our ususal saturday am walk. walk into starbucks on 76th and 1st. derek jeter and tino martinez are waiting for their coffee. i take my son out of stroller and ask derek to hold him while I take a pic. he obliged. tino was hungover. good way to start the day!

  183. S.o.S.

    What is up fellas. I guess i picked the wrong day to miss a game. Maybe i should miss games more often.

    In regards to the Tex incident. I dont the they should nail him. Instead i think they should wait till he hits the ball to an infielder and while hes running accross the bag. Tex should move his junk in the trunk back towards the bag and bump him off. Eating it would be much more embarrassing than getting hit.

  184. Josh

    I love what Swisher did early in the year, but the guy needs to be given a day or two off. He has looked horrible at the plate and Melky can get to more balls in right.

  185. AD

    Have the Yanks used any Options on P.Hugh yet?…. I cant remember.

  186. Bronx Jeers

    took my son on our ususal saturday am walk. walk into starbucks on 76th and 1st. derek jeter and tino martinez are waiting for their coffee. i take my son out of stroller and ask derek to hold him while I take a pic. he obliged. tino was hungover. good way to start the day!”

    That’s awesome. Never bathe your son again.

    That’s some walk from Rego Park to 76th and 1st! Talk about power walking.

  187. S.o.S.

    Doris,
    Damn i wish i lived in New York!! You should have had Derek sign his forehead. Speaking of kids stuff. My kids made me watch hotel for dogs yesterday. For any parent that has to take it for the team and watch i kids flick. It wasnt that bad.

    Does anyone know when the last time a yankee player had an inside the park homerun?

  188. m

    Got a tricky question for you guys. Which key Yankee is the most under-the-radar right now?

  189. Jamie

    is there any place you can watch gardner tripping around first last night on his triple?

    Thanks.

  190. Bronx Jeers

    Does anyone know when the last time a yankee player had an inside the park homerun?

    ———————————–

    They said it was Ricky Ledee in 99′

  191. djsunyc

    we have been atrocious on saturdays…hopefully that changes today…

  192. Baseball Fab

    50 years a fan and you learn something every day.

    You cannot have a batter stand with a bat in BullPen?

    Why not?

    Did anyone know this?

  193. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    “Gardner and Cervelli are the leaders of this team”

    umm no.. Cisco can lead a pitching staff, Gardner can lead by example and rah rah a bit in the clubhouse, he certainly has poise when interviewed.

    Oneill loves the celebration attitude. So if you guys have a problem w/ it meet us under the Oneill banner. :x

  194. Stultus Magnus (Storm the Moat)

    That’s right! Saturday games have been, for the most part, losses, I think. Time to change that.

  195. Bad Scooter

    I call BS Doris from Rego Park. Prove it with the pic.

  196. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    “Got a tricky question for you guys. Which key Yankee is the most under-the-radar right now?”

    Without a doubt Robi Cano, his impact on the lineup goes unspoken.

  197. RalphieD

    Lets go joba and lets go yankees!!!…

  198. Doris from Rego Park

    Derek was pretty cool. they had a towncar waiting outside for them. tino looked seriously hungover! Not sure what they were doing on the UES- jeter lives in the trump bldg near columbus circle. maybe the bamtino has an apt there? i know arod lives on park ave and like 60th street

  199. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    Harkey should wear a helmet b/c Joba might think he is Youkilis one of these days.

  200. trisha - Brett Tomko, an idea whose time has come!

    Da leader is Da Melk!

    Well after Johny Damon and Jeter.

    :)

  201. S.o.S.

    Which key Yankee is the most under-the-radar right now?

    ——————

    mel,
    Being that Jorge and Bengie are injured. I think the next slowest turtle would have to be C.C.. Im not sure if a radar would detect someone as tiny as Edwar. But ill stick with C.C. final answer.

  202. Doris from Rego Park

    Bad Scooter- why in the world would I possibly lie about seeing derek jeter at a starbucks at 9:45am? And I took the pic on my iphone…

  203. Stultus Magnus (Storm the Moat)

    M,
    Most under-the-radar Yankee? Let’s see…Berroa? He’s not on anybody’s radar.

  204. kd

    strong work with the joba updates pete.

  205. m

    lol, I said “key”, Magnus.

    Good guesses, esp. Cano. I’m thinking someone else.

  206. carl

    I love the lineup.

  207. pat

    Doris

    Good try but BS. Jeter doesn’t live anywhere near Columbuis Circle and he doesn’t hold babies because of the tabloid fodder it could cause.

  208. Bronx Jeers

    I always thought Jeter lived in the Trump near the UN.

    I think Arod sold that apt. Last I heard he’s renting on CPW. 30,000$ a month. Or a little less than what he earns in 2 innings.

  209. carl

    92 93 95

  210. S.o.S.

    I call BS Doris from Rego Park. Prove it with the pic.

    —————–

    Uh oh. The prove it with a picture arguement is back. I believe the last time that happened was the fran and flam(cant remember the names). It was the Joba at christmas signings. Next question will be what were the starbucks employees wearing?

  211. RalphieD

    this is joba’s best first inning velocity…92-94-95 via gameday..

  212. S.A.--The sun will come out tomorrow

    Let’s go Yankees.
    Get em Jobber

  213. Doris from Rego Park

    pat-

    are you kidding or not? I was at the starbucks on 76th and 1st why would I make that up? do you think if a pic got out of derek jeter holding my 20-month old people might think its his? LOL. get a life.

  214. trisha - Brett Tomko, an idea whose time has come!

    Doris, you can transfer pictures from your iphone to the computer. Personally I’d love to see the pic.

    First sign of whining, I will be out of here. That’s actually a good thing for the whiners because you will be able to kvetch and agonize without interference (well my interference anyway).

    GO YANKEES!!!

  215. Doris from Rego Park

    Here ya go: call the starbucks and ask if derek jeter was there this morning betweek 9:30am and 10:00am

    1st Avenue & 75th St.
    1445 First Avenue
    New York, NY 10021
    212-472-7784

  216. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    WTH was he waiting on ?

  217. sar515

    Pretty, pretty sharp!

  218. RalphieD

    filthy…

  219. Fire Michael Kay

    Does anyone have Yankees links to watch it today.

  220. RS

    Come on, 1-2-3. Don’t want to see Morneau up with a man on.

  221. carl

    Great inning

  222. trisha - Brett Tomko, an idea whose time has come!

    Whoever came up with the idea of a simulated first inning – brilliant.

  223. Christina (pics of Bruney and Swish new hair on my blog)

    Relax guys. Its not the first time Jeter has been spotted in a Starbucks.

  224. RalphieD

    nice first inning!!

  225. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    His velocity is on point in inning 1.

    Ma ybe they should do the same routine w/ Phil.

  226. S.A.--The sun will come out tomorrow

    nasty Jobber!

  227. m

    Terrific inning for Jobber. Let’s go, bats.

  228. Bad Scooter

    Doris from Rego Park – I don’t know why you would lie. Why does anybody lie? Who knows?

  229. trisha - Brett Tomko, an idea whose time has come!

    nah. I’d rather see the picture.

  230. sar515

    A-Rod’s first TWO Stadium HR’s today…

    You heard it here first!

  231. carl

    Lets go offense!

  232. dave

    you dont need a gun to know that was a solid inning

  233. BBFan

    “Joba fanned Span to start the game. But in what appears to be something that can’t be a coincidence, the gun doesn’t work on the scoreboard and isn’t on YES, either.”

    Conspiracy theory :)
    Who shot JFK :)

  234. S.o.S.

    Perfect first!! The only thing that sucks is hes probably at 30 pitches with that simulated inning he threw. Hope he can go 5.

  235. Stultus Magnus (Storm the Moat)

    M!
    Yes, I understand the “key” element of your question. His absence is “key”.

    Ok, who did you have in mind?

  236. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    “A-Rod’s first TWO Stadium HR’s today…

    You heard it here first!”

    You just jinxed him for 2 weeks, thanks. :x

  237. Bronx Jeers

    Joba fanned Span to start the game. But in what appears to be something that can’t be a coincidence, the gun doesn’t work on the scoreboard and isn’t on YES, either”

    —————————————–

    Gameday had him anywhere between 90-95

  238. Doris from Rego Park

    you can all thank me for that leadoff walk…

  239. S.A.--The sun will come out tomorrow

    Jetes with a walk

  240. Scottvic47

    MLB Gameday had him at 94 on each batter with his 4 seamer.

  241. Stultus Magnus (Storm the Moat)

    I bet Joba looks at the radar readings on the board. They didn’t even have a stadium radar reading until Randy Johnson arrived. I blame the stadium radar for his first inning woes…

  242. Fire Michael Kay

    Anyone with game links???????????????

  243. m

    I would love to see the picture, cuz I love to see cute kids. :) (no, Tino’s not a cute kid!)

    Magnus,

    I was thinking about Andy Pettitte. You never hear anything about him, which is a good thing. Nice, solid season so far.

  244. S.o.S.

    1st Avenue & 75th St.
    1445 First Avenue
    New York, NY 10021
    212-472-7784

    —————–

    Hmmm. What if youv been going to that starbucks for awhile and told them to say that? I hope Girardi doesnt read this blog or hes gonna be pissed at the Jeters sugar intake.

    Just giving you a hard time Doris. I do think if you told people that he signed you kids forehead there wouldnt be any doubts.

  245. Bronx Jeers

    I just saw Babe Ruth’s ghost at Gray’s Papaya!

  246. Stultus Magnus (Storm the Moat)

    Personally, if I were the home and had a stadium radar reading, for the opposing pitcher I’d always have it read 88 and lower for power pitchers and 82 or lower for soft tossers… Psyche them out.

  247. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    Jetes it’s Joe Mauer.

  248. carl

    Jeter you suck!

  249. S.o.S.

    mel,
    Would Alex be considered being under the radar?

  250. Stultus Magnus (Storm the Moat)

    Yeah, no news on Pettitte is probably good news. Just doing his thing.

  251. Christina (pics of Bruney and Swish new hair on my blog)

    could have had a run there.

  252. m

    Dang, that CS hurts.

    But good news, Tex is heating up.

  253. Joe Benigno

    Doris is telling the truth.

    I was there also with Short Al from Brooklyn and Jerome from Manhattan.

  254. m

    Brandon,

    It’s Redmond.

    sOs,

    Alex is a good guess, too.

  255. S.A.--The sun will come out tomorrow

    darn, oh well

  256. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    You really can’t diss a batter who has a K:BB ratio of 1:4 for a days work.

  257. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    “Brandon,

    It’s Redmond.”

    Oh… Jetes how can’t you steal a bag vs Redmond :x

  258. Stultus Magnus (Storm the Moat)

    It was a close play at second, I don’t mind that move though.

  259. tampayank

    Doris sounds like Jetes, I know when he’s in Tampa during the offseason he is always at a Starbucks, several people I know always see him there, he’s a Starbucks junkie I guess:)

  260. Fire Michael Kay

    Hello?????????????/ Links to watch the game online?????????
    ANYONE

  261. trisha - Brett Tomko, an idea whose time has come!

    Looking at both sides of the issue Doris (didn’t you say you’re a lawyer) I’d say it was as easy for your wife to come home and say she saw Jeter in that particular Starbucks and for you then to turn it into your personal photo op. You can understand why people would be skeptical. Hell if that happened to me, I would have had the picture up with the post. And if you have an iphone you know how to transfer pictures.

    That would be like me saying that I had my picture taken with Bill Clinton or with the mascot at a Chisox game. For both of those monumental events you would definitely want proof. By the way, I have both!

    :D

  262. j russell

    1. YES’s radar gun issues are reprehensible at best
    2. Joba dealin’

  263. carl

    double play would be huge here.

  264. RS

    White Sox up 1-0 against the Jays

  265. tampayank

    fire micheal kay this link might work if the connection goes through
    http://stream2.wtsnam1270.com/

  266. DYNASTY IS DESTINY!

    Let’s Go Yanks!!!!

  267. trisha - Brett Tomko, an idea whose time has come!

    FireKay, where in hell are you in the US? There used to be links to games but the one I have doesn’t work anymore and someone said the guy had to take it down.

  268. RS

    Joba gets into too many full counts.

  269. S.o.S.

    Maybe Doris doesnt want her kids picture on the net?

  270. RS

    Now we really need a DP

  271. carl

    Joba moving his 1st inning woes into the 2nd.

  272. S.A.--The sun will come out tomorrow

    come on Jobber

  273. Fire Michael Kay

    thanks tampa yank, im looking for video though.

    trisha, im in fl.

  274. S.o.S.

    Maybe Joba needs to do a simulated inning after every inning.

  275. pat

    Doris

    As Aunt Becca says, pictures or it didn’t happen. :wink:

  276. 2009 Yankees

    Joba’s fastballs are running between 90-95 according to MLB.

  277. Christina (pics of Bruney and Swish new hair on my blog)

    who really cares if shes telling the truth or not? I doubt someone would just randomly make this up. I have seen Jeter in Starbucks when I was in Toronto. He was with A-Rod and Nady. What is the issue? They do walk around and venture the real world like everyone else.

  278. Fire Michael Kay

    listening to john sterling brings back memories of a decade ago, to second for one, on to first not in time,

    why wasnt it a double play.

  279. trisha - Brett Tomko, an idea whose time has come!

    Doris is a man. If he doesn’t want the kid’s picture on the net he can crop it out. We’d still see Jeter in Starbucks with a cropped out head!

    Anyway, I’ve been in pictures with Clinton. His picture with Jeter is small potatoes.

    :lol:

  280. Stultus Magnus (Storm the Moat)

    Kubel looks like a heftier Gaz from Supergrass…

    Re: Doris. If I had a kid, I wouldn’t want his or her pic on the net either. I don’t know why people are questioning it. My cousin had dinner with Jeter four years ago at some event. Truth, fiction?? Who cares.

  281. m

    Help! I had the YES feed on, but it went “temp. unavailable”. So I put on the WCBS feed. Went back to try the YES feed and it’s working. Problem is I can’t get out of the WCBS feed. So I have Kay, Leiter, Sterling, and Suzyn all babbling and cackling at the same time. Tried the alt-ctrl-del, but no WCBS feed to shut down.

  282. Fire Michael Kay

    just missed, it probably was a strike

  283. carl

    Battle Joba battle.

  284. RS

    That would have been a strike last night.

  285. Stultus Magnus (Storm the Moat)

    S.o.S.,
    Ha! Yes, simulated inning after every inning. I like.

  286. Angel - A tale told by idiots, full of sound and fury - signifying nothing.

    The Magical Mystery Strike Zone returns.

  287. trisha - Brett Tomko, an idea whose time has come!

    kay give me your email address and I’ll send you my mlb account information. I try not to do that too much anymore since someone on here went and changed my password on me!

  288. Stultus Magnus (Storm the Moat)

    M,
    My goodness, Kay AND Sterling at once???? You are living my nightmare. I empathize with you.

  289. keith

    I want to go to a game in the new stadium but me and my friends don’t really wanna spend that much money. What are the best cheap seats in yankee stadium? 15$ and lower is what im lookin for

  290. Fire Michael Kay

    thanks trisha. does the run count?

  291. RS

    what just happened? does the run count?

  292. carl

    lol nice job Jete

  293. Roger(the new amsterdam yankees )

    does this run count???

  294. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    What the hell happen there ?

  295. RalphieD

    hmmm thats an interesting play!

  296. Fire Michael Kay

    sedelberg94@yahoo.com

  297. Baseball Fab

    He DID touch second, the run should count as the out is made at first base AFTER the run scored.

    I think

    :)

  298. vin

    what the hell is going on

  299. S.o.S.

    I saw Mark Langston in a grinders shop in Anaheim 1998 after the world series win. Dont have pictures though. Cant remember if there was picture phones back then. Made sure to tell him i was a Yankee fan. Seriously im not lieing. And dont ask me what he ordered it was to go.

  300. S.A.--The sun will come out tomorrow

    what the heck

  301. RS

    Darn, the run counts.

  302. 2009 Yankees

    I think the run does count since that play was after the fact.

  303. Joe Mama

    So did the run count or not

  304. Mackenzie from JetsDaily

    What just happened?

  305. RS

    Reyes would have never called out that mistake :)

  306. Baseball Fab

    Yup, run counts, and a bad call by the ump, as he did touch second.
    NO WAT garner can be held at fault, he needed to be told where to throw.

  307. m

    Okay, I figured it out (by accident). Apparently the headphone icon on gameday toggles with a pause icon. Pretty snazzy.

  308. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    Damn Swish has lost the fullcount ability :(

  309. Fire Michael Kay

    when is swishhawk going to be productive, just draw walks again.

  310. RS

    We need to be able to hit Blackburn. He throws strikes but gives up hits and doesn’t get many K’s at all.

  311. Roger(the new amsterdam yankees )

    gardner made the wrong move there.And don’t ever say he has a good arm.This isn’t artificial turf(toronto)…
    I like the way he plays and his speed but he has a damon arm

  312. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    but how is it that the run counts and the out counts ?

  313. EvoLuTioN

    So Gardner is blind AND has no arm. Amazing

  314. Angel - A tale told by idiots, full of sound and fury - signifying nothing.

    Its always amusing how happy Baseball Fab is when he gets to announce that call has gone against the Yankees.

  315. EvoLuTioN

    As long as the run crosses the plate before the other out is made, the run counts. It wasn’t a force out

  316. Fire Michael Kay

    just quickly out of the inning.

  317. carl

    Horrible inning.

  318. Bronx Jeers

    I just had a shot with Billy Martin at P.J. Clarkes’s!

    Later we’re having dinner with Thurm and Catfish at Elaine’s.

    What a day!

    Doris is a man?

  319. S.o.S.

    Anyway, I’ve been in pictures with Clinton. His picture with Jeter is small potatoes.

    ——————-

    Well i guess im glad i didnt take a picture with mark langston. I would have been gravy and fries compared to that.

  320. EvoLuTioN

    Gardners throw barely made it passed 2nd base it was so terrible. If he was trying to gun down the runner tagging up at least don’t embarrass yourself

  321. Doris from Rego Park

    Folks- I am confused here, so help me out: do you think I am lying about seeing derek jeter in a manhattan starbucks or do you just not believe that I took a pic of him holding my kid?

  322. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    KAy shut up.

  323. jonathan

    time to sit swish-as much as i hate to admit it, he is fools gold. There was a reason that ozzie sat him..

  324. Fire Michael Kay

    me brandon, or the actual michael kay, i havent said anything.

  325. Angel - A tale told by idiots, full of sound and fury - signifying nothing.

    Doris has always said it was a man. It corrected me on assuming that it was a while ago. I still refer to Doris as “it”, because its just too confusing, lol.

    Maybe its really Manny Ramirez’s alter ego while on HCG. Who knows.

  326. Doris from Rego Park

    You guys caught me! It was really Alvaro Espinoza at Pete’s Coffee in Brooklyn :-)

  327. carl

    lol at joba cursing

  328. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    No the actual. BTW Joba don’t shake off Cisco.

  329. Bronx Jeers

    Joba’s no CC!

  330. RalphieD

    nice play by jeter..man that was close

  331. Bronx Jeers

    CC grabs that ball with his teeth!

  332. Andrew

    This team just can’t seem to get any momentum. After last night’s win, this team should have come out like a house afire.

  333. Doris from Rego Park

    yanks caught a break there with that call….

  334. Fire Michael Kay

    trisha,

    i have not gotten an email

  335. S.o.S.

    I seriously think for all the week arms that play the outfield. They should hire Jenny Finch to teach them how to throw under hand. Its a win win situation. If it doesnt increase your speed at least you had Jenny there. Id be a slow learner.

  336. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    Kay STHU :x

  337. RS

    Nice quick inning.

  338. S.A.--The sun will come out tomorrow

    46 pitches for Jobber

  339. m

    Nice bounceback inning.

  340. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    The Actual Kay

  341. Fire Michael Kay

    now i did. You are a lifesaver, and then I;ll be angry later on when my chest is having pains at listening to Michael Kay.

  342. Dr. Cox

    oh man, the fran/flam argument….

    classic

  343. Michael T

    I used to see Jeter all the time in the clubs of New York trolling. Also saw Jetes, Posada, Mo and a few others at the Tampa airport aroun ‘97 IIRC. Mo was very cordial and down for a chat.

    My favorite sighting though was Tom Cruise. I ran into him in the elevator of a small apartment building in NYC in the early a.m. (think he was sneaking out of some girl’s apartment). He tried to avoid me but I busted on him, said “Tom Cruise. Loved you in Cocktail man!”

  344. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    Is he really trying to jinx things ? talking about history has shown the Twins haven’t done this or that..boy are they unlucky and such..then the Redmond AB tempting how he hasn’t hit a HR in 500 or so ABs ..just STHU !

  345. Sean Serritella

    Shut up Kay.

  346. S.o.S.

    S.o.S.,
    Ha! Yes, simulated inning after every inning. I like.

    ————–

    Im glad we’re over the avocado beef Magnus.

  347. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    I was more impressed w. the triple off Nathan.

  348. Roger(the new amsterdam yankees )

    it’s such a surprise that pete didn’t post anything about gardner trying to throw at home…..

  349. S.o.S.

    Folks- I am confused here, so help me out: do you think I am lying about seeing derek jeter in a manhattan starbucks or do you just not believe that I took a pic of him holding my kid?

    —————–

    Doris,
    We’re confused. Can you add if your a man or women so we dont affend you.

  350. Doris from Rego Park

    SOS- 35 year old male

  351. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    that was nasty

  352. S.o.S.

    oh man, the fran/flam argument….

    classic

    ————-

    dr.cox
    That imo was the best and funniest arguement ever here. My favorite part was that odd business meeting(i.e. 11:37).

  353. Bronx Jeers

    Ok. I now know who Doris from Rego Park is. Or was. You learn something every day.

    Gotcha “Doris”.

    Honestly, I was more confused about the distance between Rego Park and 76th & 1st.

  354. S.o.S.

    Like wise Doris. I miss saying im in my early thirties 2 months ago.

  355. Fire Michael Kay

    i hate this guy. pretender, the only pretender is you michael k, b/c youre not even a yankees fan.

  356. Dr. Cox

    There used to be some wild characters here. Fran, Flam, there was once a guy named Idiot Face, there were Miller and Bobcat, who had predicted SO much of Yankees offseasons.

    Who am I missing. I think Ransom Sucks and the O’Neal Banner is the new “thing”

  357. trisha - Brett Tomko, an idea whose time has come!

    Bronx, I saw Michael Jordan when I was to the Atlantis in the Bahamas. He was staying there while there was some golf tournament or something going on. We were out on our balcony (2nd floor) looking out to see what celebs we could see and he got out of a limo. My sister’s friend yelled to him “Michael! Boxers or briefs?” He started to laugh. I was humiliated. True story. We also saw Maury Povich and Connie Chung at dinner at the hotel during the same trip. Not as big a whoop.

    I was staying in Houston across from where the Lakers play and a member of the Denver Nuggets asked me to go up to his room. (I didn’t go.)

    All true stories. I’ve had some fun in life. (not being propositioned though. That wasn’t fun.)

    Oh yeah – I actually did get my picture taken with the Chisox mascot!

    :D

  358. carl

    TEX!!!

  359. RS

    Tex is coming alive!!

  360. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    No warning track there.

  361. Fire Michael Kay

    wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

  362. Roger(the new amsterdam yankees )

    texxxxxxxxxxxxx

  363. DYNASTY IS DESTINY!

    Here we go!!!!

  364. RalphieD

    tex has arrived…double and a homer today

  365. tampayank

    free tex messages on weekends

  366. m

    Oh, Jesus crap. Sterling’s giving me a heart attack. It is high, it is far, it is…………….gone!

    You know how he’s wrong half the time? Ugh.

    Nice work by the top of the order.

  367. trisha - Brett Tomko, an idea whose time has come!

    This may be a good time for me to mention that I never worried about Tex. Again, it pays to be patient!

    :)

  368. vin

    tex seems to have turned the corner…*knock on wood*

  369. Doris from Rego Park

    another interesting tidbit about me:
    My favorite all-time yankees are Mel Hall, Hensly Muellens ,Clay Parker and Dion James

  370. Doris from Rego Park

    another interesting tidbit about me:
    My favorite all-time yankees are Mel Hall, Hensly Muellens ,Clay Parker and Dion James

  371. DYNASTY IS DESTINY!

    Tex is starting to hit…

    Just wait till A-Rod starts hitting…

    Go Yanks!

  372. rconn23

    Folks. Tex is money in the bank every season. It was just a matter of time.

    One of the safest bets in all of baseball.

  373. Stultus Magnus (Storm the Moat)

    We’ll never be over the avocado incident, S.o.S.

    Yanks! Tex! Looking good!

  374. S.o.S.

    Dr.Cox,
    I miss Hmmm. You had to make sure you brought it with him or he would call you out the smart a$$ route. I miss the bobcat riddles.

    Can we all agree that Tex is past his slump? Someone must have told him its May.

  375. Bronx Jeers

    Tex has arrived.

    Come on Arod. The water’s warm and the beer is cold!

  376. S.A.--The sun will come out tomorrow

    :D

  377. Dr. Cox

    Damn, I have to go look at apartments in Hoboken. Manhattan just getting too expensive.

    Looks like ill be listening to Sterling. Have a good game, everyone.

  378. Michael T

    Manufacturing Runs(TM) the Yankee way-a pair of 2-out walks and a 3-run blast. Take that over the “right” way every time.

  379. Angel - A tale told by idiots, full of sound and fury - signifying nothing.

    Ahhhhhhh! I want to scream. Twins announcers are having a
    “we’re a small market” pity party.

  380. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    that was ball 4, I’m glad he didn’t swing at that, stay w/ a zone.

  381. Michael T

    Angel-

    Twins guys lead the league in the “small market/Evil Empire” whining. Meanwhile their owner Carl Pohlad is one of the richest owners in MLB but instead of investing revenue-sharing money in the team he pockets it. And who pays the majority of that money again????

  382. carl

    Jesus

  383. Fire Michael Kay

    did joe mauer accidentally get what was supposed to be David Arias’ steroid injection??

  384. RalphieD

    if mauer and morneau didnt make the trip this weekend the yankee pitchers would be throwin a shutout :P

  385. vin

    comeonn joba..comeon hold it together

  386. DYNASTY IS DESTINY!

    How many pitches is that for Joba now?

  387. Peter Abraham

    Hey guys:

    The Yankees and Bank of America are doing a good thing that ends this weekend. The ComBAT Hunger food drive includes the Yankees donating $100 for every hit they get at home from April 16 until tomorrow. Meanwhile, BoA is matching any donations that fans make on line up to $50,000. More than $20,000 has been raised by fans so far.

    So let’s do our part. I’ll start with $50. Go to

    http://help.foodbanknyc.org/si.....fr_id=1190

    and donate a few bucks. The Food Bank says that $1 can provide five meals.

    If everybody reading today kicks in a few bucks, we can do a good thing. So do your part if you have the means. Post how much you donated and we’ll see if we can get to $500.

  388. S.A.--The sun will come out tomorrow

    Jobber @ 60 and rising

  389. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    look at him Cisco

  390. RS

    Joba has no command today.

  391. RalphieD

    come on damon…gotta get those

  392. RS

    Damon has to be able to make that play.

  393. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    LOL Johnny your killing me

  394. NHYankee62

    This is where Joba really needs to adjust… trust your stuff.. throw strikes… get ahead.

  395. RalphieD

    great pitch…lets get this 3rd out quick

  396. m

    C’mon Jobber, one more.

  397. RalphieD

    good job..looked like he might lose it a little but he picked it up…

  398. S.o.S.

    Wow that yes gun is showing his fastball at 87. Might as well turn them off.

  399. m

    Whew. He was very close to walking the first 2 batters with no outs. GJ.

  400. tampayank

    maybe Joe G. should rearrange the rotation where Joba and Hughes don’t go back 2 back…not good for the bullpen but I guess the Wanger will be back soon?

  401. m

    Looked like Toronto had 2nd & 3rd, but the White Sox get out of it.

  402. NHYankee62

    “maybe Joe G. should rearrange the rotation where Joba and Hughes don’t go back 2 back…not good for the bullpen but I guess the Wanger will be back soon?”

    Sounds like a pretty good idea.

    However, if Wanger stays on track, he may be back next weekend.

  403. Terry from NH

    Swisher needs to be benched.. he is an automatic out lately.. 1 pitch, 1 out!

  404. Rachel

    t seems like Gardner will get more playing time. Swish looks awful and lost.

  405. Terry from NH

    3 pitches, 2 outs.. amazing they can’t work the pitch count on this guy.

  406. S.o.S.

    I think Hughes should come out today and tell everyone that Damon needs more toughness around walls.

  407. Sean Serritella

    I thought Joba was losing confidence in his fastball after the Mauer home run but he didn’t.

  408. rconn23

    Man the bottom of the lineup has GOT to work the count. Swisher is just helpless right now.

  409. E-gawa

    Michael Kay is insane.. 70 pitches in 4 innings is not economical.

  410. chr1zisORL

    cmon guys.. work the count…

  411. Betsy

    Yeah, Hughes/Joba doesn’t work back to back. Wang will be back soon enough, but his sinker is still a work in progress – I figure another 2/3 starts. I don’t know if the Yankees have an off day where they can rearrange the schedule, but if they do, they should.

  412. trisha - Brett Tomko, an idea whose time has come!

    I just donated $100.

    I can afford it.

  413. Terry from NH

    8 pitch inning.. No rest for Joba that half inning..

  414. NHYankee62

    “seems like Gardner will get more playing time. Swish looks awful and lost.”

    PeteAbe’s worst nightmare.

  415. rconn23

    Swisher has got to sit tomorrow.

  416. m

    C’mon, guys. Blackburn was on the ropes in the 3rd. Can’t help him out. Make him think out there. Wear him down.

  417. EvoLuTioN

    According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Dejan Kovacevic, the Pirates have acquired minor league right-hander Eric Hacker from the Yankees. It’s not clear who, or what, the Yanks were given in return.

  418. Betsy

    Benching Swisher for being in a slump? I don’t care how bad he looks, no player is going to break out by sitting on the bench…..If you want to give him a day off, fine, but punishing Swish (which is what benching is) for a slump is not how you get players to play for you……especially when you’re talking about replacing them with the Brett Gardners of the world. Brett’s done a very good job the last couple of games, but let’s be realistic here.

  419. Stultus Magnus (Storm the Moat)

    I’d like to see Joba be me aggressive with his stuff. Trust it, dude. I guess that’s easy to say, but I can’t stand walks. Maybe he’s scared of the right field wall, which is only 150 feet from home plate…

    Whoah, already two outs. Nice Joba.

  420. tampayank

    speaking of Swish, how’s Nady’s rehab going?

  421. Vitoooo

    Swish needs a day off. Not a benching.

  422. Christina (pics of Bruney and Swish new hair on my blog)

    Its too bad the Yankees are playing the Phillies at home. I’d love to see Citizens Bank Park. If it is anything like their spring training complex in Clearwater, it must be a great ballpark to be at.

  423. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    “According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Dejan Kovacevic, the Pirates have acquired minor league right-hander Eric Hacker from the Yankees. It’s not clear who, or what, the Yanks were given in return.”

    I’ll find out.

  424. EricNS

    Thanks Pete re the food bank – always want to help my hometown – sent in $5

  425. Bo knows

    Hey, this is how to play baseball. 8 pitches 3 outs. Brain dead. I swear Cano and Melky have room temperature IQ’s. Didn’t even give Joba time to have a sip of water. I excuse Swisher because he’s struggling, but the other two if I’m Joba I call Cano over and in a friendly fashion wack him upside the head.

  426. NHYankee62

    That settles it:

    Brainaic reporter Andrew McCarron on the radio just said that this will probably be “life with Joba” as in always throwing alot of pitches.

    Could be worse, they could be talking to perennial D-bad Joel Sherman

  427. carl

    Full count walks… horrible

  428. RalphieD

    that was a disheartening ab to span

  429. Terry from NH

    Benching or a day off it’s all the same.. You end up sitting on the “bench”.. just terminology! Geez!

  430. Rachel

    Bad pitch calling. You need to throw a fastball 3-2 to a slap hitter. Joba always seems to get away from the fastball in those counts and goes to off speed stuff.

  431. trisha - Brett Tomko, an idea whose time has come!

    Not to get on the donation bandwagon – NY isn’t even my hometown – but I want to say to EricNS, good for you. Every $5 helps.

    I’m big on trying to help those with less than I – and I have been very blessed so I do try to do my part.

  432. Betsy

    I’m glad McCarron isn’t judging Joba prematurely…….sheesh.

  433. RS

    Didn’t Damon strike out on that pitch last night? :)

  434. S.A.--The sun will come out tomorrow

    oh come on Jobber

  435. trisha - Brett Tomko, an idea whose time has come!

    Nice job Joba! Also, he seemed to give a glare back to the field. I wonder who he was displeased with.

  436. S.A.--The sun will come out tomorrow

    He’s @ 87 pitches

  437. RS

    What’s wrong with Bartolo Colon? He pitched 5 scoreless innings against the Jays, only threw 62 pitches, but was taken out.

  438. Rachel

    They need to attack Blackburn in this inning. When he has thrown pitches right over the plate they take them and try to be patient, but then are 0-2 and just swing away when they have to. Have to be aggressie early in the count when the pitches are right there to hit.

  439. m

    Joba’s like Kazmir. Throws a lot of pitches, but gets it done.

  440. E-gawa

    “He’s @ 87 pitches”

    That’s very economical according to Michael Kay.

  441. carl

    wow hes at 68 pitches?

  442. EvoLuTioN

    “What’s wrong with Bartolo Colon? He pitched 5 scoreless innings against the Jays, only threw 62 pitches, but was taken out.”

    being fat

  443. Sean Serritella

    http://www.rototimes.com/mlb/p.....nid=134220

    Our View: Hacker was just DFAed by the Yanks and wouldn’t have cleared waivers, so they opted for a trade. In a season split between Single-A and Double-A, Hacker had a 2.43 ERA with 115 Ks and 37 walks in 2008. This season however has been a different story. He has a 7.88 ERA in three starts in Triple-A. Don’t look for him to make a fantasy impact this season.

    That was not my view but the website’s view

  444. Sean Serritella

    Hacker was one of my favorite minor league players.

  445. Rachel

    Too bad they didn’t drop the ball there..

  446. miggs

    Yes you give Swisher a day off. Its obvious. When was the last game he had a day off? His swing is slow.

    Days off help players. Saying Girardi is “punishing” Swisher is comical. And right now Gardner is swinging the bat much better than Swisher.

    Again I ask…. do you watch the games?

  447. carl

    7 pitch inning :(

  448. Bo knows

    Welcome to the Yankees, working on a 2 hitter. Blackburn hasn’t broken a sweat.

  449. Betsy

    I said giving Swisher a day off is fine……not benching him. “Benching” means, at least to me, a more permanent solution…..

  450. miggs

    Joba’s biggest problem (as with lots of young pitchers) is efficiency. No way he goes more than 6 innings today.

    His stuff is great, nice presence on the mound, and good results. Just no length.

  451. Terry from NH

    Yanks may have the lead, but this offense is pitiful. Blackburn isn’t that good, but Yanks make him look that way. His pitchcount way below Joba’s which means Yanks are hacking away!

  452. m

    Joba’s @ 87, not 97. Blackburn’s at 74 because the Yankees obviously have somewhere to go after the game.

  453. RS

    Yankees only have 2 hits tonight against a guy who gives up a lot of hits and whom the Yankees have hit hard in the past.

  454. EvoLuTioN

    quality over quantity

  455. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    “Hacker was one of my favorite minor league players.”

    Too many arms like him and he was 26.

    I wonder if we get an OF or INF w/ a high OBP % small BA ,we some potential. Or do we get a # 5 6 mop up SP.

  456. Betsy

    Yanks are still very inconsistent with their offense….

  457. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    a) is Tex officially out of his slump?

    b) can Joe Mauer be stopped? I am already praying he doesn’t sign with the Red Sox. I know they have had internal discussions (who hasn’t?) about his possible free agency in several years.

  458. pat

    Baseball is a strange game. Colon and Dotel are shutting out the Jays through 6.

  459. Bo knows

    Hey, getting better. This time it was 6 pitches 3 outs. Captain fell right into this excrement. Gotta lead by example Jeter. Pitiful.
    Joba is exhausted just running back and forth to the pitching mound.

  460. E-gawa

    There’s a chance that Joba doesn’t finish this inning

  461. carl

    Good chance he doesn’t.

  462. vin

    too many walks

  463. RS

    Joba seems afraid to pitch to Mauer and Morneau.

    He has to get through this inning…we can’t see Veras or Ramirez in the sixth inning with runners on base.

  464. m

    Joba’s running out of gas. The “extra” inning affecting him?

  465. vin

    who woulda thought that the great joba chamberlain is scared of a couple of twins

  466. rconn23

    Joba simply has nothing for Mauer or Morneau today. Not good.

    Lead off walks will kill you.

  467. RS

    Why is it that Joba’s fastball keeps tailing away?

  468. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    Holy crap he’s blind

  469. RalphieD

    come on joba!!

  470. miggs

    Well, Cano was “benched” last September and it might have turned his career around.

    Again, its not an insult to take a seat. Call it a few days off. Call it a benching. It really doesn’t matter. These players are professionals who get paid a lot of money.

    I was thinking it would be good to give Swish a day off yesterday as Gardner was swinging a great bat. Gardy got in and played great. Then today I saw SURE Swish was sitting, only to find Gardner was in, but so was Swish with Matsui getting a rest. Tomorrow has to be his day off.

    Getting a little break will only help him. No matter what you call it.

  471. sunny615

    joba is in trouble

  472. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    “Joba seems afraid to pitch to Mauer and Morneau.”

    ——–

    tough to blame him the way they are raking. Of course in a 1-run game, you have to attack those guys if there is nobody else on base.

  473. Rachel

    With Joba’s stuff he can’t be afraid of Mauer because he gave up a homerun to him in his last at bat. He needs to go after them!! Just not a meatball like the last time. It’s not like it is Oritz and Manny back to back. He tries to hit corners way too much.

  474. RalphieD

    big comeback by joba against morneau..huge

  475. m

    c’mon get a ground ball here.

  476. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    “Baseball is a strange game. Colon and Dotel are shutting out the Jays through 6.”

    ——-

    you mean the Jays don’t really have one of the best offenses in baseball? :)

    It’s only a matter of time before they stop scoring runs like they’re the Rangers. They’re pitching should recess a little too.

  477. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    Cisco get him out this inning like you know you can.

  478. RS

    This ump isn’t calling low pitches at all.

    DP would be nice.

  479. sunny615

    wow this ump is all over the place

  480. S.o.S.

    Miggs,
    I need you to start drinking. We need some more runs. I dont think 3 today will be enough. Get going already!!

  481. RS

    3 changeups in this AB

  482. Stop The Walks

    Joba has to trust his stuff and go after hitters. If they can hit him, then fine, but the walks need to cease.

    I am afraid that he is just not the same pitcher as a SP as he was as a RP. He almost never walked anyone out of the pen.

  483. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    “With Joba’s stuff he can’t be afraid of Mauer because he gave up a homerun to him in his last at bat.”

    ——–

    Mauer is one of the elite hitters in baseball. He IS like Ortiz and Manny.

  484. rconn23

    Joba has to attack great hitters. He’s got the stuff.

    It’s one thing if there is a base open with 2 outs and you walk Mauer or Morneau in a tight game.

    But he can’t give in to Mauer to start off an inning because he got tagged for a home run.

  485. Rachel

    Come on Joba!!!

  486. Stop The Walks

    gotta get through 6 Joba.

  487. m

    C’mon one more strike.

  488. carl

    way to battle joba

  489. S.o.S.

    Joba looks like he’s on the subway diet. If not that then he must be talking to Dan Marino.

  490. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    Pat yourself on the back Melky, Joba, Cisco and your eyes. :)

  491. Bronx Jeers

    “Mauer is one of the elite hitters in baseball. He IS like Ortiz and Manny.”

    ???

    That’s like saying Joba’s good like Contreras or Clemens.

  492. m

    Pat on the back for Joba. Let’s get some insurance runs and holds, here.

  493. S.A.--The sun will come out tomorrow

    108 for Master Jobber

  494. Stop The Walks

    Did someone say that Mauer was like Ortiz (pre 2009) or Manny? Seriously? From an AVG standpoint, yes, but not from a power standpoint.

    Go take a look at Mauer’s career high in HRs…then you will be embarassed to have called him a Manny/Ortiz.

  495. RS

    Nice work, Joba.

    It’s fun to watch a talented young starter grow right before our eyes. While he didn’t have great command of his fastball today, he did a great job mixing in his curveball and changeup. Those are two pitches that can really help him down the road if he gets enough confidence in them (especially the change).

  496. Rachel

    “Mauer is one of the elite hitters in baseball. He IS like Ortiz and Manny.”

    Maybe you feel that way but I don’t. Maybe with 2 outs you can treat him that way. But with Joba’s stuff and no outs you can’t pitch around him thinking that you have nothing to get him out.

  497. miggs

    S.O.S. today isn’t a good day for me to be drinking heavily in the afternoon. I have a dinner tonight that I must be presentable for.

    Nice Joba got out of the inning…

    If it was a night game I’d mix myself a drink ASAP for you but not today. Maybe I’ll sip a beer.

    How’s So Cal my friend?

  498. Giuseppe Franco

    According to GameDay, Joba hit 97 MPH on his last two fastballs of the game, which were his 106th and 107th pitches.

    And people want to limit this guy to one inning.

  499. dave

    swisher looks so lost and frustrated right now – i agree. Give the guy a day off. He is not even helping us remotely at this point and he looks real agitated about it.

  500. Sean Serritella

    The Yankees have to get some insurance runs not only for the Yankees to win but I have Joba on my fantasy team and I need a win badly.

  501. GreenBeret7

    I’ve gotta have Chamberlain come out and go against the bottom of the order….batter to batter.

  502. Rachel

    Didn’t Kay say that Mauer hit 9 homeruns last year? Good hitter? Yes…Power hitter that you are afraid of? No..Then again in this ballpark anyone can hit a homerun to right.

  503. carl

    Tex is the man

  504. S.A.--The sun will come out tomorrow

    come on Alex

  505. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    “According to GameDay, Joba hit 97 MPH on his last two fastballs of the game”

    He lost his swagga

  506. RalphieD

    nice hit tex!

  507. Will Moller

    Can’t have Joba come out again. His arm is way too precious.

    You have him come out if it’s the TOP of the order. If you can’t trust our bullpen with the end of this lineup, against whome can you trust them?

  508. Bo knows

    Mauer and Morneau – 4 HR’s in 2 games. Mauer batting 450. I think you respect them a little. Don’t let them beat you with the long ball in a one run game.

  509. Rachel

    Yanks NEED to get a run here. They know they won’t win battle of the bullpens. Especially with Joba most likely finished. Nathan isn’t available but their bullpen is good. Need at least 1 run here. Please no DP…

  510. RS

    Tex just looks more confident at the plate now.

    Arod needs to do something here, with slumping Swish on deck. I don’t understand why Matsui got the day off against a righty?

  511. miggs

    Personally I’d like to see Aceves in the 7th.

    No way do they bring back out Joba. Joe is very careful with him. He ain’t CC.

  512. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    Think OBP % Al !

  513. Will Moller

    For those who are talking about how Mauer has no power….the dude has gone deep dead center two days in a row.

    Need you any more evidence?

  514. Pat M

    We maybe looking back to that 1st inning, 1st pitch dinger in Baltimore by Alex as the bookmark for the 2009 season…..By the way he had a great ab last night in the 9th…After getting screwed on 2 inside called strikes he fouled of a great outside slider and then walked…..Yanks have awaken….

  515. tampayank

    Alex is getting in the hole early w/ all these 0-2 counts

  516. Terry from NH

    Wow, Arod down to .120. Must be spring training again?

  517. GreenBeret7

    This has been the worst that Rodriguez has looked since his return.

  518. S.o.S.

    Doing good miggs. My 10 year old boy got drafted on the A(stacked team) squad for football. Cant wait till the season starts. I have to find some of that special b-12 for him. USC is a hop skip and a jump away.

    Keep sipping bro. Its working. Arod needs more simulated games.

  519. dave

    tex is on fire – what did i say yesterday? fifty bucks for anyone that would bet me tex never sees a BA under 200 again this season. Did anyone end up taking that bet? Tex will be hitting like crazy for quite some time now i bet. His career batting avg is about 290 and even that is low for him at this stage in his career. I bet he ends the year around 300 with over 30 homers and an oBP of 400 or close to it. Tex knows how to take a ton of pitches and he will either see a lot more he likes or a lot of balls depending if he stays where he is in the lineup. I like tex third and arod fourth for now. Arod has more power to drive in more runs and with three guys like damon, jeter and tex batting in front of him all with great eyes, i think he can drive in well over 100 despite missing the first month of the season. hE WILL have ample opportunity anyway.

  520. Rachel

    The fans are a joke for booing him. Can they at least give him a couple of games before they start that BS??!!! He had a big swing there but he doesn’t have his timing.

  521. RS

    Honestly, Girardi is doing no favors to Arod by “protecting” him with a hitter who’s in a huge slump and constantly striking out.

  522. Stop The Walks

    are you really comparing Mauer hitting 2 HRs to center on back to back days to 6-7 years of 30-40 HRs in Manny and Ortiz?

    Lets not let the facts get in the way of a good story, huh?

  523. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    Is it time to have ARod bunting with 0 outs, 2 on, in a one run game in the 6th?

    He isn’t trying to move runners over. He’s trying to drive the ball deep.

  524. carl

    Swish is horrible atm

  525. Rick

    Need some insurance runs

    We will not protect a 1 run lead with our pen

  526. RalphieD

    damn..nice dp there..

  527. Terry from NH

    2 on no one out.. another wasted inning perhaps?

  528. Sean Serritella

    dave, Tex always starts off slow. I wouldn’t of taken that bet either.

  529. m

    Yuck and poo.

    It’s up to the bullpen now.

  530. Rachel

    Swish really stinks…What a terrible inning. It will come back to bite them in an inning or 2 with this circus bullpen.

  531. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    4 walks yesterday, none drawn today, stay within your strike zone AL and Swish is getting unlikely now.

  532. Serf

    A+ work right there Swisher.

  533. Yank1

    Guess the bloom is off the Swisher rose now.

    Come back soon Nady

  534. Terry from NH

    Swish take a day off please!! you’re killing us!

  535. Sean Serritella

    I don’t like having Swisher in back of A-Rod since they are both slumping.

  536. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    “are you really comparing Mauer hitting 2 HRs to center on back to back days to 6-7 years of 30-40 HRs in Manny and Ortiz?

    Lets not let the facts get in the way of a good story, huh?”

    ———

    Mauer is as good a hitter as Ortiz ever was. That doesn’t mean he has the power Ortiz had. Not close.

    But make no mistake about it. Mauer is a batting champion caliber hitter with excellent power for a catcher and needs to be handled the same way any elite hitter would.

  537. rconn23

    You gotta be kidding me. Must sit him tomorrow.

  538. pat

    Tex seems to have his stroke back, mental/physical health day tomorrow for Alex might be in order if the Yanks get the win today.

  539. EvoLuTioN

    swish is killing rallies batting in the middle of the order

  540. Anthony

    Can we proclaim the Nick Swisher “everyday player” experiment over?

  541. RS

    Girardi is insane if Swisher is still batting 5th tomorrow.

  542. miggs

    Joe G is about 2 days late with his “day off” for Swisher.

    This isn’t even up for debate. The guy has to sit down.

    If Gardner was hitting .200 maybe you don’t do this but Malky andd Gardner both deserve to play. Never thought I’d say this last month but the lineup AND defense are better right now when Melky in right and Gardner in center.

  543. John

    “Swish really stinks…What a terrible inning. It will come back to bite them in an inning or 2 with this circus bullpen.”

    My thoughts exactly

    This game has 5-3 Twins written all over it.

  544. DT

    Pete –

    I matched you on the FoodBank donation. It’s a good cause.

    I still don’t know how they feed five on a $1. Popcorn and tang?

    Certainly not fries and gravy! ;-)

  545. S.o.S.

    GB7,
    I mentioned this earlier and thought i would share this with you. I got stuck yesterday watching HOTEL FOR DOGS with the kids. If you are stuck having to watch something with those rugrats its not a bad kids flick to get stuck watching. Better than that purple monster.

  546. RalphieD

    veras :X…hold your breath

  547. tampayank

    yeah Cano should have hit behind AROD today

  548. rconn23

    Veras…Bottom the order? Probably the best place for him.

  549. Peter Abraham

    A few people have e-mailed. If anybody else contributed to the Food Bank today, please let me know, here or via e-mail.

  550. yanks

    JOSE VERAS…………NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  551. S.A.--The sun will come out tomorrow

    Veras

  552. RS

    Why oh why is Veras out there? He should NEVER get to start an inning until he proves he can throw strikes. Has Girardi not seen enough leadoff walks today?

  553. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    ““Mauer is one of the elite hitters in baseball. He IS like Ortiz and Manny.”

    Maybe you feel that way but I don’t.”

    ——–

    It has nothing to do with “feel”. It has to do with fact.

    I’m not defending walking him. I’m saying that your “he’s no Ortiz/Manny” is wrong.

    He’s as likely to get on base as either of those guys were at any points in their career.

  554. Giuseppe Franco

    Well, it didn’t take long for the masses to turn on Swisher.

    Yankee fans are as bipolar as any fanbase in any sport.

  555. the omega point

    “UPDATE, 3:03 p.m.: A-Rod strikes out. He is hitless in his last 11 at-bats and 3 for 26 (.115) on the season in eight games with one extra-base hit. His range at third base has been limited, too. That you expect given the nature of his injury. But you have to wonder whether the lack of offense is attributable to the injury, being rusty or something else.”

    Maybe its that 24-1 thing you were talking about it, we are 5-2 since he came back…

  556. Rachel

    Hold on to your seats everyone…Here comes I have no idea where the ball is going Veras against the bottom of the order. Robertson would of been a better option here then Veras. Bringing him into a 1 run game is very scary.

  557. miggs

    Crap its Veras with a one run lead.

    There HAS to be a better option here.

    I’d have pitched Aceves.

  558. C

    why is Veras IN to blow another game?

  559. yanks

    here is the problem with veras….he will leadoff the inning with a walk
    then start to panic and be all over the place…why is this guy in the major league, he literally cannot throw a strike

  560. chr1zisORL

    veras.. really? cmon

  561. miggs

    DAMN IT VERAS

    leadoff walk. Is anyone surprised? Anyone?

  562. Rachel

    What a piece of garbage..Did anyone expect anything else? Walks the lead off man…I don’t know how Girardi has any patience with him.

  563. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    Whoop his a.. Cisco :evil:

  564. Stop The Walks

    “Excellent power for a catcher?”

    Lets see….I will name a few off the top of my head with more power.

    1. McCann
    2. Posada
    3. Soto
    4. Napoli
    5. VMart
    6. B Molina
    7. Ianetta

    We get it, Mauer is a good all around hitter. However, the original point was that with Joba’s stuff, he should not avoid Mauer LEADING OFF an inning.

  565. RS

    If the Yankees lose this game, it’s on Girardi. I think 95% of us agree that Swisher should have gotten the day off, and Veras had no business starting the 7th inning.

  566. Giuseppe Franco

    Ah, yes. That’s the Veras we all know well.

  567. rconn23

    And he walks the leadoff hitter. Why? For the love of God, the guy is hitting .205. Awful.

  568. chr1zisORL

    He walks the first batter of the inning and then just completely loses his control.

  569. m

    Yank his *** now.

  570. C

    Giardi loves to blow games

  571. RalphieD

    come on veras this isnt cool

  572. KP

    Girardi needs to get Veras out of there. This is clearly the bad Veras.

  573. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    “Did someone say that Mauer was like Ortiz (pre 2009) or Manny? Seriously? From an AVG standpoint, yes, but not from a power standpoint.

    Go take a look at Mauer’s career high in HRs…then you will be embarassed to have called him a Manny/Ortiz.”

    ——-

    the only embarrassment is your poor reading comprehension

  574. No Way Jose

    why is veras still an option out of the bullpen?

  575. S.A.--The sun will come out tomorrow

    :evil:

  576. rconn23

    Gotta bring in Coke. He is the only one in the bullpen who can throw strikes.

  577. GreenBeret7

    S.o.S.
    May 16th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
    GB7,
    I mentioned this earlier and thought i would share this with you. I got stuck yesterday watching HOTEL FOR DOGS with the kids. If you are stuck having to watch something with those rugrats its not a bad kids flick to get stuck watching. Better than that purple monster.

    ————————————————————

    LMaO. Luckily, they’ve reached the age where I don’t need to entertain them with Barney and cartoons. They’ve graduated to dinners down on River Street. They now watch movies that make me blush.

  578. Donnie

    Good Christ Almighty, I loath Jose Veras. I can’t stand this guy.

  579. yanks

    remind me what does joe see in jose veras that he would actually put him in in a 1 run game in the 7th

  580. S.o.S.

    Bruney cant comeback soon enough. Does Veras and Ramirez have naked pictures of Girardi. Someone needs to go!!

  581. RalphieD

    you guys are a joke for blaming this on girardi…this is on veras

  582. IrishCarBomb

    Veras makes me want to puke

  583. Rachel

    Honestly I can NOT believe that Girardi would pitch him. Veras is absolutely unwatchable…You knew the last inning would come back to bite them it was just how soon in the game.

  584. sunny615

    jeezus – time for cash to get some new relievers… there’s got to be better choices out there than Veras and Edwar…??

  585. miggs

    Why? Why Veras? Why?

    odds on Veras giving up the lead? 1/1

    odds on Yankees being BEHIND by 7th inning stretch 2/1

  586. AD

    DFA JOSE VERAS NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  587. Mike V

    i think swisher should just move to the bullpen for a couple games instead of having veras out there

  588. Bronx Jeers

    When Veras starts an inning it might be wise to have somebody warming up right away.

  589. S.A.--The sun will come out tomorrow

    Um, can we get someone else in there

  590. kd

    veras is not good

  591. C

    WOW….

  592. Zooboy

    I liked what Joe did in KC when he yanked Veras after the first walk. Unfortunately, Coke promptly gave it up, so it kind of backfired and Girardi has not tried is since. But I’d like to see that again. He’s such a choke artist.

  593. tampayank

    can we give AROD at least another week before we start killing him? I mean we gave Tex 6 weeks

  594. Christina

    I’d cut A-Rod some slack, given he is just coming back from an injury with very little spring training appearances. If anything, Teixiera has been more of a bum and is finally starting to shape up. Swisher is a mess now too.

  595. chr1zisORL

    Horrible job by Veras. Cmon Coke pick him up.

  596. Stop The Walks

    “the only embarrassment is your poor reading comprehension”

    Really? Were you mis-quoted?

  597. joe

    why is jose veras on this team, the guy CANNOT THROW STRIKES!!!!!
    seriously, he probably walks the leadoff hitter 30% of the time

    good one joe, you officially just lost that game

  598. rconn23

    Bring in Coke NOW!

  599. jonathan

    i hate jose veras. I honestly do NOT know whey girardi would pitch him. The most frustrating thing about him is the walk. PLEASE send that good for nothing puke somewhere else. I cant watch him pitch anymore. you are honestly telling me that mark melancon is not better?

  600. m

    walk, single, sac bunt. Coke could’ve done better than that. sigh.

  601. Benny Blanco

    Veras needs to learn how to throw strikes and not walk batters instead of salsa.

  602. Trevor

    They’re that in love with Veras’s “stuff” that he’s still on the team.
    Right now Robertson could do the same as Veras: walk hit walk hit……

  603. Shore Style

    why does giradi think veras is a good pitcher…send him down

  604. RS

    Honestly, this is the first time I can say flat out that Girardi made the wrong move here. There is no freaking way in hell that Veras should have led off the inning of a 1-run game. NO WAY.

    I would rather have seen anyone else in there than Veras. Edwar, Tomko, Albaladejo, anyone. I know Girardi was probably hoping that Veras would do well and it would lift his confidence, but the chances of that happening were like 1-10.

  605. Joe Mama

    I usually don’t like complaining about the manager but why in the world was Veras in the game

  606. joe

    jose veras brings nothing to the table for this team
    he is a walk machine…i don’t care if he could throw 200 mph, he can’t locate anything

  607. C

    In a one run lead you bring in veras in the 7th r u kidding me?

  608. EvoLuTioN

    “A-Rod strikes out. He is hitless in his last 11 at-bats and 3 for 26 (.115) on the season in eight games with one extra-base hit. His range at third base has been limited, too. That you expect given the nature of his injury. But you have to wonder whether the lack of offense is attributable to the injury, being rusty or something else.”

    Comments like this make me disgusted.

  609. Rachel

    A walk, hit to the bottom of the lineup. But Melancon only got 4 games and Robertson obviously stole Girardi’s dog or something. I don’t care how good Veras’ stuff is he is brutal. Like anyone really thought he would get people out.

  610. sunny615

    robertson and melacoln guess need more seasoning… but there has got to be someone out there that’s better than veras …

  611. Zooboy

    At this point, maybe better results would come having Swish pitch the 7th and let Veras hit.

  612. miggs

    Ok Coke is in. Still only one out. 2nd and 3rd.

    Thanks Veras. Thanks for everything.

    Hey Franco I’m sure you saw your boy Grienke notched another win last night. He gave up one run in 7 innings to RAISE his era to 0.60. Amazing streak he’s on.

  613. tampayank

    Veras is a waste, he has velocity but no control

  614. Sean Serritella

    Peter, I don’t a lot of money going on right now but I just donated $5.00.

  615. joe

    this is why girardi sucks…….
    bring in coke when you have the lead, so now you cannot use him for 2 innings today

    sort of like when they were up by like 4 or 5 in tampa and he used BRIAN BRUNEY FOR THE 9th INNING ARE YOU KIDDING ME JOE?!

  616. S.o.S.

    GB,
    I always seem to forget how ancient you are. Speaking of ancient i watche benjamin button and he starts off old and gets younger not older. Good flick for the OLD.

    I meant the g-children/great g-children(cant remember). The ones that make you watch stuff when they visit.

  617. LouinSoCal

    Veras shouldn’t be getting his work in a 3-2 game. Why has it been so hard for so many years for the yanks to put a bullpen together. It’s the same thing year after year! Veras sucks……….

  618. Giuseppe Franco

    If the Yankees lose this game, it’s on Girardi. I think 95% of us agree that Swisher should have gotten the day off, and Veras had no business starting the 7th inning.

    —————-

    Yeah, I’m sure Girardi should listen to the masses on this board – the same daily bridge jumpers who write this team off when the Yanks are trailing in a game or chalk up the day as a loss when they see the lineup posted.

  619. EvoLuTioN

    joe, who else would you bring in? are you serious? edwar is crap with runners on, veras clearly couldnt throw strikes. Coke is the only semi-stable reliever we have asides from mariano.

    a lead is only a 1 run lead.

  620. Benny Blanco

    arod has only been here one week. GEE wHiZ!

  621. Benny Blanco

    arod has only been here one week. GEE wHiZ!

  622. Rachel

    Even Ramirez with his below average stuff would of been better in that situation. At least for the most part he throws strike and knows where the ball is going. I can’t believe Girardi would bring him in.

  623. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    Great call by Cisco

  624. joe

    nice….joe is on thin ice though…even if coke can get this next guy joe is still stupid

  625. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    ““the only embarrassment is your poor reading comprehension”

    Really? Were you mis-quoted?”

    ——–

    You didn’t quote me so I don’t see how I could have been “mis-quoted” (like your poor reading comprehension I see you also have some grammar issues. the word is misquoted. I don’t care but just saying. The spelling is trivial. The importance of understanding what others are saying is a bit more important.)

    Before you throw out lines like “you will be embarrassed”, you should probably have a better understanding of the argument/debate. That’s all. I realize you just mis-understood… I mean misunderstood what was being discussed.

  626. joe

    cannot walk this guy mauer is on deck

  627. EvoLuTioN

    joe, you make no sense dude. Stop spewing your bs because its obvious you have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about.

  628. Rachel

    Come on Coke!!! This is your batter…At least make him hit the ball…

  629. geoff

    2-0 strike was a bad call

  630. yanks

    COME ON COKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  631. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    “I’d cut A-Rod some slack, given he is just coming back from an injury with very little spring training appearances. ”

    ——

    absolutely.

    However, if you know he’s struggling and under those circumstances, it was critical to get the runners to 2nd and 3rd. I hate the idea that some hitters aren’t allowed to bunt.

  632. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    95 mph ? he’s finding it.

  633. RS

    Coke!!

  634. carl

    Huge COKE!

  635. EvoLuTioN

    Coke with a great job

    Veras you’re lucky.

  636. yanks

    good job by coke, now they can leave him in and hope that he can get mauer and morneau

  637. C

    Coke helps Giardi out from getting killed

  638. chr1zisORL

    Hell of a job Phil Coke. Get to work bats!

  639. Serf

    Great job Coke.

  640. Anthony

    Can we proclaim the Jose Veras “relief pitcher” experiment over?

  641. m

    Nice work by Coke. Now the question is who pitches the 8th? Aceves was up, but might they go to Alby?

  642. DT

    Where is Trisha? Someone needs to have Jose Veras’ back.
    He’s not getting any love at all.

  643. tampayank

    thank you Coke for cleaning up Veras’s mess, clutch pitching right there

  644. Rachel

    Great job by Coke…I just hope he doesn’t turn into a Proctor/Sturtze because of the rest of the bullpen being so useless.

  645. Rudy

    When Bruney and Marte return, Ramirez and Veras don’t belong on this team anymore.

  646. EvoLuTioN

    Give arod until the end of may to get his groove, that wouldn’t even be a month. Enough is enough with pete’s obnoxious backstabbing comments

  647. sunny615

    yay coke!! Thank freakin’ God. Saved Veras’ butt.

  648. KP

    We need a run or two here. Is there somebody in our bullpen that can actually get Mauer or Morneau out? I know it’s not traditional baseball, but if there were ever a time to use Mo in the 8th instead of the 9th, this is it.

  649. EvoLuTioN

    edwar can be effective if he starts an inning.

    veras shouldn’t be coming out in tight games

  650. RalphieD

    great job coke!!…way to pick up the team and keep joba inline for the win!..now the yanks need some insurance…top 8 is where it’s at where its at tho…M&M boys at the plate..do you keep coke in coming back from the back probs and pitching yesterday (and giving up a homer to mauer, or was it morneau)?

  651. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    Is it a coincidence that once the Yankee starters started going deeper in games (thanks CC!), that the bullpen has started to improve?

  652. Cal

    Whew close one, despite Girardi trying his best to give the game away by bringing in Vera$$, how is that guy not DFA’d as yet.

  653. John

    Why is Veras still on this team?

    And why is Tomko here?

    Robertson and Melancon are not better than these two?

  654. Betsy

    Ok, Miggs – you make good points……and I guess I was getting into semantics.

  655. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    “Can we proclaim the Jose Veras “relief pitcher” experiment over?”

    Yes.. pleeeeease !!!

  656. Giuseppe Franco

    Hey Franco I’m sure you saw your boy Grienke notched another win last night. He gave up one run in 7 innings to RAISE his era to 0.60. Amazing streak he’s on.

    ————-

    Yep, his dominance this season doesn’t surprise me – although I didn’t expect Cliff Lee circa 2008 numbers.

    It was never a realistic move but I really wanted that kid in the Yankee rotation.

    He’s as nasty as any pitcher in baseball.

  657. Pepitone's Hairdryer

    Let’s just shorten ‘bridge jumpers’ to ‘BJs’. It just works…

  658. rconn23

    Amazing what happens when you throw strikes. Hell of a job.

    Now, let’s see if the bottom of the order can produce some baserunners today.

  659. Joe I

    “Nice work by Coke. Now the question is who pitches the 8th? Aceves was up, but might they go to Alby?”

    Maybe, Coke pitches the 8th. Mauer, Morneau and Kubel are all lefties. That’s why it should have been anyone but Veras to start the 7th. Coke was needed for those guys in the 8th. Oh well.

  660. Dave D.

    We can’t keep using Coke every day or he’ll end up on the DL.

    Girardi has to find another reliever who can get outs

  661. Joe Mama

    Well those were huge outs by Coke

  662. Cal

    “Great job by Coke…I just hope he doesn’t turn into a Proctor/Sturtze because of the rest of the bullpen being so useless.”

    Thankfully Bruney is back soon and that will give us Coke for the 7th, Bruney for the 8th and Mo in the 9th. Vera$$ has got to go.

  663. GreenBeret7

    S.o.S.
    May 16th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
    GB,
    I always seem to forget how ancient you are. Speaking of ancient i watche benjamin button and he starts off old and gets younger not older. Good flick for the OLD.

    I meant the g-children/great g-children(cant remember). The ones that make you watch stuff when they visit.

    ————————————————————

    It’s too late to try and crawfish out of this, now. Don’t try apologizing. Just mark it down…..I’ll think of something nasty to say to you, when you’ve forgotten about this.

  664. Rachel

    It looks like Jessica Alba for the 8th inning. He was warming up. A run here would be nice…

  665. Roger(the new amsterdam yankees )

    does anyone know more about the pirates trade?

  666. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    “When Bruney and Marte return, Ramirez and Veras don’t belong on this team anymore.”

    ——

    they may decide to ditch Tomko especially since they’ll likely kee Aceves but at this point it’s tough to support keeping Veras (even though he got the win last night :) )

  667. Donnie

    I’ll feel a lot better about the 8th if we can scrape a run or two this inning. Mauer, Morneau, and Kubel are big, BIG batters, and while I think Coke can handle it, I’d like to give him some breathing room, instead of having him worry about every pitch being perfect, or getting drilled by any one of those three powerhouses.

    Also, it’s too bad Gomez is out of the game now. I was really counting on someone caving in his ribcage.

  668. Joe Mama

    What would make the 8th inning easier is 2 or 3 runs here by the Yankees

  669. Sabremet

    I’ll bring in Mariano for the 8th

    Mauer, Morneau, and Kubel are the most dangerous part of the lineup. After that, it gets easier.

    The game is on the line in the 8th. Bring in your best reliever

    Aceves or someone can get 3 outs in the 9th against the Mike Redmonds and Buchtcher’s of the world.

    Think outside the box, Joe.

  670. Carlos

    Actually Pete, the other day Bobby Cox used his closer (Mike Gonzalez) to face Utley, Howard, and Ibanez in the eight inning and had Soriano close out the game.

    It’s nice having two closer quality releivers.

  671. Rachel

    I hate when Cano gets lazy with his at bats. 2-0 and he just swings away at the next pitch. Now 2 really easy outs in the 8th inning.

  672. Rachel

    *7th inning…

  673. Pel (Uncertainty is certain.)

    what’s blackburn’s pitch count? the yanks seem to be helping him out A LOT.

  674. chr1zisORL

    7 pitches that inning? Cmon guys.. work the count and get to the Twinkies bullpen

  675. tampayank

    “EvoLuTioN
    May 16th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
    Give arod until the end of may to get his groove, that wouldn’t even be a month. Enough is enough with pete’s obnoxious backstabbing comments

    +1, if anything Swisher deserves some backstabbing comments right about now but I’m sure Swish is ‘more liked’

  676. RS

    Ugh, Jays take a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the 8th inning.

  677. Donnie

    Man, we just are not having good AB’s today. I dunno if it’s Blackburn pitching really well, or our offense being really impatient, and just hacking.

  678. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    For every game Tex may have ‘cost’ the Yanks so far, it’s looking like he may get a +1 for his blast today (fingers crossed).

  679. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    “does anyone know more about the pirates trade?”

    DFA Hacker is a Buc, we got something back no word on who. I’m praying for us to get back our Juvenile Delinquent. :?

  680. AD

    # Benny Blanco May 16th, 2009 at 3:14 pm

    Veras needs to learn how to throw strikes and not walk batters instead of salsa.

    He needs to be released right after this game… He’s garbage

  681. tampayank

    Blackburn at 98 pitches after that last inning

  682. vtred

    Time to pray

    This 8th inning is going to be a bumpy ride

  683. rconn23

    The bottom of the order has been awful today. They’ve got to extend at bats.

  684. Giuseppe Franco

    Rachel May 16th, 2009 at 3:18 pm

    Even Ramirez with his below average stuff would of been better in that situation. At least for the most part he throws strike and knows where the ball is going. I can’t believe Girardi would bring him in.

    —————

    Really? Ramirez throws strikes? That’s news to me.

    Ramirez has 13 walks in 16.1 IP this season. No BS.

    He’s also a one-trick pony. He’s got a changeup and nothing else.

    I’m no fan of Veras, but at least he has two plus pitches. He’s nasty when he’s on – but he’s always had issues pounding the zone.

  685. Betsy

    I’m not surprised they booed Alex – unbelievable. He can’t even get support at home……..so, nothing has changed for him, lol.

    What exactly is Pete’s comment supposed to mean? It’s really as simple as Alex being rusty…..really, what did everyone expect?

  686. yanks

    so blackburn has had two 8 pitch inning and a 7 pitch inning
    not good for the yanks

    now they are looking at a dangerous situation

  687. Pat M

    Blackburn is pitching a fine game….We’re going to need an insurance run….Let’s see if the pen can nurse they’re way through the 8th

  688. DT

    “does anyone know more about the pirates trade?”

    I heard we asked for Tabata back. The Pirates countered with Tabata’s wife.

  689. Rachel

    Ok come on Coke..You need to get this 2 guys…Good breaking ball…

  690. Yewnork

    But you have to wonder whether the lack of offense is attributable to the injury, being rusty or something else.

    You are so pitiful.

  691. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    Carlos,

    good point. I saw that.

    now if those two could just stay healthy…

  692. SJ44

    Two problems with that “out of the box” thinking.

    Mariano can’t pitch 2 innings anymore. Those days are over.

    The Yankees nobody else trust to pitch the 9th.

    The problem is, with Bruney and Marte still out, Jose Veras is still on this team. That’s a killer.

    Was hoping for an insurance run or two. Looks like they are going to have to find a way to win this one 3-2.

  693. SJ44

    Two problems with that “out of the box” thinking.

    Mariano can’t pitch 2 innings anymore. Those days are over.

    The Yankees nobody else trust to pitch the 9th.

    The problem is, with Bruney and Marte still out, Jose Veras is still on this team. That’s a killer.

    Was hoping for an insurance run or two. Looks like they are going to have to find a way to win this one 3-2.

  694. Sean Serritella

    The Pirates sent Romulo Sanchez to the Yankees.

  695. yanks

    cmon coke

  696. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    Coke looks like he wants that SU job.

  697. S

    Well, at least Veras is going down when Bruney comes back. Right?

    Right?

  698. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    Really? Ramirez throws strikes? That’s news to me.

    Ramirez has 13 walks in 16.1 IP this season. No BS.

    ———-

    well, technically he does throw strikes. he just throws an equal amount of balls :)

  699. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    sonofa….

  700. Pel (Uncertainty is certain.)

    lmfao

  701. IrishCarBomb

    nice bullpen cashmoney

  702. yanks

    tie game, now blackburn has the game in his hand

    great

  703. RS

    I hate Morneau more than any non-Red Sox player in baseball.

  704. EvoLuTioN

    sigh

  705. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    “The Pirates sent Romulo Sanchez to the Yankees.”

    ——–

    wild guess….

    speedy OF with no power?

    anybody have a profile on him?

  706. KP

    Honestly, is there one person on the planet that realistically thought we could get through Mauer and Morneau?

  707. Yewnork

    Whoever threw that ball back on the field has a much better arm than Damon and Gardner.

  708. RalphieD

    this morneau is something…murdering the yanks..

  709. DT

    another no decision for Joba.

  710. Rachel

    Another pitch hung….Terrible pitch…

  711. Peter Abraham

    God, the simpering A-Rod fans boys like Evolution are ridiculous. All I did was point out that Alex is slumping and wondered what is going on. Is he rusty or is it something else? Is it mechanics? Is it being tired? I’m just asking what it is.

  712. yanks

    comeon coke, keep this a tie game and we got it

  713. Brendan

    I know this goes against baseball thinking but weren’t these the 3 hardest outs to get. Mauer and Morneau, 2 tough lefties so why not bring in Mo to get these guys out.

  714. Donnie

    Like I said…should’ve given him a run to work with. He was being way too fine, and it got absolutely hammered.

    It’s okay, just gotta hold them here. Top of the lineup coming up, hopefully we can work Blackburn and get him out, and beat the bullpen.

  715. carl

    Right down the middle.

  716. Serf

    Morneau is good. I’m pretty damn confident the Yankees can win this though.

  717. rconn23

    I love that Coke attacks hitters, but he’s got to be more careful there with Morneau.

  718. carl

    sucks for Joba

  719. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    Morneau is just that special.

  720. EvoLuTioN

    “Originally signed by the Dodgers, Dominican Romulo Sanchez is one of many Pirate flamethrowers who may factor into their bullpen in 2009. While he enjoyed only modest success during his brief stint last season (14 innings, 3 strikeouts, 6 walks), he’s a favorite within the organization, who see him as a future closer despite his so-so strikeout numbers.

    If he can refine his control a little while not losing too much of his velocity, he might be a viable setup man in the near future, but to become a serious force, he’ll need to develop secondary pitches.”

    Hopefully he is Zumaya part 2. and not veras part 2

  721. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    “I hate Morneau more than any non-Red Sox player in baseball.”

    ——-

    I hate that he got the MVP over a more deserving Derek Jeter but I don’t “hate” him.

    I still dislike Carlos Gomez more after last night.

  722. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    Romulo Sanchez is a RHP

  723. yanks

    twins won’t pitch nathan today

    come on coke!!! nothing more

  724. Rachel

    We all knew the last 2, 15 total pitch innings with the Yanks great at bats would come back to bite them. It was just which inning would it happen. It lasted 1 more inning then people expected. It was the 8th and not the 7th.

  725. Donnie

    Christ, Phil, you can’t get a guy 0-2 and then walk him. You just can’t.

  726. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    thanks Sean and Evolution for the Sanchez update…

  727. SJ44

    Oh well, new ballgame.

    Gotta have more than one arm in the pen.

    Walks and HR’s have killed this staff all year thus far.

    5-8 walks, 2-3 HR’s a game. Not good enough to be anything more than a .500 team at that pace.

    Especially with an up and down offense.

  728. E-gawa

    “God, the simpering A-Rod fans boys like Evolution are ridiculous. All I did was point out that Alex is slumping and wondered what is going on. Is he rusty or is it something else? Is it mechanics? Is it being tired? I’m just asking what it is.”

    Yet you’re not talking about Nick Swisher who’s hitting less than .100 the past 2 weeks. There was actually conversation about him in this blog and a few others.. you seem more wanting to talk about Arod.

  729. Bo knows

    That was 21 pitches in 3 innings. Crap baseball. 4 hits, 3 of them by Teixeira. And Blackburn is a junkballer.

    And that is why you don’t pitch to Morneau in a one run ball game. Bad decision by Joe G.

  730. tampayank

    Morneau likes Yankee Stadium ..old and new

  731. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    “Oh well, new ballgame.

    Gotta have more than one arm in the pen.”

    ———

    Its tough to blame the bullpen IF they give up just 1 run over 3 innings.

    The offense needed to get an extra run when they had the chance(s).

  732. AD

    Boy…. Jeters CS in the first looms awfully large now….

  733. Pel (Uncertainty is certain.)

    PHIL CHOKE

    that is all

  734. RS

    Well there goes that game.

  735. yanks

    Melky misses the cutoff man again

    this bullpen is a disaster

  736. Sean Serritella

    Sanchez is a relief pitcher for the Pirates.

  737. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    Hit the cut off man !

    Romulo Sanchez in 08′

    “Despite his fastball being clocked as fast as 97 mph, his strikeout totals had been unimpressive – 121 in 198 2/3 IP to that point.”

  738. carl

    Sad

  739. Roger(the new amsterdam yankees )

    I think pete is right about Mo pitching the 8th inn.wow…bad play by melky.this could be a bad loss

  740. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    back-to-back walk-off wins??

    please please please please please

  741. Rachel

    Yet another pitch hung right over the plate..I know the rest of the bullpen stinks but I think Girardi asked too much of him.

  742. E-gawa

    Just about every Joba start.. the bullpen is highlighted.

  743. Matt

    Melky is a terrible outfielder. Just a TERRIBLE play there. He GAVE THEM A RUN. All he had to do was hit the cutoff man and it’s NOT EVEN CLOSE.

  744. RalphieD

    rough outing for coke after doing such a good job to get out of the 7th…yanks need some more late inning magic

  745. Giuseppe Franco

    S May 16th, 2009 at 3:31 pm

    Well, at least Veras is going down when Bruney comes back. Right?

    Right?

    ———————

    How many times does it have to be explained that Veras has no options left?

  746. S.o.S.

    It’s too late to try and crawfish out of this, now. Don’t try apologizing. Just mark it down…..I’ll think of something nasty to say to you, when you’ve forgotten about this.

    —————–

    GB,
    Dammitt gb!! Everyone knows that theres 2 unwritten rules on this blog.
    1.Never talk about what reporter is hotter than the other.
    2.Dont get on gb’s hit list.

    My weekend is ruined. I meant your like benjamin button. Old on the outside young on the inside. Im making it worst arent i?

    Veras/Girardi = Sturtz/Torre

  747. Donnie

    Getting beat by Dave Buscher is almost the most embarrassing thing that’s happened all season.

    I dunno, I hate to be a negative jerk, but I gotta think that’s ballgame. They’re not taking good AB’s at all today, and unless Blackburn gets out of the game, and a reliever hangs one over the plate and it gets hammered, I just can’t see them coming back at this point. That’s a heartbreaker. Phil just didn’t have 2 innings in him today.

  748. Kevin S.

    Actually, Bobby Cox did it last week against the Phillies. They had Utley-Howard-Ibanez up in the eighth, so he brought his lefty closer Gonzalez in to get them, then Raffy Soriano took care of the bottom of the order in the ninth. Of course, Gonzalez and Soriano are a lot closer in caliber than Mo and any reliever on the Yankees (or any reliever in baseball, really), but it was still refreshing to see someone not feel his tactics bound by the worst statistic in baseball.

  749. yanks

    the offense sucks too. they had their chance today but could only get runs on one swing of the bat. i mean come on, you got 2 on and no one out and cant even get a guy to third base.

  750. EvoLuTioN

    “God, the simpering A-Rod fans boys like Evolution are ridiculous. All I did was point out that Alex is slumping and wondered what is going on. Is he rusty or is it something else? Is it mechanics? Is it being tired? I’m just asking what it is.”

    At least be man enough to admit what you are trying to imply. This is the second time.

  751. rconn23

    Bad job by Coke. Got 0-2 on last two hitters and lost them.

  752. Matt

    This comes down yet again to the offense. The only runs this game have scored on a 3 run HR. They have had plenty of chances and just have not capitalized. What can you say? The pitching has been good, but the offense has not distanced themselves from the Twins and any mistake is the game when you don’t score runs.

  753. SJ44

    Bullpen kills this team again.

    You just wonder how long you keep guys like Melancon and Robertson in the minors for guys like Veras and Ramirez, who kill this team everyday.

    You go too long with Coke, mainly because there is little confidence in anybody else. He is coming off a bad back.

    Can’t just run him out there everyday.

    The last two innings, they got beat by a .211 hitter (Boucher), by walking him and giving up the double.

    The walks flipped the order and the ballgame is now in peril.

    Little decisions by this franchise continue to set them back.

    Everyday they don’t address the bullpen, they put themselves in trouble. I just don’t get it.

  754. Fire Michael Kay

    this team is truly sickening. we gave away at bats all game, with runners on and bases clear. Then even though it didnt cost us, we got Joe Torre Girardi going with the likes of Jose Veras. Where’s Brett Tomko, not that he’s much better. I wonder what Michael Kay is saying. He’s probably drooling.

  755. yanks

    someone please explain to me why joe girardi just put in edwar

    does he like walking to the mound?

  756. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    “How many times does it have to be explained that Veras has no options left?”

    —–

    as you already know, they may still have to let him walk anyway (pun intended)

  757. Russell NY

    “Sánchez was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Los Angeles Dodgers on March 8, 2002. He played in the Dominican Summer League in 2002 and 2003. He was released by the Dodgers on March 12, 2004, and was picked up by the Pirates on May 7, 2004. He pitched in the Venezuelan League in 2004 for the Pirates. In 2005, he began to play in the Pirates minor league system beginning in rookie ball and ending the year in Double-A Altoona. In 2006, Sánchez played in two Single-A levels and also played Double-A ball.”

    In other words: No Good.

  758. EvoLuTioN

    this team lives and dies by the homerun, if we can’t learn how to get base hits when it matters, we will be under .500 in no time.

  759. Joe Mama

    The pen gives away the lead again. This is just deflating.

  760. Sean Serritella

    http://web.minorleaguebaseball.....pid=454972

    Romulo Sanchez is a relief pitcher for the Pirates Triple A team Indianapolis Indians

  761. S

    Giuseppe Franco May 16th, 2009 at 3:38 pm

    S May 16th, 2009 at 3:31 pm

    Well, at least Veras is going down when Bruney comes back. Right?

    Right?
    ——————————-

    How many times does it have to be explained that Veras has no options left?

    —————-

    Never said anything about optioning him.

  762. yanks

    why is edwar in the game…..someone explain

  763. carl

    Squeezed

  764. Christina

    It’s his first week back, I think A-Rod is the least of our problems at the moment anyhow.

  765. Fire Michael Kay

    And now i know why mauer and morneau are mvp candidates, it’s because they beat up on us and die versus the red sox.

    in baseball, you get rewarded for that combination, kill the yanks, die v the sox. that’s what many players dreams are made of.

  766. Rachel

    Maybe the Yanks will realize you have to bring the bats and be ready to hit every inning. They had 1st and 2nd no one out they get nothing. Then 15 pitches the next 2 innings. I hope the Yanks bring up Robertson or someone. Haven’t we seen enough of these clowns?!!!

  767. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    “You just wonder how long you keep guys like Melancon and Robertson in the minors for guys like Veras and Ramirez, who kill this team everyday.”

    ———

    Melancon was doing his Veras impression while he was up. As you already stated, he has to work on things before coming back up.

    It’s amazing to think with the depth that they appeared to have in spring training, they may have to make a trade for a proven bullpen arm (or two, gulp).

  768. jonathan

    the bullpen strikes again
    isnt the definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results?
    i feel like i am watching a poorly written movie.

  769. jonathan

    the bullpen strikes again
    isnt the definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results?
    i feel like i am watching a poorly written movie.

  770. AD

    Wait… are you telling me that edwar and jose both walked the first men they saw……. What is the world coming too

  771. Betsy

    Good point, SJ, about Coke pitching 2 innings coming off of a bad back….

  772. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    SJ ball game might be over, Nathan is in the freaking wings, we can’t comeback twice on him.

  773. yanks

    WHY IS EDWAR IN THIS GAME RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!

  774. Pat M

    AD..Jeter getting caught in the 1at inning looms big ???? A re you high or just an idiot???

  775. SJ44

    It doesn’t come down to the offense. They aren’t going to scored 6-8 runs every night to hide the bullpen.

    You win with PITCHING, not with offense.

    Today, its come down to PITCHING.

    Too many walks, too many HR’s.

    It isn’t that complicated.

    You go into the game with a one run lead in the 8th, those are games you have to win with your bullpen.

  776. carl

    throw something else edwar.

  777. S.A.--The sun will come out tomorrow

    come on Edwar

  778. Betsy

    However, the offense didn’t do anything today – if they lose this game, it’s on them as well…….

  779. EvoLuTioN

    edwar has really been settling down past few outings, love it.

  780. E-gawa

    Nathan? Are sure? He’s already pitched 4 days in a row.

  781. miggs

    Aceves should have pitched today.

    But it all goes back to Veras. If Veras does his job Coke pitches to the lefties in the 8th and its highly unlikely he gets gassed throwing 30+ pitches (which basically means he’s out for tomorrow’s game too).

    At least Edwar held it to a one-run deficit.

  782. rconn23

    I don’t think this bullpen is going anywhere.

    Cashman will give his standard “players have got to play” spiel, and that will be that.

  783. Fire Michael Kay

    great managing, put in edwar walky walky were still in this game and edwar is doin his best to make it not anymore.

    out of the inning.

  784. RalphieD

    edwar=lucky…lets go offense…they’ll have there big hitters up in the 8th and 9th…KEEP THE FAITH!!!

  785. yanks

    bullpen blows another one
    along with melky thinking that he can throw a ball 300 feet to the catcher

  786. Giuseppe Franco

    Yep, that Edwar Ramirez throws strikes alright.

  787. tampayank

    do any of these relievers know how to throw strikes?

  788. carl

    tex with the bases clearing triple to complete the cycle! I hope.

  789. E-gawa

    I don’t think he’s in this game after last night.

  790. DT

    Do the Yankees have another come back in them?

    I say yes. Yanks need to get someone on for Tex this inning.

  791. kimoinsd

    yankees bullpen makes me want to puke.

  792. Rachel

    This is really a joke…Scranton’s bullpen somehow got lost in the Bronx. Please return them…

  793. tampayank

    “it ain’t over till it’s over” -Yogi

  794. yanks

    besides mariano, this bullpen is so bad. you could make a case for every single one that they shouldn’t be in the majors

  795. Ace

    Mariano should have pitched the 8th. If I know that, why doesn’t Girardi? That was a NO-BRAINER. I have to question his ability to mange this team when decisions like that are made.

    1 run lead in the 8th + 3 best hitters due up = Mariano Rivera

    What a joke.

  796. Trevor

    Robertson could do what Veras does. Sure Veras has better “stuff” but he has 0 command. Robertson doesn’t have great command either but it’s better then Veras’s.
    And he’s 29 he is what he is. He’s not going to get better. The Yankees need to let go of that he has great stuff. Who cares really. Most of the time he has no idea where it’s going.

  797. Matt

    This just shows you why Girardi just isn’t a good manager. He brings in Veras in a tight game and he walks the leadoff guy, then falls behind and gives up a hit, and he gets himself into a tremendous jam by not throwing strikes.

    WHY IS JOSE VERAS PITCHING IN A ONE RUN GAME?

    Then he leaves in Phil Coke, who already had surrendered a home run to a lefty in 2 or 3 of his last games, to face their 2 power hitting lefties. Maybe that’s a time to bring in your closer?

    And then we have Edwar Ramirez come in to “mop up” the jam. Of course, since he doesn’t throw strikes, he adds fuel to the rally by walking guys on.

    This isn’t a matter of guys not getting it done. It’s a matter of wrong pitcher, wrong spot. You bring in Coke to start the 7th there with nobody on since he throws strikes, and you bring in a guy like Veras who has the stuff to get out either the better hitters or in a jam with a base open in case he walks someone.

  798. EvoLuTioN

    edwar is actually amazing against lefties, believe it or not.

  799. MP

    What’s amazing besides the obviously terrible ‘pen is that the Yankees offense minus Teix has mustered 1 hit off Blackburn

  800. S.A.--The sun will come out tomorrow

    Let’s go Yanks. Time to rally

  801. yanks

    now blackburn has the game in hand because we couldn’t take advantage

  802. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    Melky hits the cutoff this game stays tied. That’s all I’m thinking. Morneau is that good we prbly should have walked him but Melky hits the cut off it’s 3-3.

    Veras sucks, Edwar is ahi ahi…Bruney hurry back. Nathan waiting in the wings, this is over.

  803. GreenBeret7

    S.o.S.
    May 16th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
    It’s too late to try and crawfish out of this, now. Don’t try apologizing. Just mark it down…..I’ll think of something nasty to say to you, when you’ve forgotten about this.
    ————————-

    GB,
    Dammitt gb!! Everyone knows that theres 2 unwritten rules on this blog.
    1.Never talk about what reporter is hotter than the other.
    2.Dont get on gb’s hit list.

    My weekend is ruined. I meant your like benjamin button. Old on the outside young on the inside. ***Im making it worst arent i*** ?

    Veras/Girardi = Sturtz/Torre

    ————————————————————

    Just a little bit.

    I taking it as a compliment to me, though that if you thought I had a bad side, you must think that I have a good side.

  804. Will Moller

    Stop the walks–

    I’m not comparing anything. Folks were claiming that Mauer has no power. Anyone making that sort of commentary has major egg on their face at the moment.

    Methinks you need to calm down. Go get laid, or if that’s not an option at least get a massage.

    Sheesh.

  805. serious

    Kevin S- I live in Atlanta, and the only time I don’t root for the braves is if the Yankees play them. My roommate works inside the clubhouse, and as any braves fan will tell you, in reality Soriano was supposed to be the closer, not Gonzo. It’s like a street/corpas deal in Colorado, gonzo should not be the one closing. I think Bobby is a great manager but thats not really what he was doing in that case- it was more that Gonzo (because of the pitcher/batter match up) was a much better choice in the 8th than the 9th. the two are really interchangeable.

    I think it’s time for cashman to pull the trigger on a deal here. We’re going to get screwed- and way overpay, but we can’t win with this bullpen. It’s no one’s fault, certainly not Girardis. Getting Bruney back will be great, but thats betting a lot on him staying healthy and pitching like he was before. I think Bruney will be a big help, but theres still a huge gap in the pen- they need another solid reliever. Coke is on the road to becoming Torre’s proctor at this point. I like his stuff, but I think he should be that solid lefty/7th inning guy.

    I say DFA Veras. He is so ungodly awful its pathetic. I’m glad his stuff is great- and i’m sure he’ll be picked up somewhere else. so was latroy hawkins- he has five saves for the astros. let him go pitch there, he obviously can’t handle the big stage. and everytime i see that damn salsa commercial with him and marte i want to rip my ear drums out with a fork.

  806. Betsy

    If the Yanks lose this game, this would be fairly deflating after yesterday….

  807. E-gawa

    I wouldn’t give up on the game yet.

  808. Rick

    when you only have four hits on the day…..what do you expect

  809. carl

    Matsui!!

  810. E-gawa

    As I typed that…

  811. yanks

    niiiiiiiice matsui
    million dollar question: does jeter bunt?

  812. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    “It doesn’t come down to the offense. They aren’t going to scored 6-8 runs every night to hide the bullpen.

    You win with PITCHING, not with offense.

    Today, its come down to PITCHING.”

    ———-

    SJ44,

    True… but they had great opportunities to add an insurance run and didn’t do the little things to score it.

    In the context of this particular game, the offense as a whole failed. The bullpen failed as well but either of those two could have won the game today.

    I’m still holding out hope they’ll win.

  813. Rachel

    There is no way that Nathan is pitching today. Good hitting by Matsui. But what are the odds that they can get this runner in????

  814. RalphieD

    nice hitting matsui…got to get this run in…jeter, damon and tex get it done!

  815. Joe Mama

    I was really expecting Aceves for 2 innings today after Joba, at least I think he would have gotten the bottom of the order out and save Coke for the lefties if needed. I still don’t know how you can keep trotting Veras out there whith a 1 run lead.

  816. Roger(the new amsterdam yankees )

    matsui is a clutch hitter

  817. SJ44

    Brandon,

    Nathan has worked 4 days a row. I don’t know if he is available today.

    Sterling does it again!!!! Calls a HR for Matsui and it was a double.

    He NOT the team, is the embarrassment.

  818. DT

    LOL… John Sterling is a joke….

    It is high… It is far… It is GONE…. oh wait, no it isn’t..

  819. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    That’s how you use your bench. Hopefully we do something soon.

  820. EvoLuTioN

    Jeter has to NOT get an out here, whatever he does.

  821. carl

    Dont bunt ground ball gets him to third anyway

  822. serious

    Matt- HE HAD NO CHOICE. there is no ONE in that bullpen and he probably didn’t want to bring coke in with the work that he has had to do. then veras, the succubus,forced his hand with coke.

    matsui is a clutch, clutch hitter. really really really underrated, on bad knees he is still one of the more dangerous hitters we have.

    people need to stop blaming girardi for using the chips he has the only way he can

  823. yanks

    ten bucks says the way this team knows how to produce runs, they don’t end up scoring

  824. 86w183

    Veras is the Armando Benitez of his era. Canot trust him when it matters. Very good when up or down 10 runs however.

    Asked Coke for too much considering he pitched last night. Juan Cruz would have come in handy today, no?

  825. EvoLuTioN

    stop bunting we are terrible with sac flys anyway!

  826. V Torch

    What a deflating loss this would be

  827. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    Joe Nathan got worked hard yesterday too.

    There is hope.

  828. MP

    Thank you, Godzilla.
    Key situation here…runner on 2nd, 0 outs, gotta get the run in. I’ll take two sac flies or something.

  829. S.A.--The sun will come out tomorrow

    Sterling :roll:
    Can we get some new life in the Yankees radio booth?

  830. joe

    can JD do his job?

  831. EvoLuTioN

    captain intangibles

  832. Rachel

    Jeter should of taken a pitch there. Make him throw strikes instead of giving him an out…

  833. joe

    fly ball JD come on!!!!

  834. Sean Serritella

    Did you guys hear Paul O’Neil? He said, “The Yankees have a good chance to win this game and then they have Mariano and… and….” “and they have a good chance to win this game.”

  835. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    BUNT dammit!

  836. BX 44

    Coke can be a nice weapon to have if you don’t overexpose him

    Girardi can’t use him like Scott Shields.

  837. Matt

    Uh, yes, it does come down to the offense when you score 3 runs on one swing and a guy who has thrown 60 pitches in the first three innings is still on the mound in the 8th. The Twins have very weak middle relief. If the offense does its job even in working his pitch count, they get to blow the game wide open against the relief and the pitching looks good.

    4 runs allowed with this offense on the field and you have a good chance of winning the game. That’s doing its job. You need to tack on runs while you have a lead. If they blow this to 5 or 6 to 2 Minnesota doesn’t come back, I guarantee it.

  838. EvoLuTioN

    I have no idea why Michael Kay and Sterling still have their jobs

  839. Pel (Uncertainty is certain.)

    laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaame

  840. Giuseppe Franco

    Gardenhire obviously doesn’t trust his pen very much either.

  841. RalphieD

    dammit damon…WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

  842. carl

    see thats why you don’t have jeter bunt.

  843. DT

    Sterling
    Can we get some new life in the Yankees radio booth?

    or at least some new glasses… that was pathetic.
    At least he didn’t go into his homer nickname crap yet.

  844. miggs

    Crap Damon.

    Up to Tex.

  845. EvoLuTioN

    I told you guys, we are terrible with sac flys. Bunting in the position when you’re up in the count 2-0 is absolutely STUPID.

  846. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    we’re going to strand the tying run aren’t we. :?

  847. SJ44

    Miggs,

    Exactly. They are in this spot because of Veras.

    He does his job, you don’t have to extend Coke and you get the ball to Mo.

    They are really going to have to consider DFA’ing him when Bruney comes back.

    I know they get petrified about losing his “arm” but, the guy isn’t reliable enough to put in games. He’s really hurt them in these type of games this year.

    Once again, the worst situational hitting team in baseball can’t get the run in from third with less than 2 outs.

    That’s why pitching is so important. This offense isn’t consistent enough to rely on them to win games.

  848. Rachel

    Bad at bat..Damon needs to take that outside pitch. Not a good pitch to swing at..

  849. Nick in SF

    Brandon, I’m surprised to see you join the ‘this is over’ club. Johnny Damon needs to talk to you.

  850. joe

    this is where the yankees really have struggled

    man on 3rd less than 2 outs
    can they do it this time………nope

    no surprise

  851. Matt

    How anyone can blame the pitching is just astounding. They again failed to drive in a runner from 3rd with less than two outs, THE TYING RUN. It is CLEARLY the offense’s fault.

  852. miggs

    they may pitch around him to get to a rod

  853. miggs

    they may pitch around him to get to a rod

  854. miggs

    they may pitch around him to get to a rod

  855. LouinSoCal

    John Sterling is an idiot. Said Matsui hit a homerun. Thanks!

  856. Dave D.

    That bottom of the 6th loomed to be large

    1st and 2nd no outs = 0 runs

  857. EvoLuTioN

    TEX comes through, WOOO

  858. joe

    unbelievable

  859. RalphieD

    I LOVE YOU TEX

  860. E-gawa

    Yesssss

  861. carl

    Tex!!

  862. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    “Coke can be a nice weapon to have if you don’t overexpose him

    Girardi can’t use him like Scott Shields.”

    ———

    excellent point. Coke has, by default, become the every day go-to-guy with the injuries and poor performances of others.

  863. Pel (Uncertainty is certain.)

    TEIX DOES NOT WANT TO BE BOOED!

  864. joe

    can’t say i expected that to happen

  865. Rachel

    Tex makes up for it!! Tex has officially arrived in the Bronx..

  866. EvoLuTioN

    awesome job tex

  867. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    Mark where have you’ve been !

  868. SJ44

    The good news……Tex is back. VERY good news.

    BTW, if Jose Veras was a major league pitcher, there is your insurance run.

    Gotta fix the bullpen Brian. You can’t keep giving up games hoping for career journeymen to get it together.

  869. Homer

    We knew this offense lacked fundamentals

    However, we were supposed to be able to squeeze out close games with the the bullpen.

  870. 86w183

    Don’t lump Kay and Sterling together. Kay might be a little annoying, but he’s a pro. Sterling and his hyper orgasmic Georgie Girl are a cartoon skit gone awry.

  871. Benny Blanco

    Tex= 4-4

  872. RalphieD

    .238 for tex now…hes makin his move

  873. MP

    Holy mackerel, Teix. The dude is on fire.
    Honestly, I’m glad they didn’t put it in A-Rod’s hands. :)

  874. Bronx Jeers

    Wow, Gardenhire gettin burnt again.

    Yeah I hate the bunt like a few others but usually Johnny gets that fly ball.

  875. Giuseppe Franco

    For the record, those who have ripped Teixeira mercilessly the last few weeks are not allowed to cheer for him now.

    Because that makes you a hypocrite.

  876. Donnie

    Big hit by Tex. He’s the only one that really got to Blackburn today. Great job of hitting.

  877. joe

    the yanks realllllllllly got to get it done either here or in the 9th because after that…..dun dun dun yes, there will be no mariano

  878. miggs

    wow sorry for that triple post….

    Not sure really what happened there.

  879. KO

    HUge hit by Tex. By the way what is Gardenhire thinking leaving Blackburn in that long???? leaving him in to face Tex was an INSULT. he was done.

  880. S.o.S.

    Are the 2 managers trying to win the bonehead award move of the day? Why would you pitch to tex when Alex hasnt worked out his kinks? NOT complaining. Just saying.

  881. carl

    Lets go A-Rod!

  882. joe

    agreed, thank you tino

  883. Rachel

    Now Mo in a tied game?! They probably should have pitched around Tex..But I guess they don’t want to wake a giant.

  884. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    “Brandon, I’m surprised to see you join the ‘this is over’ club.”

    ——-

    Nick, I think it’s down to you, trisha, rebecca, and I.

    I’d have thought after last night that some people wouldn’t hang it up because the Yanks are down a run.

  885. SJ44

    How can you blame the pitching? Are you serious Matt?

    Here’s a hint…..3 runs, 2 hits, 4 walks in 1+ innings to flush a 3-1 lead down the drain.

    That’s how.

  886. MP

    If it stays tied here, who does Girardi use in the 9th?? Mo? Aceves?

    How bout CC? =)

  887. EvoLuTioN

    now would be a great time for arod to show up pete :lol:

  888. Ape

    I’m ticked off that Joba isin’t going to get the win

  889. joe

    wonder if they will put arod on now

    alex looked pretty happy that that ball got away, he really wanted tex to make it haha

  890. sar515

    I think nice guy Mark had to get mad yesterday!!!

    Now he’s awake.

    A-Rod with the bomb

  891. Gates

    Time to let Melancon and Robertson take their lumps at the ML level

    We know what Veras is, time to get rid of him.

  892. joe

    come on arod, swisher is on deck
    they will give him a breaking ball

  893. yanks

    knew that was going to happen, especially with swisher on deck

    come on swish!!!!!!!!!!

  894. EvoLuTioN

    Arod may not have his timing, but he sure as hell hasn’t lost his ability to take walks :D

  895. Laura - Win together, strike out alone!

    Alex has become the king of walks.

  896. carl

    Swish :( please Lord God Jesus Allah Moses

  897. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    he walked twice in that AB

  898. RalphieD

    come on swish…redemption can be sweet

  899. E-gawa

    Cmon swisher

  900. miggs

    Well its up to Swisher. Now would be a good time to break this slump.

    He sure is due.

  901. yanks

    swisher is due for a big hit

  902. SJ44

    Bullpen kills them as usual and here is another situation where the lack of a bench bites them.

    Gotta pinch hit for Swisher here but, they have nobody to do so.

    Roster issues hurt. Yes, even in May.

  903. sar515

    Swisher looking for 1st Stadium HR…

    It’s a good time…

  904. Rachel

    He went after Arod…But when Swish is on deck..You know it is ok to not give in. Swish needs to see the bench..

  905. EvoLuTioN

    swisher needs to get more aggressive to break out of the slump, hes taking good pitches to hit

  906. yanks

    comeon SWISHER

    SWISHER SWEETS!!!!!!! COMEON

  907. EvoLuTioN

    really behind on that

  908. Rachel

    Swish what kind of swing was that?!!

  909. yanks

    come on jolly ol st nick

  910. EvoLuTioN

    works the count full

    so much stress

  911. yanks

    here we go 3-2 pitch!!

    come on nick!!!!

  912. IT IS HIGHT ITS IS GONE NO WAIT ITS A DOUBLE

    I just heard John Sterling’s BUTCHERING of Matsui’s double… hearing this atrocious radio team game in and game out is really starting to piss me off. The #1 premiere franchise in the US shouldn’t have such EMBARRASSING radio announcers.
    Im writing letter #1 to voice my opinion, will anyone else help?

    http://www.cbsradio.com/contact/index.html

  913. Brendan

    Looks like A-Rod did some light reading while he was rehabing, no? Maybe he read “Moneyball.” I’ve never seen Alex have at bats like this ever.

  914. SJ44

    Well, at least its tied.

    Need to use Mo here, hope he puts up a scoreless inning and try to win it in the bottom of the 9th again.

  915. carl

    Fail

  916. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    he’s getting closer.

  917. EvoLuTioN

    sigh, swisher fails to come through once again

  918. yanks

    swisher is in a darn big slump

    mariano time i assume….?
    man the yanks really need to win the game in the bottom of the 9th because after that, the bullpen is just a disgrace

  919. EvoLuTioN

    can cano deliver a walk off? or can the melkman come through once again?

  920. KO

    ITS PRETTY OBVIOUS SWISHER NEEDS A DAY OR TWO OFF JOE

  921. Gates

    Bring up John Rodriquez please

  922. Rachel

    Cano should be batting 5th. Not an automatic out. His timing is all messed up..

  923. IT IS HIGH IT IS FAR IT IS GOOONE! NO WAIT ITS A DOUBLE

    I just heard John Sterling’s BUTCHERING of Matsui’s double… hearing this atrocious radio team game in and game out is really starting to piss me off. The #1 premiere franchise in the US shouldn’t have such EMBARRASSING radio announcers.
    Im writing letter #1 to voice my opinion, will anyone else help?

    http://www.cbsradio.com/contact/index.html

  924. Donnie

    Not a great AB by Swisher. That second strike was nothing but “Let’s swing as hard as I can and try to knock the cover off the ball”. He was zoning fastball (if he was zoning at all, and not just swinging wildly), when the guy had been throwing breaking pitch after breaking pitch. Just not the best AB I’ve ever seen.

  925. Nick in SF

    Boston Dave: The real question is, did you ever make it to La Taqueria? I’m not as optimistic about that as I am about this game.

  926. joe

    come on mariano

  927. Matt

    You can’t blame the pitching, give me a break. Melky’s poor play was the only reason the 2nd run scored.

    It’s a completely different game if you tack on a run or two to make it 4-2 or 5-2 in that spot. Hitters change their approaches and pitchers aren’t as fine, which means they don’t leave one over the plate in a 3-1 count because they were nibbling.

    4 runs with this talent on the field is enough to win every ball game.

    Do you not get it? The guy had 60 pitches in 3 innings and was not pitching well. They let him pitch into the 8th inning. Why is that not a problem when you know the other team has weak middle relief?

    Even if they don’t score more off Blackburn, getting to the pen lets them tack on key insurance runs that make a huge difference in the game. Not scoring runs is the reason their pitchers are nibbling so much, which causes them to walk a lot more hitters and give up a lot more runs.

    It’s common sense, which you clearly lack. You’re like one of those fans that thinks that everyone has to be perfect no matter what because they’re a Yankee.

    YOU CANNOT REASONABLY EXPECT THE PITCHING TO SHUT THE OPPONENT DOWN EVERY NIGHT WHEN YOU DON’T SCORE RUNS. Pitchers are not going to go out there and put up 7 IP 1 ER every day. Sometimes you have to score 4-5 runs and give yourself a chance to win. The Twins are a decent offensive team with Mauer back in the lineup. You can’t keep giving away chance after chance, a major league team will eventually score and beat you if you do that.

  928. KO

    it’s also pretty obvious Swisher should not be hitting as high as 5th (I know Matsui was out) Melky should actually be ahead of Cano and Swisher right now… Cano should be ahead of Swish

  929. S.A.--The sun will come out tomorrow

    get em Mo

  930. Giuseppe Franco

    IT IS HIGHT ITS IS GONE NO WAIT ITS A DOUBLE May 16th, 2009 at 4:02 pm

    I just heard John Sterling’s BUTCHERING of Matsui’s double… hearing this atrocious radio team game in and game out is really starting to piss me off. The #1 premiere franchise in the US shouldn’t have such EMBARRASSING radio announcers.
    Im writing letter #1 to voice my opinion, will anyone else help?

    —————

    People can complain all they want but he’s not going anywhere.

  931. Rachel

    Hopefully Mo can keep the game tied…

  932. rconn23

    Mo in a tie game. Oh boy.

  933. 86w183

    Guys this is what Swisher is… a hot and cold player who gets exposed playing all the time. I would not start him more than 5 times a week, preferably 4.

    Jeez they need Nady back something awful, but until then Melky and Brett can both play more often.

  934. S.o.S.

    Nick, I think it’s down to you, trisha, rebecca, and I.

    —————–

    Boston Dave,
    I think your probably forgetten a handfull of people here.

  935. carl

    Don’t deny Mo

  936. SJ44

    Swisher is what he is. Statheads place too much importance to his walks and what he hit a few years ago.

    He’s basically a .220-.240 hitter, who strikes out a ton at this point of his career if he plays everyday.

    Unfortunately, due to Nady’s injury and the fact they have no other OF’s, he is playing everyday. Not the role for him in 2009.

    I would give him a day off tomorrow, play Melky in RF and Gardner in CF.

    At this point, a mental health break will probably do him some good.

  937. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    back-to-back walk-off wins would be nice.

    when does Tex get up again? the 10th? :)

  938. Giuseppe Franco

    Yuck. Mo’s cutter only hitting 90-91 MPH right now according to Gameday.

  939. Rachel

    Here comes Babe Ruth….

  940. carl

    Man I would love for us to sign Mauer.

  941. carl

    So dirty nasty stanky

  942. RalphieD

    that was beast-like by mariano

  943. Rachel

    Alright this is their inning..Otherwise its Alba in the 10th..

  944. Spudz

    Vintage Mo!

  945. Spudz

    Vintage Mo!

  946. Silky Johnston

    I didn’t see anything “Yuck” about the way Mo pitched that inning

  947. S.A.--The sun will come out tomorrow

    Mo is god

  948. Nick in SF

    Last night I was hoping that Swisher’s mental health break would come today, but Tex-to-DH nixed that. I hope it comes tomorrow too. If it makes sense matchup-wise.

  949. trisha - Brett Tomko, an idea whose time has come!

    Simply awestriking.

    He had Mauer frozen like a statue.

  950. rconn23

    Bottom of the lineup must atone.

  951. Bronx Jeers

    Gameday had him at 91 consistently. Not as fast as he was in Toronto but the location was great.

  952. Clint

    “Swisher is what he is. Statheads place too much importance to his walks and what he hit a few years ago.

    He’s basically a .220-.240 hitter, who strikes out a ton at this point of his career if he plays everyday.”

    Bingo.

  953. Rachel

    You would think Girardi is going to mix and match with Swish and Gardner in the outfield. I would think Swish will definitely sit tomorrow and maybe the next day. Give him a couple of days to clear his head.

  954. SJ44

    Solid work by Mo. Now, find a way to score a run and win this game.

    Matt,

    If this bullpen can’t hold one run leads from the 7th inning on, no offense is going to save them.

    Have you watched Yankee Baseball the past 5 years? Offense doesn’t win championships.

    They have already lost 4 games this year when they have had the lead from the 7th inning on. They only lost 2 such games last year.

    You can’t keep walking guys and giving up runs in the late innings and win games against good teams.

    Need more proof? Go back and check out the Red Sox and Rays series.

    The bullpen, moreso than the offense, is a disaster on this team.

    They have to fix it. If not, I don’t care how many runs they score, or think you should score, it won’t be enough to win games.

  955. Pat M

    The plan is to win this in the bottom of the 9th…..Smart move considering where the Twins order is….

  956. Sevrx

    Better win it here… Morneau/Kubel/Cuddayer due up in the 10th

    No way our bullpen gets them out.

  957. carl

    Come on Melky!

  958. carl

    I mean Gardner!

  959. Pel (Uncertainty is certain.)

    WHY ARE THEY NOT TAKING PITCHES FOR FUDGE SAKES?!?!?!

  960. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    Michael Kay the human JINXER !

  961. DT

    Walk off inside the park homer? ;-)

  962. carl

    wow great story about the little girl

  963. joe

    our bullpen stinks after mo, you would think that the yankees could at least battle for some good at bats

    but here comes another 10 pitch inning

  964. DYNASTY IS DESTINY!

    Has there ever been an inside the park walk-off?

  965. Rachel

    2 terrible at bats. Do they even try?!!!! Cano back to swinging at anything and then Melky the 1st pitch. Just no approach at the plate

  966. Kevlar

    3 pitches, 2 outs

  967. SJ44

    And before folks start, NO, you don’t use Mo for a second inning.

    This isn’t 1998. His 2 inning days are over.

    If Girardi uses him for a second inning, its a big mistake.

  968. carl

    Yes. Only 1 inside the park walk off grand slam though. That was hit by Roberto Clemente.

  969. Yankee Trader

    Rivera pretty easy inning. If it stays tied, does Rivera pitch the heart of the order in the 10th, or do we go with the other BUMS in the bullpen?

  970. Silky Johnston

    I wouldn’t necessarily use him for 2 innings, but I’m awfully tempted to have him pitch to Morneau

  971. rconn23

    And thanks for showing up at the ballpark, Melky and Robbie.

    They are the most vexing players.

  972. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    “The bullpen, moreso than the offense, is a disaster on this team.

    They have to fix it. If not, I don’t care how many runs they score, or think you should score, it won’t be enough to win games.”

    ——–

    Mariano hasn’t been Mariano at times so far. Bruney is hurt. Marte is hurt. Melancon is a work in progress.

    I agree wholeheartedly with the importance of the pen. I may be naive but I think the pen will be in the top 7-8 in the AL once they get Bruney back.

    I still think they need to acquire an arm or two at the deadline especially considering there should be more salary dumps than usual with the recession-driven attendance drop.

  973. Outlawz

    This game should be over by now

    If we lose this game, Veras needs to be DFA’d immediately. Don’t even wait until Bruney comes back

  974. carl

    Mo coming back out.

  975. RalphieD

    melky and cano in 8 abs have seen a combined 22 pitches

  976. joe

    great inning there for the yanks
    NOT

    i say pitch mariano…literally there is no other arm in the pen

  977. E-gawa

    “And before folks start, NO, you don’t use Mo for a second inning.

    This isn’t 1998. His 2 inning days are over.

    If Girardi uses him for a second inning, its a big mistake.”

    It’s not a mistake.

  978. Rachel

    The at bats have been SOOOO poor…I love when Kay talks about how patient they are at the plate. Maybe Kay means the Yanks of 5 years ago.

  979. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    *the pen will be top 7-8 in the AL the rest of the way (not overall)

  980. pat

    Mo’s coming back out?

  981. trisha - Brett Tomko, an idea whose time has come!

    wah

    I really hate extra inning games.

  982. E-gawa

    If you can’t use your closer for 2 innings at home in a tie game.. you don’t have a closer.

  983. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    “2 terrible at bats. Do they even try?!!!! Cano back to swinging at anything and then Melky the 1st pitch. Just no approach at the plate”

    Cano swung at a pitch in the middle of the plate he was just late on it. Melky took a swing at a strike, I didn’t see anything wrong in thier ABs.

  984. John

    Great effort there against the journeyman reliever

    You just know this is going to be a loss

  985. miggs

    Looks like Mo for another inning. Saw him grab his glove before the commercial.

    Girardi pushing the limit, going against what he just said..”no more multiple inning outings”

    Blah blah blah

  986. rconn23

    Looking for a culprit for today’s game. One is the bullpen, the other is the bottom of the order.

    Awful at bats, every one of them, by Cabrera, Cano and Garnder.

  987. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    if it’s tied, you need to leave Mo in for Morneau and possibly Kubel.

  988. Donnie

    Gardner worked him a little, but Melky and Robbie were ENTIRELY too anxious there. Melky’s AB is what I envisioned last night when he actually won the game. I wonder if someone can work with him on that.

  989. Matthew

    I have an immutable force vs. immovable object question: it’s the 8th inning of a baseball game. Robinson Cano is up to bat, and (because this is a theoretical question) a Yankees reliever comes into the game to face him. Will he draw a walk?

  990. DT

    Is there a logical reason why Berroa is still on this roster?

  991. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    “Girardi pushing the limit, going against what he just said..”no more multiple inning outings”

    Blah blah blah”

    ——-

    its the right move with Morneau up

  992. SJ44

    It is a mistake. His two multiple inning outings have resulted in his worst outings of the year and hurt him for a few days after it.

    This is a mistake. If Mo gets hurt, the season is over.

    Not a good strategy, even if it works.

  993. Silky Johnston

    This makes Pete more right about using Mo in the 8th. If he’s available for 2 today then why not close the door earlier?

  994. Vitoooo

    use mo to get mornaeu, and then put in alba

  995. Rachel

    I am very surprised Mo is back out there. Maybe just to get this batter..I don’t like this move at all.

  996. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    “Is there a logical reason why Berroa is still on this roster?”

    ———

    define logical :)

  997. joe

    now this gets dangerous

    darnit

  998. cubandude

    “UPDATE, 4:14 p.m.: Girardi is going to use Mo for another inning. I didn’t realize this game decided something.”

    I means extending the streak to 4, which this team hasn’t been able to do for a while.

  999. Silky Johnston

    The only reason Berroa is still on the roster is b/c of A-rod’s hip and Jeter’s oblique

  1000. carl

    ahh that sucks

  1001. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    “I am very surprised Mo is back out there. Maybe just to get this batter..I don’t like this move at all.”

    ——–

    right, because Morneau is a bum and the Yanks have a great lefty killer in the pen to get him out.

  1002. RalphieD

    cant really blame mariano..hes cat-like on the mound

  1003. Roger(the new amsterdam yankees )

    pete made a great point about Mo

  1004. S.o.S.

    Walk off inside the park homer?

    ———–

    DT i think you jinxed him. Do you ever say the words no hitter during the game? Be careful next time. Where all on the same team here.

  1005. RalphieD

    ahh come on look at these hits…what luck

  1006. chr1zisORL

    No.. please Mo cmon.. please

  1007. joe

    NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

  1008. Nick in SF

    Joba going a little deeper into the game might have made a difference too, of course. The bullpen has looked incredible in CC’s last couple of starts. ;)

  1009. S.A.--The sun will come out tomorrow

    Uh oh

  1010. Matt

    SJ,

    What do you not get?

    THEY ARE MISSING BOTH OF THEIR SET UP MEN.

    You can’t expect their bullpen to dominate when it’s missing two of its most important pieces after Mo. Coke is what he is, a middle reliever who can get outs most of the time. Veras is what he is, a guy with good stuff who is erratic. Ramirez is what he is, a guy with decent stuff who is erratic.

    They are not healthy right now. You can’t expect their bullpen to be lights out when it’s missing all the set up men.

    However, you can’t score just 3 runs in the American League and expect to win the game easily, which is what put them in that position.

    This is not the bullpen they would go to in a big spot late in the year to get outs. That’s why they are struggling right now. Just like the offense couldn’t be blamed when it was missing so many guys on the disabled list, the same applies to the pen, and now the other case with the offense. They have no excuse to not score runs.

    When you score so few runs, it puts enormous pressure on the pitchers. When you are forced to use AAA pitchers in the 7th and 8th innings because your set up men are out, you can’t keep giving them NO ROOM FOR ERROR. The offense needs to pick up this team with guys injured, and it has not even come close to doing so.

    When the offense was out, the pitching needed to step up and it didn’t. Now that the pitching has stepped up, the offense can’t even pick them up even when they pitch well.

    Whose fault is it when you score 3 runs going into the 8th inning? You can’t expect the pitching to shut them down night after night. Sometimes a good hitting team will actually HIT.

  1011. CB

    Girardi uses Coke for a second inning coming off a bad back.

    Now he’s using Mariano for a second inning in a may game after Mo is coming off a sore shoulder.

    Those are moves made by a manager who doesn’t trust his bull pen.

    But they are perhaps even more so moves made by a manager worried about his job.

  1012. Rachel

    Alba should of started the inning. Mo has had arms problems this season and his 2nd innings have been bad. The loss is on Girardi. He NEVER should of asked him to pitch 2 innings. What a disaster.

  1013. Pat M

    Two chinkers for hits…..

  1014. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    Jetes looked at that ball like give me a break

  1015. Yankee Trader

    Who’s left in the bullpen-Al”bad”adejo, Asseves, or Timetogo?

  1016. trisha - Brett Tomko, an idea whose time has come!

    MO is most likeluy out there because he didn’t throw many pitches in the 9th.

  1017. SJ44

    Like I said, its a mistake. He isn’t a 2 inning relief pitcher anymore.

    Denial isn’t a river in Africa. Its in the minds of Joe Girardi and too many of the fans.

    Now, you can’t use him tomorrow because he’s getting extended too much today.

    Its not just about managing for this game. You have to think about tomorrow.

    Big mistake. Even if you win, you lose because you will need someone else to close tomorrow if you have the lead.

  1018. ArtFig

    So how does it not make sense to have used Mo in the 8th as Pete suggested? Obviously the problem is the definition of a save such that using closers in the 8th is being discouraged. Argh! about extra innings.

  1019. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    relax

    a weak grounder and a jammed bloop shot and Mariano isn’t doing well?

  1020. Matt

    Idiots weren’t complaining about Melky not working the count against Nathan last night. Often, the first pitch is the best one to hit.

  1021. E-gawa

    Girardi made the right decision no matter the outcome.

  1022. Rachel

    I have to say Mo pitching 2 innings is very hard to understand. Doesn’t make any sense at all to me. It seems Girardi is doing odd things to save his job.

  1023. Rudy

    You people are unreal and live in fantasy land. If Girardi goes with ANYONE else and they blow the game, well then it’s his fault because he should have stayed with MO for another inning. If MO comes out for his 2nd inning and blows the lead, it’s still Girardi’s fault.

    REALLY NOW? UNREAL.

  1024. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    “Now, you can’t use him tomorrow because he’s getting extended too much today.

    Its not just about managing for this game. You have to think about tomorrow.”

    ——

    is this the real SJ44?

    because that is one of the dumbest things I’ve read.

  1025. joe

    lets go mo

  1026. Matt

    Again, this is a perfect example of why you can’t blame the bullpen. They just don’t have enough arms right now with so many guys hurt. That’s why they have to go to Mo for another inning. With the heart of the order coming up next inning, you take one more shot at it with Mo before you have to bring in guys you feel will give up runs.

  1027. SJ44

    Matt,

    If the Yankees don’t have somebody in the bullpen other than Brian Bruney and Damaso Marte who can pitch to .200 hitters, they are in big trouble.

    I get that you don’t understand that pitching wins games so, let’s just agree to disagree.

  1028. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    “Now he’s using Mariano for a second inning in a may game after Mo is coming off a sore shoulder”

    Well he is at 26 pitches maybe that’s a reason ?

  1029. joe

    YES, come on MO one more out!!!

  1030. pat

    Melky doesn’t get that

  1031. RalphieD

    that was a great catch by gardner

  1032. Pat M

    Desperate times calls for desperate measures….Rivera is on the shelf for tomorrow….

  1033. DT

    DT i think you jinxed him. *Do you ever say the words no hitter during the game?* Be careful next time. Where all on the same team here.

    Sure. I assume my shortstop crouch and talk to the pitcher on TV.
    “He no hitter, He no hitter, cmon baby, chuck it in there, he no hitter”

    I don’t want the manager mad at me for not chattering.

  1034. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    “Doesn’t make any sense at all to me. ”

    ——-

    not the first time you’ve said this, is it?

  1035. trisha - Brett Tomko, an idea whose time has come!

    NICE catch by Gardner!

  1036. Rob

    This to me is a great example of where Girardi is not up to the job. His bullpen management this game has been atrocious.

  1037. carl

    Thats how you do it.

  1038. 86w183

    SJ you’re 100 % right as we’ve discussed. Mo is a one-inning guy unnless the damn pennant is on the line.

    No matter how this game plays out neither he nor Coke is available tomorrow.. Tomko to close? Jeez!

  1039. joe

    great job mo

    now we have to win it here or we are in real trouble becaue of this bullpen

  1040. Angel - A tale told by idiots, full of sound and fury - signifying nothing.

    Rachel
    May 16th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
    The at bats have been SOOOO poor…I love when Kay talks about how patient they are at the plate. Maybe Kay means the Yanks of 5 years ago.

    *****************************************
    What the heck? Are we watching the same games?

  1041. carl

    Rob May 16th, 2009 at 4:25 pm

    This to me is a great example of where Girardi is not up to the job. His bullpen management this game has been atrocious

    Wait what?!?!?! what do you want him to do?

  1042. E-gawa

    See.. And he was still under his season high pitch count.

  1043. Joe

    Too bad we can’t see this on TV, stupid blackout rules.

  1044. Rudy

    Why do I feel that Tex is going to win this game?

  1045. SJ44

    Its a “great” move unitl you all see Jose Veras coming out to close tomorrow.

    Not a good strategy at all. Especially for a 39 year old with a surgically repaired shoulder.

  1046. trisha - Brett Tomko, an idea whose time has come!

    Awww. Mo got the job done. You can breathe now!!!

    :D

  1047. Donnie

    Great job, Mo.

    Please, for the love of Jesus, let’s win this. I trust Tomko in this game about as much as I’d trust a 6th grader with my debit card.

  1048. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    this blog rips Girardi for pulling Mo. They rip him for leaving him in.

    they rip Tex. they wanted Matsui and Damon waived before the season.

    the Yankees had lost the game in the 8th last night.

    at what point to people stop overreacting and making premature judgments?

  1049. RalphieD

    good job…cant fault him for those 2 hits..just well spotted hits

  1050. Bronx Jeers

    Girardi is surviving this game by the skin of his teeth.

    Let’s hope we don’t see the 11th.

    If so and he brings in Albaladejo over Aceves?

  1051. rconn23

    Not the best decision by Girardi, but luckily Mo is Mo and Gardner is in the outfield.

  1052. S.o.S.

    Joba going a little deeper into the game might have made a difference too, of course. The bullpen has looked incredible in CC’s last couple of starts.

    ———–

    Nick you are such a whiner. Did you forget the simulated inning he threw in the 0 inning?

  1053. Rachel

    Even though he got out of it, it still wasn’t the right move. This is a 39 year old pitcher coming off of arm surgery. He hasn’t been that good this season, he even said his arm isn’t 100%. There is no reason to over due it in May. It’s not like the Yanks at bats would give Girardi a reason to think they would score in this inning anyway. Save the bullets for later on in the season.

  1054. Giuseppe Franco

    Well, hopefully they win this game and Burnett gives them plenty of length tomorrow because Mo is almost assuredly not going to be available.

  1055. Y26

    If we have a lead tomorrow, Veras can close it out

  1056. Rudy

    SJ44 May 16th, 2009 at 4:26 pm

    Its a “great” move unitl you all see Jose Veras coming out to close tomorrow.

    Not a good strategy at all. Especially for a 39 year old with a surgically repaired shoulder.

    =======================
    And if tomorrow is a blow-out by one of the teams? Yeah, great point dude.

  1057. Nick in SF

    There are innings and there are innings. Mo threw 11 pitches in the 9th. That has to have been a factor in Girardi’s thinking, no?

  1058. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    Pete,

    you either need to stop letting someone use SJ44’s name or send him some drugs.

    IMO, It can’t possibly be the real SJ44.

    registration, please? pretty please?

  1059. E-gawa

    Again.. if your closer can’t go 2 innings.. you don’t have a closer.

  1060. trisha - Brett Tomko, an idea whose time has come!

    1. Clue: if Mariano didn’t throw many pitches there is no reason he couldn’t come out for the 10th. What’s the difference between throwing 22 pitches in one inning and 22 in two innings?

    2. I don’t believe we have the real SJ here because today is his nephew’s last game and he is cooking for 25 kids.

    3. Despite what you might think, Girardi would not compromise Mo’s health.

  1061. Matt

    SJ,

    Pitching does win games, but offense can lose games as well. If you score 2 runs and lose 3-2, whose fault is that? Certainly not the pitching’s.

    They scored 3 runs and had a 3-2 lead. Sorry, but this is the American League. 3 runs is not going to be enough to win a game unless Roy Halladay or CC Sabathia is on the mound.

    If they lost last night’s game, it certainly would have been the fault of the offense. The pitching is doing all that it can with the injuries to the pen, but almost their entire opening day lineup other than Posada is on the field right now. When you have 15 baserunners and 2 or 3 runs, that’s not the pitching’s fault. If they give up a few runs and lose the game, that’s not entirely their fault. If you score even ONCE when you have a big opportunity like that, the game is over before you even have to go to the scrub relievers, and that’s the point.

    You get backed against a wall when you don’t score runs, and the pitchers will nibble and sometimes you get forced to go to your weaker relievers since you are going so deep into extra innings. If you score runs, you don’t get to that point, and the pitching never gets a chance to give up runs.

  1062. CB

    “a weak grounder and a jammed bloop shot and Mariano isn’t doing well?”

    Nothing to do with him not doing well.

    He’s thrown almost 30 pitches, with a cold period in between when the yankees hit, in a game in May against the Twins coming off a bad shoulder.

    Head shaking move. It really is. Very short sighted.

    Girardi is managing scared. How is this such a must win game?

    And pete’s right – if Girardi was willing to use Mo for two innings today, to not pitch him in the 8th is criminal.

    Awful bull pen management.

    Girardi was praised over and over for his bull pen management last year. Not so difficult to do when most of the guys are pitching league average or better.

    How he used the bull pen today was very poor. And his use of Mo coming off a bad shoulder inexcusable.

  1063. Joe Mama

    If they were going to use Mo for 2 innings today just bring him up in the 8th

  1064. Shamik

    let tex get an at-bat so he can end this!

  1065. BJK

    Did I miss something? Is Aceves hurt?

  1066. vtred

    Burnett better be ready to throw a complete game tomorrow

  1067. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    “Well, hopefully they win this game and Burnett gives them plenty of length tomorrow because Mo is almost assuredly not going to be available.”

    ——

    you win the game today and worry about tomorrow, tomorrow.

    you don’t “sacrifice” a game today because you MIGHT need someone tomorrow.

  1068. Rachel

    Aceves warming up for the 10th…

  1069. E-gawa

    Saving Mo for 3 run leads to pad that SV stat is pointless. These and 1 run games are the types of games he’s getting paid all that money for.

  1070. Angel - A tale told by idiots, full of sound and fury - signifying nothing.

    I didn’t think SJ was going to be around today either.

    With all this impersonating BS you can never be sure, anymore.

  1071. Shamik

    ahh i thought jeter had that

  1072. Pitt Yanks

    This Twins pitcher shows them how to do it— just pound the zone and throw strikes and get quick outs.

  1073. carl

    Damon better get on or win it.

  1074. Rachel

    He just missed that…It was RIGHT over the plate.

  1075. Harper M

    Unless we hit a HR, we’re not going to score

  1076. joe

    yeah, we need to win it somehow here with 2 outs because it will be the top of the order for minny vs….alfredo aceves!! nooooo

  1077. SJ44

    Rudy,

    Let me go slow so you will understand.

    If you want to use Mo for 2 innings, which shouldn’t be done, why use him when the game is tied?

    Wouldn’t it have made sense to use him when they had the lead?

    That’s horrible bullpen management, lose him for tomorrow, and still haven’t won this game.

    Makes no sense to anybody who understands baseball. Makes perfect sense to people who don’t.

  1078. trisha - Brett Tomko, an idea whose time has come!

    “at what point to people stop overreacting and making premature judgments?”

    I’d pay people to stop with that silliness but unfortunately, go back and read the game thread. I haven’t done it but I guarantee you there’s talk of boogeymen happenings that never occurred. Some people I guess truly can’t help themselves.

  1079. NHYankee62

    Alright JOhnny D, time to make up for that weak bouncer to the pitcher you had last time!

  1080. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    CB,

    It’s not a must-win.

    That doesn’t mean you don’t give your team the best chance to win it.

    Mariano can throw more than 20 pitches. He’d had 1-inning appearances where he threw many pitches. Did people rip Girardi for those games?

    Should Mariano be pulled after 15 pitches mid-inning???

    It’s ok if he needs a day off tomorrow.

  1081. DT

    I think today’s in-game SJ44 – is really Sally Jessy Raphael

  1082. HoopsMcCann

    Tomorrow would be a great day for AJ to do a Wells… it is setup perfectly: May 17th… Sunday afternoon… Twins for the opponent…. hmmmm!!! ;)

  1083. Danny

    Using MO for 2 innings in an extra inning game after he had an 11 pitch inning is NOT the same as using him for 5-6 outs.

    5-6 outs is a panic move.

    Letting go out there for a 2nd inning after an easy 1st inning is fine.

  1084. carl

    SJ44 if our BP was decent I would agree with you but its not.

  1085. Pel (Uncertainty is certain.)

    lame

  1086. Rachel

    It seems like the Yanks will need 5 more innings to score a run. Or at least get a runner on base.

  1087. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    “If you want to use Mo for 2 innings, which shouldn’t be done, why use him when the game is tied?

    Wouldn’t it have made sense to use him when they had the lead?”

    ——-

    hard to argue with that, except, the idea is that you hope you can trust more than just your closer to hold a lead.

    you’re assuming Girardi knew beforehand that Coke would blow the lead.

  1088. Shamik

    lets get another scoreless inning and then an TEX walkoff HR

  1089. Forntoso

    Why do the Twins relievers have such an easy, effortless time getting outs?

  1090. Rudy

    SJ44 May 16th, 2009 at 4:31 pm

    Rudy,

    Let me go slow so you will understand.

    If you want to use Mo for 2 innings, which shouldn’t be done, why use him when the game is tied?

    Wouldn’t it have made sense to use him when they had the lead?

    That’s horrible bullpen management, lose him for tomorrow, and still haven’t won this game.

    Makes no sense to anybody who understands baseball. Makes perfect sense to people who don’t.

    ==============

    UH, let me go slow for you.

    Girardi understands his team better than YOU and everyone else on this board. I know you comment a lot, but don’t talk down to me as if my baseball IQ is low.

  1091. joe

    now the yankees have steered themselves into disaster

  1092. S.A.--The sun will come out tomorrow

    Now what

  1093. Donnie

    Two pitches, Johnny? Really? REALLY?

    I am not gonna lie, I’m not looking forward to Tomko. I saw him in Baltimore last week, and he just looked…not very good. We’ll see if a week off has improved him at all.

  1094. trisha - Brett Tomko, an idea whose time has come!

    *That was definitely not the real SJ!*

    People who understand baseball know that you DO bring your closer in at home in the 9th inning in a tie game!

  1095. NHYankee62

    This team can be so frustrating!
    Talk about a complete lack of hitting!
    They should’ve knocked out Blackburn after the Tex HR.
    But hey, give Kevin Long a raise!!!

  1096. Giuseppe Franco

    you win the game today and worry about tomorrow, tomorrow.

    you don’t “sacrifice” a game today because you MIGHT need someone tomorrow.

    ————

    I know the general rule of thumb. I’ve been watching this game for a long time too.

    But keeping Mo healthy is a helluva lot more important than today’s game and that’s the bottom line.

  1097. Distd

    The book is out on the Yankees offense. They will try to hit HRs and nothing else. The bottom of the order after Swisher is not patient. Just pound the zone with strikes and don’t put it over the plate. Even if we get a couple hits, we’re not going to drive them in.

  1098. RalphieD

    it would behoove(spelling) aceves to get these batters out 1-2-3 so there is no mauer or morneau…then we need the walk off in the bottom

  1099. Donnie

    Oh, good, it’s Aceves. I like him a little better.

  1100. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    “But keeping Mo healthy is a helluva lot more important than today’s game and that’s the bottom line.”

    ——–

    so you would pull him mid-inning if he gets to 15-18 pitches?

    It was 29 pitches. Not 40.

    He’s off tomorrow. Everything will be ok.

  1101. S.o.S.

    I would prefer Girardi use Swisher for the 9th rather than Veras. Unless we have a 10 point lead or losing by 10. He stays seated.

  1102. CB

    “It’s ok if he needs a day off tomorrow.”

    That’s not my concern at all. I completely agree that you try to win the game played today.

    He’s coming off a sore shoulder period during which his stuff looked very bad. He’s 39 and coming off shoulder surgery.

    The idea that this is a game to pitch him two innings/ 30 pitches is a very, very myopic decision, IMO.

    Mo’s health >>>>>>>>>>> winning today’s game.

    And throwing 30 pitches in one inning is different than throwing 30 pitches over two innings for a pitcher because you get cold in between.

    It’s the kind of decision you only make if your perception is that this is a “must win” game that calls for desperate measures.

    But it’s not that kind of game at all.

    The only desperation in this game seems to belong to the manager.

  1103. Nick in SF

    Deciding to use Mo for a second inning after he got through his first inning with only 11 pitches it not the exact same thing as going into the game being ‘willing to use Mo for two innings’. Sometimes the circumstances on the field influence the decisions.

    “Nick you are such a whiner.”

    I’m going to keep whining until Boston Dave in Eugene Oregon reveals whether he did or did not go to La Taqueria. I just need closure.

  1104. RalphieD

    1 more ace!! (yea i like girardi’s nicknames!)

  1105. E-gawa

    “People who understand baseball know that you DO bring your closer in at home in the 9th inning in a tie game!”

    I don’t know about that.. Do you remember the last tie game at home? Alot of the same people were saying the same things.

  1106. Donnie

    Melky, in his sunglasses, looks like a friggin’ Terminator. He’s a baseball robot, sent from the future to produce walk-off hits, and throw the ball unnaturally far.

  1107. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    ““But keeping Mo healthy is a helluva lot more important than today’s game and that’s the bottom line.””

    ——-

    If Girardi wanted to pull him after Morneau, fine.

    but there is no way at all that I would have not left him in for that at bat (aside from the fact that he was at 11 pitches).

  1108. Bad Scooter

    SJ, I guarantee if the Yanks are up 4-3 tomorrow heading to the ninth, Mo will be in to close it.

  1109. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    Swish or Teix ?

  1110. JR

    Jeter: so not done.

  1111. Pel (Uncertainty is certain.)

    nice play by jete & swish

  1112. NHYankee62

    Wow Jeter’s defense really sucks!! Can we have Pena replace him in late innings??

  1113. Rudy

    Nice play by Jeter and Swish.

  1114. RalphieD

    nice play on both ends…lets walk this off

  1115. Pel (Uncertainty is certain.)

    even better inning by the mexican gangster

  1116. DT

    I’m going on record and saying the turning point of the game was…

    “It is high… It is far… It is gone… No wait, it’s a ground rule double.”

    The players look up to John Sterling. (because he’s high up in the booth, of course)
    When he flubs up, it’s very disconcerting to team morale.

  1117. Giuseppe Franco

    so you would pull him mid-inning if he gets to 15-18 pitches?

    It was 29 pitches. Not 40.

    He’s off tomorrow. Everything will be ok.

    ————–

    See CB’s post @ 4:38. He must be able to read my mind.

  1118. carl

    gj jeter

  1119. Joe Mama

    Aceves comes out of the pen throwing strikes to the bottom of the order and gets 3 outs what a concept I still think Aceves should have been in in the 8th

  1120. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    Nick in SF,

    As long as you’re whining in my favor, I should probably keep quiet.

    Alas, I did not end up getting to go. I assure you I was disappointed but my accompanying party wasn’t convinced with my plea of “but you don’t understand, Nick from SF said I had to try it”.

    I’m in SF/Berkeley every year so this case will remain open.

    I did have a pretty good meal at “Spork”. small menu but not bad.

  1121. S.A.--The sun will come out tomorrow

    Good job Alfredo! Win it here

  1122. Shamik

    tex or arod walk off HR…im calling it!

  1123. Bronx Jeers

    If Teixeira ends this game here do the Yankees get credit for the win or do they create a new place in the standings just for him?

  1124. Trevor

    So Swisher can scoop and Tex can’t? Interesting!

  1125. BJK

    And that’s why Aceves should have pitched the 7th.

  1126. trisha - Brett Tomko, an idea whose time has come!

    E-gawa – :D

    As always, I vote that Girardi et al know more than anyone here, moi included (though I actually understood why Girardi put Mo out for an additional inning).

  1127. CB

    Why couldn’t Aceves pitch the 7th?

    I guess he’s still working his way into the circle of trust.

    He’s got to earn the opportunity to pitch in high leverage situations because how could you displace Jose Veras from such a role?

    Veras has clearly earned his membership in the circle of trust. Aceves will need to walk many, many more hitters to be given the ball in the 7th inning.

  1128. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    “Jeter: so not done.”

    It was a routine ground ball :?

  1129. LLIME

    That guy should be the 8th inning man, not Teix

  1130. rconn23

    It is the real SJ44 – or at least I think it is – because he’s making rational points.

    You have a 39-year old closer who is just off shoulder surgery and you are throwing him for two innings in a tie ball game in May. In MAY!

    It was risky as hell.

    Don’t be sheep, people. We all want the Yankees to win every game they can, but people are allowed to question decisions the manager makes. Pete just did in one of his earlier posts.

    Doesn’t mean they are trolls or phony posters. It’s just silly.

  1131. Clark

    Why would MIN even attempt to pitch to Tex?

    Just walk him and get to A-Rod who is hitting .100 and the strikeout machine Swisher

  1132. Bronx Jeers

    And here comes the Dominican God Of Walks.

  1133. Nick in SF

    I suspected as much, Boston Dave, but, as I said, I needed closure.

    I’m not angry. Just disappointed.

    ;)

  1134. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    “tex or arod walk off HR…im calling it!”

    SHUT UP !

  1135. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    “Mo’s health >>>>>>>>>>> winning today’s game.”

    ——–

    I’m willing to agree that he could have been pulled after Morneau.

    I still don’t unequivocally disagree with Girardi’s decision to leave him in though.

  1136. carl

    Game over!!

  1137. Rudy

    ARODDD

  1138. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    YES !!!

  1139. Pepitone's Hairdryer

    I don’t know which is more f’n tedious — an extra-inning nail biter, or reading the know-it-all’s here. “This game is over” (in the 7th, no less). “Using Mo for two means you don’t understand baseball” (Talk with Joe G. about that and get back to us). “Now the Yanks have steered themselves into disaster” (1-2-3 11th). And on and on. Registration? How about a litmus test? Then registration.

    A-Rod!!!!

  1140. Bronx Jeers

    Baby I love your ways!

  1141. E-gawa

    There you go PETE!

  1142. Doug

    At this point, A-Rod is a huge liability. He is a star in name only.

    Pena is a better player now and should play until A-Rod is 100%. However long that may be

  1143. trisha - Brett Tomko, an idea whose time has come!

    And once again the confident posters emerge victorious, while the doubters have more time taken off their lives!!!

    HA HA HA HA!

  1144. S.A.--The sun will come out tomorrow

    A-Rod!!!!
    Yankees Win!

  1145. DT

    good job Alex!

    but you have to wonder whether that homer was attributable to the injury, being rusty or something else.

  1146. EvoLuTioN

    Lets see what snarky comment pete has up his sleeve for this one

  1147. Joe Mama

    All he does is hit home runs and walks

  1148. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    Nick,

    it will be delayed gratification, for sure. :)

  1149. Bronx Jeers

    Doug May 16th, 2009 at 4:45 pm

    At this point, A-Rod is a huge liability. He is a star in name only.
    ———————————-

    Some posts you can never get back.

    Or as Alex would put it: HAH!

  1150. tonyb

    I love it when a plan come together

  1151. carl

    ROFL at AJ

  1152. EvoLuTioN

    lol alex gets pied big time

  1153. AZ Four

    Brunett with another pie!

  1154. rconn23

    He’s BAAACCCKK!!!

  1155. Betsy

    Alex!!!!

  1156. RS

    Haha Burnett pies Arod in the face, and YES got it this time.

  1157. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    That Girardi cost the Yanks the game. Bastard….

    back to back walkoffs. Tex is hitting!! The starting pitching is much better.

    if the bullpen can pick it up, LOOK OUT

  1158. YankeesLuv

    How sweet it is! Woo! Gooooooooo Yankees! :)

  1159. DYNASTY IS DESTINY!

    Looks like Mystique and Aura finally got the memo!

    GO YANKS!!!!!

  1160. S.A.--The sun will come out tomorrow

    The Saturday game curse has been broken

  1161. Pepitone's Hairdryer

    Welcome home, Alex!

  1162. trisha - Brett Tomko, an idea whose time has come!

    Wow. Just wow just wow just wow just wow just wow.

    Tex is definitely getting better pitches to hit at and it shows.

  1163. Pel (Uncertainty is certain.)

    now that’s what i’m talking about

  1164. S.o.S.

    I have never seen Alex look like that before. He looked like a kid running around the bases. Maybe hes finally a man playing a kids sport.

  1165. Matt

    A-ROD!!!!

  1166. Joe Monte

    All 6 runs driven in by your 3 and 4 hitters, great game by Teixeira and ARod today…

  1167. sar515

    sar515
    May 16th, 2009 at 1:16 pm

    “A-Rod’s first TWO Stadium HR’s today…
    You heard it here first!”

    So I was off by one!!!!!!!!!

  1168. Shamik

    I called it!!

  1169. ummm.....OK

    Doug
    May 16th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
    At this point, A-Rod is a huge liability. He is a star in name only.

    Pena is a better player now and should play until A-Rod is 100%. However long that may be

    ********************************

    Dude… wish you could take this one back?

  1170. Betsy

    How great was it to see the Yankees waiting at home plate, basically encouraging to come on home? They were so happy for him – and I am so happy for him as well……what a GREAT, GREAT win. Was it better than yesterdays? Maybe? Another pie from AJ………..and Kim, it’s shaving cream, not whipped cream!

  1171. EvoLuTioN

    I must say i love Harold Reynolds. The night after Harold said that the Yankees “just weren’t a good team,” we seemed to have picked it up :D

  1172. RalphieD

    great game…aj on the mound…hopefully he gets a pie tomorrow for being so good!

  1173. Angel - A tale told by idiots, full of sound and fury - signifying nothing.

    Well said, Doug.

    Idiot.

    That was sweet! :)

  1174. Angel - A tale told by idiots, full of sound and fury - signifying nothing.

    Well said, Doug.

    Idiot.

    That was sweet! :) Haha A-Rod got pied too.

  1175. lol

    good call Doug.

  1176. Donnie

    Wow. Wow wow wow wow wow. What a shot. Great, great, GREAT win.

    Even though Coke gave it up today, you gotta give the bullpen credit. Blackburn was VERY tough today, and our pitching hung in there and gave us a chance to win. Would have liked to have won it in 9 instead of 11, but I certainly won’t complain.

    Also, Alex saying “Tex-share-uh” cracks me up.

  1177. Spiced Ham

    A-GOD

  1178. EvoLuTioN

    all the arod haters must be red as a watermelon right now

  1179. SD Yanks

    I love how A-Rod said the bullpen has been great and have us the chance to come back

    Alex… it was the bullpen’s fault that we went 11 innings, we should have won it in the top of the 9th

    LOL

  1180. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    pre-Selena Roberts book release: 13-15

    post-book release (ARods return): 6-2 :)

    welcome back Alex!!!!

  1181. NHYankee62

    “I’m going on record and saying the turning point of the game was…
    “It is high… It is far… It is gone… No wait, it’s a ground rule double.”
    The players look up to John Sterling. (because he’s high up in the booth, of course)
    When he flubs up, it’s very disconcerting to team morale.:”

    You’re telling me! I was actually listening to that in the car!

    Sterling needs a pair of super-strong cataracts!

  1182. Betsy

    I missed the pie – I hope YES caught it (unlike yesterday) so I can catch it on replay, lol.

    So, can we stop with the new stadium being a church?

  1183. Donnie

    “Wow. Just wow just wow just wow just wow just wow.”

    I was totally NOT trying to copy you, Trisha. haha

  1184. Brandon aka MotherLover "It would be my honor to be your new stepfaaaaaaather"

    “I called it!!”

    I had to tell you to shut up to unjinx what you jinxed.

  1185. EvoLuTioN

    “At this point, A-Rod is a huge liability. He is a star in name only.

    Pena is a better player now and should play until A-Rod is 100%. However long that may be”

    Ladies and gentlemen, the epitome of EPIC FAIL.

  1186. RhapsodyInBlue

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....re=related

  1187. Rudy

    It’s been a long time that we’ve seen a Yankee team that’s been able to come back so consistently. It’s amazing – was the last team 2003?

  1188. Global Warming

    “UPDATE, 3:03 p.m.: A-Rod strikes out. He is hitless in his last 11 at-bats and 3 for 26 (.115) on the season in eight games with one extra-base hit. His range at third base has been limited, too. That you expect given the nature of his injury. But you have to wonder whether the lack of offense is attributable to the injury, being rusty or something else.”

    Like usual, good call Pete.

  1189. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    no need to call Doug an idiot.

    ARod had been struggling a bit.

    Hopefully that AB will help get him going.

  1190. Betsy

    Nice job by Aceves and Mo – they will sort of get lost today, but they held the Twins at bay (and Mo got out of a big jam)

  1191. Front Line

    AJ better be ready to pitch a complete game tomorrow

    I would guess Albaladejo closes, or Tomko.

  1192. Pepitone

    Gonna have to change AChoke to NoMoreChokeArod.

    Great win.

    I have the perfect nick name for Francisco Cervelli: FrankyVelli

  1193. Roger(the new amsterdam yankees )

    great win!I’m very happy for arod

  1194. Roger(the new amsterdam yankees )

    great win!I’m very happy for arod

  1195. LakeMichigan

    Way to go Mo and Aceves

  1196. Ca Vz

    Nice win, but this bullpen HAS to get figured out and soon.

    We can’t just keep winning thrilling games in the late/extra innings. When we have a lead, we have to be able to protect it.

  1197. EvoLuTioN

    Doug IS an idiot if he actually thinks Pena is better than arod right now. Even if arod isn’t hitting, he’s an OBP machine. and his presence itself makes this lineup that much deeper.

    A-rod haters need to shove it.

  1198. NHYankee62

    Hey Pete Abe:

    The Yankees must really be regretting signing Arod to the big contract now right??

  1199. Shanghai Bob

    “…or is it something else”

    what a underhanded cheap shot Pete. That walk-off home run is dedicated to you and your Sox Nation.

  1200. Brandon Pie "Because it's the thing to do in this stadium"

    So in honor of the walkoff I’m going to get myself some pie. :)

  1201. JR

    great link rapshodyinblue :) love me some frank

  1202. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    “AJ better be ready to pitch a complete game tomorrow

    I would guess Albaladejo closes, or Tomko.”

    ———

    Slowey has been decent but erratic so far. Let’s hope the Yankees offense can pick up the pitching staff tomorrow.

    If Alby has to close, so be it. If anybody has to close, at least it means the Yanks have the lead in the 9th.

    I’ll sign up for that.

  1203. thunderfangabe

    hacker info:

    http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/.....acker.html

  1204. Coney

    Hard to kill Girardi about the pen when he has one reliable arm in the pen. He tried to save him for the 8th, but Veras had nothing and the game needed to be saved there.

    And it was the right move keeping him in. He had only thrown 10 pitches and there were 3 lefties due up in the 8th.

  1205. jonathan

    q question for y’all: is it out of the question to think that al aceves could possibly inherit a more active role in the bullpen? everytime i see him pitch i am extremely impressed. Could he be effective in a 7th/8th inning role?

  1206. trisha - Brett Tomko, an idea whose time has come!

    Angel, nice win hey?

    The blog was more tedious than usual (if that’s possible) with a lot of lamentations.

    Moments like that cause you to appreciate your “positive” blog mates more and more and more…

    ;)

    I do believe that Alex actually appreciated the cream pie. It was probably just another bonding moment for him, something he seems to need.

    Good for him!

  1207. carl

    EvoLuTioN May 16th, 2009 at 4:54 pm

    “At this point, A-Rod is a huge liability. He is a star in name only.

    Pena is a better player now and should play until A-Rod is 100%. However long that may be”

    Ladies and gentlemen, the epitome of EPIC FAIL.

    LMFAO

  1208. Pepitone

    Oh, and one more thing: I HATE FOX!!!!!!

    I live in LA, and will Fox show the Yankee game? NNNNOOOOOO, we have to watch the Mets and Giants, and no one else can show the Yankee game except Fox. So, I missed the entire game.

    Is this another one of Bud Selig’s brilliant ideas, or something else. Whatever, it is not good for MLB to be shut out like that, simply because Fox doesn’t want anyone else to show games on Saturday afternoon.

    Thanks for letting me rant. Go Yankees!

  1209. GreenBeret7

    Not sure if people saw the end of that, but, Rodriguez got the home run ball back. As he was walking into the dugout, he gave the ball to a little kid.

  1210. Angel - A tale told by idiots, full of sound and fury - signifying nothing.

    Doug May 16th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
    At this point, A-Rod is a huge liability. He is a star in name only.

    *******************************************

    Sorry Dave, but I disagree – that was an idiotic statement.

  1211. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    Could the Twins be more dejected right now?

    two straight super tough losses.

    Let’s hope it affects them over the next 2 games.

  1212. West side

    The closer in the 9th is soooo overrated

    Albaladejo can’t get Denard Span, Nick Punto, and Mike Redmond out in the 9th inning tomorrow if needed?

    Girardi made the right move. Shoot first, ask questions later.

  1213. pat

    Alex has been saying he wants to get back to 2007 and that swing looked very 2007ish. :smile:

  1214. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    Angel,

    perhaps you are right.

    If the point was to say that ARod was struggling and couldn’t necessarily be counted on, ok.

    but reading that again he sounds like a troll.

  1215. RhapsodyInBlue

    Godzilla with a big ph double.
    He ain’t done yet.

  1216. Pat M

    I think the 2009 NY Yankees may have finally arrived….Now gradually start adding some of the walking wounded and this team takes off…..Another come from behind win, but waht is so cool about all of this is how they are starting to look loose and having fun…..When was shaving cream pies last seen in Yankee Stadium….I remember Jeter getting one over a decade ago…..Maybe my $100.00 for $ 200.00 is looking good as they may still pull off 100 wins

  1217. trisha - Brett Tomko, an idea whose time has come!

    jonathan, I am thinking that Aceves is around to go longer innings and that Girardi tries not to overuse him in case he needs him in that role. I look forward to seeing Aceves coming in in the unfortunate event that one of our starters goes down early and the game is close.

    I do think we’ll see lots of Aceves, one way or another.

  1218. Brandon Pie "Because it's the thing to do in this stadium"

    GB I thought that was a batting glove, did he really give the ball to the kid, his first walk off in this new stadium I’d think he’d keep it. I must have missed it.

  1219. Ninja Burglar

    A-Rod will provide the leadership and heart this team needs. He is a winner and a leader. He will show us why he is the best player in baseball and what we missed the past month.

  1220. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    if the worst thing about today is asking “but who will close tomorrow? :( ” then I’m happy.

    If the Yankees are ahead in the 9th tomorrow and need anybody to close, I’m not going to complain.

  1221. DT

    “Moments like that cause you to appreciate your “positive” blog mates more and more and more…”

    all positive posters – let’s join together in a circle, hold hands and start singing “We shall overcome”

  1222. EvoLuTioN

    it sucks that our best arm(aceves) asides from mo is our longman

  1223. trisha - Brett Tomko, an idea whose time has come!

    Evolution, way to have Arod’s back. I like it.

    ;)

  1224. Joe from Long Island

    GB7 – was that the ball? I saw him give something to a kid, thought it was his batting gloves.

    I hope he listens to the Yanks and just concentrates on baseball. America is the land of redemption and forgivesess, with second chances (very appropriate metaphor for baseball), and Alex can make his comeback.

    On another note, I really think Veras and Edwar need to go. My coronaries and gastric lining can’t stand it.

  1225. Brandon Pie "Because it's the thing to do in this stadium"

    “Godzilla with a big ph double.
    He ain’t done yet.”

    That’s the most effective way to use him.

  1226. Pat M

    Pepitone….Send yme your e-mail address ( mcpjmac@aol.com ) and I’ll give you my mlb.com password, so you can watch the Yanks all the time…..

  1227. Angel - A tale told by idiots, full of sound and fury - signifying nothing.

    Yes it was a great win, Trisha.

    It was tedious enough around here, that I went out to do some errands and listened to the game on the radio.

    Its predictable who will be here when things aren’t going good and who will when things are.

  1228. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    “jonathan, I am thinking that Aceves is around to go longer innings and that Girardi tries not to overuse him in case he needs him in that role.”

    ——–

    agreed.

    also, lets not go crazy and assume Aceves will always be lights out. that mistake has been made plenty of times before and so far it’s been a recipe for disaster and disappointment. let him continue to work himself into meaningful games over the course of the next month or two.

  1229. Betsy

    GB, I didn’t see that – good job by Alex.

    Aren’t pies shaving cream and not whipped cream? Also, anyone know when this tradition started? My father got all old-fashioned on me and called it silly, lol…..

  1230. Gold Mine

    What purpose does Tomko serve exactly?

    He is not good enough to trust in high leverage situations. He isin’t a long man (Joe said his limit is 45 pitches).

    So he is basically a guy to bring in when we are trailing in a game. And pretty much every arm in our pen fits this role as well.

    He should not be up here instead of Melancon/Robertson.

  1231. EvoLuTioN

    Godzilla is a great DH, there is no need to use him solely for PH purposes because that would mean gardner is in the lineup.

    No thanks.

  1232. 50 Cents

    Lorenz – “Burnett hasn’t won a game in a month.”

    Wow is that true?

  1233. carl

    He gave the kid his gloves not the ball

  1234. EvoLuTioN

    Lol wow Jeff.

  1235. jonathan

    I am not minimalizing the role of long man/mop up, i just feel that “ace” aceves’s talents are being wasted to a certain degree. I think he has the talent (and makeup) to be trusted in a more prominent role. Heck, I would have more faith in him starting than hughes.

  1236. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    ““Moments like that cause you to appreciate your “positive” blog mates more and more and more…”

    all positive posters – let’s join together in a circle, hold hands and start singing “We shall overcome” ”

    ——–

    trisha,

    either you or Rebecca need to keep a list of the “positive” posters club. I want in…

  1237. thunderfangabe

    Pepitone…i live in philly and we had the mets-giants game too…booooo i wanted the yanks!

  1238. BJK

    NHYankee62
    May 16th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
    Hey Pete Abe:

    The Yankees must really be regretting signing Arod to the big contract now right??

    —————————————————–

    Yes. One walk off homer is worth a 10 year, $275 million dollar contract when the player didn’t even have a competing offer and was begging to come back. I think he’ll need a few more walk offs to justify that.

  1239. Antones

    Kim Jones told Lorenz in the pregame that the pie yesterday was whipped cream because shaving cream stings the eyes

  1240. Pepitone

    Thanks Pat M will do.

  1241. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    where did Pete take shots at ARod? I didn’t see it.

    All I read was that he hit a blast and it was a nice win for the Yanks.

  1242. GreenBeret7

    Brandon Pie “Because it’s the thing to do in this stadium”
    May 16th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
    GB I thought that was a batting glove, did he really give the ball to the kid, his first walk off in this new stadium I’d think he’d keep it. I must have missed it.

    ————————————————————

    Not sure how he got the ball, but, he told Jones at the end of the interview that “Yeah, I got the ball back.” The little kid looked like he had his hands full of baseball from what I saw. I may be wrong, but, either way, that kid was thrilled and it made his game.

  1243. ansky

    GB7
    “Not sure if people saw the end of that, but, Rodriguez got the home run ball back. As he was walking into the dugout, he gave the ball to a little kid.”

    it was his gloves, not the ball unfortunately.

  1244. NHYankee62

    “Oh, and one more thing: I HATE FOX!!!!!!
    I live in LA, and will Fox show the Yankee game? NNNNOOOOOO, we have to watch the Mets and Giants, and no one else can show the Yankee game except Fox. So, I missed the entire game.
    Is this another one of Bud Selig’s brilliant ideas, or something else. Whatever, it is not good for MLB to be shut out like that, simply because Fox doesn’t want anyone else to show games on Saturday afternoon.”

    Hey Peptitone:

    You’re telling me! I’m in NH and paid $189 for the Extra Innings Package. But of course, every Saturday, the Yankees game is blacked out b/c of the Fox game. Nevermind the fact that the Yankees game started at 1 and the Fox game didn’t start until 4pm.

    What a slap in the face for all real fans for Selig to actually sign onto this. Way to disrespect all the fans who go the extra mile to watch baseball!

    Selig is a joke!

  1245. Trevor

    The pies are whip cream because shaving creams stings your eye if it gets in.

  1246. Ape

    And if Rivera had loaded the bases in the 9th today and needed 30 pitches to get out of it, he wouldn’t be available tomorrow either.

    1 inning doesn’t guarantee anything.

  1247. trisha - Joe Girardi knows more than you do!

    carl, we need you to come into the light. You definitely are on the brink and we want you on team positive. But I gotta say that you are still a little bogged down in what I call “comments per pitch”. If you can take more of a wait and see attitude about things, you can arrive at the same point (Yankees won the game, all is well) but be pretty happy and peaceful about it by the time you get there as opposed to wrung out from worrying through the game.

    I say this sincerely because you are definitely much more positive than negative. But you do let the other stuff take you over.

    Just a thought cuz I respect whoever you need to be. But I just sense you’d make a good battery mate if you could only check your worry at the door.

    Sincerely

    Your friend Trisha

    :)

  1248. trisha - Joe Girardi knows more than you do!

    carl, we need you to come into the light. You definitely are on the brink and we want you on team positive. But I gotta say that you are still a little bogged down in what I call “comments per pitch”. If you can take more of a wait and see attitude about things, you can arrive at the same point (Yankees won the game, all is well) but be pretty happy and peaceful about it by the time you get there as opposed to wrung out from worrying through the game.

    I say this sincerely because you are definitely much more positive than negative. But you do let the other stuff take you over.

    Just a thought cuz I respect whoever you need to be. But I just sense you’d make a good battery mate if you could only check your worry at the door.

    Sincerely

    Your friend Trisha

    :)

  1249. E-gawa

    “Not sure if people saw the end of that, but, Rodriguez got the home run ball back. As he was walking into the dugout, he gave the ball to a little kid.”

    it was his batting gloves.. he gives them away after every home game.

  1250. Betsy

    Pat M, AJ promised Kim in ST that he’d pieing more than a few Yankees on YES this year, lol – I don’t remember any Yankee getting pied, to be honest. Again, I just loved how these guys were making the motion with their hands for Alex to come home so they could pile on him. They really looked so joyous…………

  1251. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    “Yes. One walk off homer is worth a 10 year, $275 million dollar contract when the player didn’t even have a competing offer and was begging to come back. I think he’ll need a few more walk offs to justify that.”

    ——–

    sure.

    he has 8+ years to give them to us.

    unless the Yanks could have known about the hip and the steroids at the time, it’s hard to judge them about the deal after 1 season.

    I, for one, am willing to let ARod try to earn it before ripping his contract already.

  1252. BBFan

    “you have to wonder whether the lack of offense is attributable to the injury, being rusty or something else.”

    “Matter of time there. Yankees win as A-Rod walks off with a blast.”

    What happened to that something else.
    Easy to imply things that have no merit given the circumstances.
    Why do you hate the guy so much?

    Bottomliine is since he came back, he won 2 games with big jacks and contributed to other wins in other games with timely walks. Also, A-Rod’s presnece in the line up made major difference and Tex is getting the protection he needs to excel.

  1253. CB

    Coming into the season, Alex and Tex should have been the best 3-4 hitters in baseball.

    Instead, Alex was supplanted by replacement level play as Ransom and Berroa were terrible. And Tex was essentially performing at replacement (which was never going to last for long).

    Now Tex is getting hot and performing like we knew he eventually would. And Alex is back.

    The team will hopefully be eliminating replacement level production at 1b and 3b over the first 6 weeks of the season with all star level production with Alex’s return and Tex’s return to being Tex.

    Once Posada gets back the line up will be close to whole.

    If Melky keeps hitting the way he is the team could have a starting line up where every player is performing well above average.

  1254. S.A.--The sun will come out tomorrow

    That was a nice thing for Alex to do

  1255. EvoLuTioN

    Boston Dave:

    from today UPDATE, 3:03 p.m.: A-Rod strikes out. He is hitless in his last 11 at-bats and 3 for 26 (.115) on the season in eight games with one extra-base hit. His range at third base has been limited, too. That you expect given the nature of his injury. But you have to wonder whether the lack of offense is attributable to the injury, being rusty or something else.

    from May 14th Game 34:

    UPDATE, 9:12 p.m.: Another deep fly ball for Alex as the inning ends with two runners on base. It’s like he’s just missing a little something.

  1256. Angel - A tale told by idiots, full of sound and fury - signifying nothing.

    Could we save the “He’s taking shots a A-Rod” directed at Peter, for times when he actually is?

  1257. 4time

    Blackburn went 7.2 innings today?

    Didn’t he have 60 pitches in the 3rd?

  1258. timor

    Reminded me very much of Arod’s 2-run walkoff in extras against the Braves in June ‘06, when he was also struggling. In that case, it was Giambi who worked the walk in front of him. Then the same majestic trajectory to the left field stands.

  1259. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    NHYankee,

    I agree 100%.

    It stinks but you can always buy the individual game from mlb.tv if you must see it.

    MLB does need to change their TV policies though…

  1260. Nick in SF

    “That’s the most effective way to use him.”

    Come on, Brandon, you’re much better than that.

  1261. DT

    “either you or Rebecca need to keep a list of the “positive” posters club. I want in…”

    Official Positive Posters.

    Who’s down with OPP? (all the Yankee homies)

  1262. GreenBeret7

    Betsy
    May 16th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
    GB, I didn’t see that – good job by Alex.

    Aren’t pies shaving cream and not whipped cream? Also, anyone know when this tradition started? My father got all old-fashioned on me and called it silly, lol…..

    ————————————————————

    It looked like the ball, but, gloves or ball, there’s a very happy little boy that he’ll be sleeping with something besides a cookie or candybar under his pillow, tonight. S.o.S., of course, will say it’s my failing eyesight due to age, but, he’s just a crotchety old geezer.

  1263. NHYankee62

    “Bottomliine is since he came back, he won 2 games with big jacks and contributed to other wins in other games with timely walks. Also, A-Rod’s presnece in the line up made major difference and Tex is getting the protection he needs to excel.”

    Well said BBfan.

    Now all we have to do is to get that to sink in for the guy who runs this blog.

  1264. Boston Dave (in Eugene, OR)

    “The team will hopefully be eliminating replacement level production at 1b and 3b over the first 6 weeks of the season with all star level production with Alex’s return and Tex’s return to being Tex.”

    ——–

    CB,

    did you happen to see the BP article on bullpens?

    The Yanks pen was barely above replacement level at the time.

    If that gets fixed, we’re looking at the team we thought they were.

  1265. trisha - Joe Girardi knows more than you do!

    Just hope that whatever donations happened on the blog help Pete feel better about Alex’s walkoff. I know that kind of stuff probably keeps him up at night (Alex doing well.)

    :D

    I’m wondering what Selena is doing right now. Maybe signing copies of her unsold book to hand to the pigeons in Central Park, since they are likely the only ones who will pay attention to her drivel at this point – well, so long as she puts crusts of bread in each book. Otherwise they won’t want to have anything to do with her and her books either!

  1266. Pepitone

    NH Yankee62 – “You’re telling me! I’m in NH and paid $189 for the Extra Innings Package. But of course, every Saturday, the Yankees game is blacked out b/c of the Fox game.”
    ……………………….
    I have the same package. I cannot believe Fox would black it out back east! Are you kiddin me? At least let the fans have a choice, let the Met fans watch the Mets vs. Giants, but let Yankee fans watch their game on Yes. How does that hurt Fox? I don’t get it?

    Oh, and Selig is a bonehead!

  1267. EvoLuTioN

    Angel, why don’t you read my post right above yours.
    Don’t need to be a rocket scientist to understand what Pete Abe is insinuating in his comments.

  1268. Betsy

    Trevor, that makes sense, but I could have sworn that it used to be shaving cream. Hey, if I’m getting pied, I’d prefer whipped cream any day, lol

  1269. Yankee Trader

    GB7 and others:

    The little kid sitting in the mucho expensive seats had his little arm stretched out with a ball for Alex to sign. I don’t think Alex gave him his sweaty gloves-I think it was an already signed piece of paper with a picture of him and Madonna!

  1270. 86w183

    Great win for Yanks and a great moment for Alex. This little streak has been nice, particularly beating a goood team with Hughes and Joba getting the starts.

    I expect a move or two to get a fresh arm or two in the pen. No way Mariano or Coke pitches tomorrow and no one wants to see Veras or Edwar.

    Maybe DFA Veras and bring up Melancon?

  1271. All-Star

    Edwar walks way too many batters

    14 walks in 16.2 innings, to go along with 17 hits and 5 HRs.

  1272. NHYankee62