Game 64: Nationals at Yankees (updates with Girardi audio, Veras DFA’d and now Slade Heathcott audio)
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc, Podcast on Jun 16, 2009 
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YANKEES (36-27)
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Cano 2B
Posada C
Matsui DH
Swisher RF
Cabrera CF
Pitching: LHP CC Sabathia (5-4, 3.68).
NATIONALS (16-45)
Guzman DH
Johnson 1B
Zimmerman 3B
Dukes CF
Dunn LF
Kearns RF
Gonzalez SS
Nieves C
Hernandez 2B
Pitching: RHP Shairon Martis (5-1, 5.04).
TIME/TV: 7:05 p.m., MY9.
STATE OF THE ‘STRIPES: The Yankees are two games out of first place in the AL East. They are 21-10 in their last 31 but 7-7 in the last 14 and only 2-4 in the last six.
NATIONAL DISASTER: Washington has lost three straight and 12 of 15. They are 6-23 on the road.
OLD FRIENDS: The Washington roster includes former Yankees Nick Johnson, Alberto “The Attorney General” Gonzalez, Ron Villone and Will Nieves. Villone is having a nice year for them. He has a 0.96 ERA in 22 appearances. He has allowed 13 hits in 18.2 innings with 10 walks and nine strikeouts.
HOME COOKING: The Yankees have won 14 of their last 19 at home.
INTERLEAGUE WOES: The Yankees were 93-63 in interleague games over the first eight years. They are 33-27 since. The Red Sox have taken advantage of the inferior competition during that stretch, going 42-18. The Yankees have the Nationals, Marlins, Braves and Mets ahead.
CAPTAIN INTERLEAGUE: Derek Jeter has has the most hits (293), at-bats (862) and runs scored (162) in interleague play. He also has hit .339 against the NL.
SWISHALICIOUS AGAIN: Nick Swisher is 15 of his last 46 (.326) over 16 games with 11 runs scored, eight RBI, 14 walks and eight extra-base hits.
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES: The Yankees were 32-31 after 63 games last season. They were 32-31 in 2007, too.
JETER ON A ROLL: He is 9 of his last 18 with four RBI and four runs scored. His batting average is up to .310.
GODZILLA ON A ROLL, TOO: Hideki Matsui is 6 of his last 16 with two home runs, five RBI, five walks and five runs scored.
A-ROD IN A-SLUMP: A-Rod is 8 of 45 in June so far. After going .260/.412/.584 in his first 22 games, he is at .178/.339/.356 in his last nine.
ERA OF ERRORS: The Yankees have committed at least one error in 10 of the last 12 games.
Back with more later.
UPDATE, 3:52 p.m.: RHP Jose Veras DFA’d to make room for Brian Bruney on the roster.
UPDATE, 4:41 p.m.: Sorry about the lineup mistake. The iPhone tends to auto-correct sometimes. Swisher is playing RF.
UPDATE, 4:42 p.m.: Chien-Ming Wang was already at the park and did his throwing and running. He’ll was given the rest of the day off to see the baby, attend to his wife and rest up for the start tomorrow. It’s open-ended as to what happens tomorrow if he doesn’t pitch well. Girardi said it’s not a final chance but, realistically, it probably is.
A few other items:
• Bruney could be used in the 8th inning right away but they would prefer he settle in a little first, He also won’t go back-to-back days quite yet.
• Hideki Matsui will not start any games in the OF in the National League parks where there is no DH. They’re worried about his knees blowing up. If necessary, Girardi is willing to use him in the OF on a double-switch.
• Veras was the roster move because he is struggling so much. Have to say, I’m a little surprised because he was a guy they were proud about finding. But when the time comes, the time comes.
• Don’t expect Xavier Nady during the next road trip. He’s still not throwing adequately.
UPDATE, 4:48 p.m.: The Yankees took a round of early BP today before their regular BP. Almost everybody participated.
Meanwhile, Alex Rodriguez was in Monument Park for about 15 minutes to meet fans. There were a lot of photos taken including. Nice of Alex to take the time. The Yankees are doing these meet-and-greets once a homestand with different players. The team discourages autographs, it’s more photos and handshakes.
UPDATE, 5:09 p.m.: Here is Joe Girardi’s pre-game interview. Lots of questions about Wang, Bruney, Matsui and other subjects:
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UPDATE, 5:21 p.m.: The New York Times is reporting that Sammy Sosa tested positive for PEDs in 2003.
Not exactly stunning news there. At this point, it’s sort of expected.
UPDATE, 5:24 p.m.: First-round draft pick Slade Heathcott is in the house and watching BP.
UPDATE, 6:08 p.m.: Here’s a photo of Slade Heathcott and here is some audio of his first encounter with the New York media:
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Slade arrived today with area scout Mark Batchko. He’s headed back to Texas later this week for a ceremony honoring his high school team for winning the state title.
Slade seemed like a nice kid. At the moment, he’s about as big as Ramiro Pena. But he’ll get stronger, he has that sort of frame He took several rounds of BP and showed some good pop, driving the ball hard to right field.
He said all the right things to the media on the field. I spoke to him later in the clubhouse and it sure sounds like he wants to sign and get going with his career. The Yankees are smart, they got him in a uniform and on the field within a week after the draft. Good way to make an impression.
Slade was looking around the clubhouse with wide eyes. He had the locker next to Mariano Rivera. “This is really amazing,” he said. “I feel like the luckiest kid in the country right now.”
UPDATE, 7:14 p.m.: We’re underway as CC has a quick inning. A little chilly at the park tonight (63 at first pitch). I have some newspaper work to do, but I’ll check in later on.
UPDATE, 8:33 p.m.: Well, it’s 3-2 Nats here in the fifth inning as Anderson Hernandez just hit his first homer of the year, a three-run blast to left off CC Sabathia. He earlier had a long double off CC.
This team can hit. The Yankees better go to work on their pitching. They’ve managed only three hits so far.
UPDATE, 8:37 p.m.: Anderson had one previous homer (in 2006) in 325 big-league at-bats.
UPDATE, 8:47 p.m.: Same stuff as usual for the offense, at least lately. Yankees are 1 for 7 with RISP. They have four hits and been walked five times and have two runs in five innings. The June swoon (8 for 47, .170) continues for A-Rod.
Would they be better with Tex hitting clean-up at this point?
UPDATE, 8:52 p.m.: Nice running catch by the Melkman.
UPDATE, 9:07 p.m.: Um, Yankees? Yeah, you might want to score a few runs. You’re about to be embarrassed in your own park.
Meanwhile, they can’t hit Fernando Nieve. They crush Johan Santana and then they can’t hit Shairon Martis? That makes sense.
UPDATE, 9:11 p.m.: That was fast. Tough break for Martis, who lost his win in about seven seconds.
They need to get this done now. Time for Alex to get it going.
UPDATE, 9:13 p.m.: He whiffs as the crowd boos. Bad stretch for Alex.
UPDATE, 9:18 p.m.: Robbie Cano (4 for 4) gets it done. Yankees lead 4-3. CC another inning and then Mo?
Pena in for Jeter. No word on what the injury is as of yet.
UPDATE, 9:27 p.m.: So much for Bruney being allowed to get his feet wet. This is a huge spot in the game for him. Zimmerman is a tough hitter.
UPDATE, 9:35 p.m.: Jeter has what is being called “left ankle stiffness.”
UPDATE, 9:46 p.m.: Derek Jeter, who needs him? Ramiro Pena’s RBI single makes it 5-3. Big run there. If this score holds up, CC will be 5-1, 2.92 in his last eight starts.
This also would be the 22nd come-from-behind win of the season
UPDATE, 10:05 p.m.: Yankees win, embarrassment avoided. Nice game by Robbie Cano. 4 for 4, thre RBI and a bunch of sweet plays in the field.
Back with reaction later,
“The Yankees are two games out of first place in the AL East. They are 21-10 in their last 31 but 7-7 in the last 14 and only 2-4 in the last six.”
In other words, we’ve lost one series since the Philly series.
Pedro is the answer!
TJ the caller to the Michael Kay show wants the Yankees to sign Pedro and put Jobber in the pen.
I giggled. Thank you TJ
Pedro should just retire. On the second thought, the Mets might take him.
I think it was a few seasons back the Mets got swept by the Jays, Sox and Yanks.
I said to my Met fan barber “Fun playing in the AL east isn’t it?”
SA- What is TJ smoking. I want some it must be really good.
Bob Klapisch was on the radio this AM and he said that ARod is still experiencing some stiffness in his hip and can not fully open up on his swing. Also said that it is affecting Alex’s fielding.
BloggingBombers June 16 vs Nationals: Jeter SS, Damon LF, Teixeira 1B, A-Rod 3B, Cano 2B, Posada C, Matsui DH, Swisher RF, Cabrera CF, Sabathia LHP
Question for SJ44, CB, etc
Why do you guys rip A.J. Burnett non-stop when arguing about Posada’s ability to call pitches. I would think that Posada’s accomplishments (stats, championships, etc) would be enough to argue his case.
As you say, Posada is a borderline HoF catcher, that should be enough. He’s won 3 championships as the full-time catcher, I’m pretty sure his game-calling skills are up to snuff.
This comment board is nothing without its sarcasm, condecension and trite sophmoric comments.
To me, Patrick, A.J. Burnett should just focus on getting outs. He seems very distractible when he is pitching. He loses his focus and just trys to throw the ball through the catcher.
I’m convinced that HankStein on twitter is Pete.
Do we have Bruney activation yet?
Patrick -
I think because some of the arguments against Posada have cited AJ’s woes.
Fran
Cashman’s comments in the Post about just being appreciative that A-Rod is in there shows they know he isn’t at 100%.
What is the big deal anyway if AJ wants to pitch to the back-up? Jorge is coming off surgery and Girardi mentioned giving him more off days. A day off every 5 days to keep Jorge fresh for the stretch isn’t a bad idea. He can also DH on those days if it works out with Matsui.
“Why do you guys rip A.J. Burnett non-stop when arguing about Posada’s ability to call pitches. I would think that Posada’s accomplishments (stats, championships, etc) would be enough to argue his case.”
AJ Burnett is one of the driving reasons and sources of “evidence” for suggesting that the pitching staff’s problems are in fact on posada.
No matter what you offer in terms of Posada’s credential’s – that’s largely irrelevant because the evidence constantly pointed to is the performance of the pitchers.
And on top of that there are few, if any, valid objective measures for comprehensively measuring catcher’s defense to point to.
So an enormous question then becomes is AJ Burnett’s performance to date really realted to posada’s skills as a catcher?
And AJ upped the ante on this himself with his puerile comments after his last game, insinuating that his problems were in part attributable to Poasada.
Now if AJ’s current level of performance is more or less the same with what he’s done in the past then the notion that this is at all attributable to Posada is ridiculous as Posada has never caught him before.
I’m not really “ripping” AJ. He’s universally acknowledged – even by himself – to have grossly underachieved his level of talent. And I’m just illustrating examples that define his past level of on field performance and off field behavior (particularly in light of his recent off field comments after last game).
What Burnett is doing now is nothing new. That’s it.
And for him to now start to suggest that it’s posada’s fault is laughable. And that lack of accountability probably explains why burnett has been such a consistent disappointment on the field.
Jorge caught AJ 4 times 2-2 record. The 2 losses came against Boston when AJ blew a 6 run lead and the time he had too much rest.
Let’s go Yankees, beat up on the dregs of the NL please.
Veras DFAed. Not unhappy but a little shocked.
Bye Bye, Veras. By all accounts, he was a nice guy – I wish him well.
There is a god
KenDavidoff Jose Veras DFA to make room for Bruney.
I know people love making fun of the lineup complaints. But Posada should be batting fifth, not Cano.
I really hope that Bruney is activated tonight, this pen has been a man short for a month now.
Oh the irony, Veras shielded Bruney from K-Rod’s wrath and now he’s axed.
Oh my Veras is finally gone.
Is Veras finally gone?
YES, YES, YES, YES, YES, YES, YES…
Just when Veras “turned” it around. And we still have Berroa? For…?
UPDATE, 3:52 p.m.: Veras DFA’d.
=====================================
I do wish him the best wherever he lands. Good luck Veras
If you will excuse me, I’m gonna do a little happy dance right now
Lets get it straight, Veras shielded K-rod from a hellacious beat down.
Small m: I saw the comment you made at the end of the last thread. On the run now, but I do have an answer to that which I’ll re-post later.
Uncle Ellsworth: I try to do my best with the sophmorics every day.
i apparently get too attached to these players. all of them. i’d feel sad no matter who they demoted/DFA’d…
BRIAN BRUNEY (clap, clap, clap clap clap).
Huge no thanks to the services of Pedro. Reports say that he wants a deal of $5 million.
At that salary, Pedro must not want to pitch too badly. He’s very injury prone, has lost 6 to 8 mph off of his fastball (at least), and his location was way off last year.
You can’t put Joba in the pen, because……
I don’t like this lineup at all.
Wishing Veras the best, even though he frustrated me to no end.
i would of held onto veras and got rid of tomko..but ehh…im sure veras will land on a nl team and be dominant!
I wonder if Veras is going to blame Posada for his release…
I would’ve kept Veras since he’s younger than Tomko and has very good stuff, but I don’t think it’s a big deal either way.
A major factor may have been the uncertainty with Wang as well as Joba’s tendency not to give them innings to keep Tomko as the long man.
What I am ripping are his excuses.
When he came to NY, he told everybody he was leaving that crap behind. Clearly, that’s not the case.
His subtle suggestion Posada is behind his inconsistency is the AJ that was in Florida and Toronto.
Funny, Johan Santana got blized Sunday and no mention of it from him, or anybody else, that it was the catchers fault.
CC couldn’t hold a 2 run lead in Boston and you don’t see him pointing fingers.
Two guys who are accountable for their own play. Even when both could have legitimate reasons to cop a plea in those starts.
Here’s what I want from AJ. Be accountable and don’t play the blame game.
Girardi will probably give him Cervelli to keep the peace. If that happens, pitch like an ace. If not, there aren’t anymore scapegoats. It will be time to look in the mirror.
GB7 – Your comedic timing is spot on!!!
AJ Burnett is a nobody… an injury prone mediocre pitcher who is known more for his baking skills than his pitching.
Posada is a borderline HOF catcher, team leader, 4-time champion, and one of our last link to the glory days, which is where we want to get back
AJ should shut up and learn how to make it work. Respect your elders, know your place. Posada is on top of the chain, Burnett on the bottom.
Watch the Angels pick him up…..I just realized that the Yanks drafted Chad Thompson from El Toro HS…..This could me a nice pick if he doesn’t go to Arizona St….Big kid, always goes the distance, and is a k machine and he pitched in one of the premier HS Leagues in So. Cal…..Same HS that produce Austin Romine 2 years ago……
Nick in SF in Larkspur
June 16th, 2009 at 3:57 pm
Small m: I saw the comment you made at the end of the last thread. On the run now, but I do have an answer to that which I’ll re-post later.
Uncle Ellsworth: I try to do my best with the sophmorics every day.
some of yours are sophmoric but rarely trite.
Tom in N.J
June 16th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
I wonder if Veras is going to blame Posada for his release…
————————————————————
Ironic that it was Veras’ release (point) that caused his release.
So whats the over under for Adam Dunn hrs this series? 5?
Good luck to Veras. Scranton awaits if points elsewhere don’t.
This should free up a 40 man roster spot too which is a good thing.
GB, and the bait is there….
Veras had his moments last year, and had a good fastball, but he just couldn’t harness everything in.
The Yankees were patient with him, but things just were not working with the guy.
He was incredibly wild, he almost looked shaken and spooked on the mound at times. The more he pitched, the more crystal clear it was becoming that he wasn’t long for the roster.
He’s got a great arm, but the Yankees had absolutely no alternative here.
And when you are in the front office, these are the decisions that you have to make. You can’t be a fan.
“Girardi will probably give him Cervelli to keep the peace. If that happens, pitch like an ace. If not, there aren’t anymore scapegoats. It will be time to look in the mirror.”
And judging by Burnett’s track record, he will be looking in the mirror sooner rather than later. His career has defined inconsistency and I doubt that is going to change.
He pitched to a depleted Mets team with about 7 bench players with a 4 run lead and a 13 run lead and people are linking it to the catcher? lol
Nick,
I hope you take it easy on me!
LOL! GreenBeret!
You know Veras is going to the Rays and going to turn it around and become their closer.
If Houston released that guy Nieve that shut this team down the other day, I don’t see any problem with the Veras DFA. I did think, however, that they would have sent down somebody who had options(Robertson) until they made sure Bruney wouldn’t go right back on the DL after a game or two.
Wow! You could knock me over with a feather. Even though the handwriting was on the wall with the way he’s been used lately, the Yankees had to really have had a tough time making the actual decision to DFA Veras. And because their usual MO is to cut the guy with options.
And that would have suprised me, too, if they cut Robertson, also based on how he’s been used and how he’s performed lately.
Part of me “just knows” he’s going to catch on elsewhere and be a thorn in the Yankees’ side. But, even if that does happen, no one can say the Yankees didn’t give the guy every chance to step up.
So, I wish him well, just not against the Yankees.
I’m going to miss the excitement that comes with seeing Jose Veras come in from the bullpen in the late innings.
sab
June 16th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
GB7 – Your comedic timing is spot on!!!
————————————————————
I just wanted to be the first one to “whine” about the lineup so it would take the pressure off of the others to think up a reason to complain.
Veras will sign with either the Dodgers, Mets, Phillies or Tampa and come back to haunt us I’m sure. Good Luck Veras except against the Yanks.
Lets just hope that Dunn keeps doing what he does even better than hit homeruns….
Strikeout.
Nick,
And whatever you say, it’ll be the last word.
I come here to enjoy and get enlightened. Not get into a war of words.
good gracious me I was kidding about Pedro – it would take him 2 months to get in shape – and then he would pitch two innings get lit – up blame Posada and go on the DL.
I don’t see the logic at all in Tomko over Veras.
Both suck, but keep the guy with the live arm and upside over the Washed up veteran with no upside.
What Tomko did against the Mets was what he has done his entire career.
“”I don’t like this lineup at all.”"
GB7, ¿PORQUE!!!?
This lineup Kicks ass
This Posada debate is raging outside – but remember it was going on here for months…. months I say.
oh that Trisha
Veras will probably latch on with the Mariners or something and be lights out and harness his control, and we’ll try and trade for him again at the deadline.
oh boy, here we go again….
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06.....imessports
The pen I wanted out of ST is slowly starting to come together:
Mo
Bruney
Coke
Aceves
Robertson
Just need Marte and hopefully Melancon later this year.
Actually people, if you pay attention you’ll notice I posted the first lineup complaint-a real one.
And I’m damn proud of it too.
KGsturn,
I’m sorry that I offended you to the point that you had to call me a vulgarity. What’s with that?
Felix
AJ is a great talent. I don’t like the passive aggressive stuff but Posada can handle it one way or another. If AJ has it in his mind that Cervelli or Jane Doe will make him a star pitcher and he really believes it then it might happen. Pyschologically speaking!!
NY Times is reporting Sosa is one of the 103 from 2003 according to lawyers with knowledge of the results.
something ‘perfect gamish’ is going on in this thread
I think the difference is Girardi can use Tomko to absorb multiple innings in games where his bullpen is tired or he doesn’t want to waste his bigger guys and the starter has not given him length. Veras can’t go 3 or 4 innings, and it looks like they are going away from having Aceves do that now that he’s pitching more in short relief. So we come back to the concept of the “long man”, and that big debate from the beginning of the year.
“The 2 losses came against Boston when AJ blew a 6 run lead and the time he had too much rest.”
Those bed sores will mess with your effectiveness. Can’t wait to hear what other problems contributed to his next implosion.
I missed where AJ actually ripped Posoda. He seaid really nice things about Cervelli. He probably said too many nice thigns about Cervelli, but I don’t remember hearing him say anything negative about Jorge.
I agree with everyone that 1) Jorge has way more cred at this point in his career than AJ, and 2) It’s incumbent on AJ to make things work with JOrge since that’s what’s best for the team.
I just don’t think we should rip AJ for ripping Jorge when he never actually said anythign negative about Jorge at all. (Unless I missed something).
ehh, i cringed when both came in but i would have kept veras over tomko. doesnt matter either way. maybe veras was giving everyone the walk-the-leadoff-batter disease. now its gone! woohoo!
“NY Times is reporting Sosa is one of the 103 from 2003 according to lawyers with knowledge of the results.”
I’m shocked. Shocked!
Who knew. (Sarcasm)
Thanks for the responses CB, SJ44.
I missed A.J.’s comments that were knocking Posada, does anybody have a link?
Burnett is certainly a frustrating case. We’ve all seen him dominate and we’ve all seen him get shellacked. A.J. and Wang are the two guys that need to really step up at this point.
If you look at the team as a whole those are the two players that have the most room for improvement. CC has pitched well, Joba has been inconsistent but that was expected, Pettitte is old/hurt. The bullpen is volatile but what bullpen isn’t? The offense has really carried the team. It’s time for Burnett and Wang to step up and take us to the next level.
To be quite honest I have no respect for the Posada Truthers’ arguments. They really have no ground to stand on. The fact of the matter is, Posada is the 2nd or 3rd best catcher in all of baseball. Enough said.
That’s not really news, merely confirmation.
I know some guys are good guys and some are jerks. Veras, from all accounts, was a good guy.
But I’d rather have a jerk who throws strikes than a nice guy who walks the park.
That’s just me.
One day Veras may get it all together but this was the right move. They have to keep Hughes as Wang insurance because the Yanks still don’t know what they are going to get from him.
If a pitcher feels more comfortable with a particular catcher so what? Were you guys ragging on Mussina who strongly preferred Molina? There was some of this with Girardi/Posada a decade or so ago. You wanna blast Greg Maddux who always preferrred throwing to the backup catcher because he thought the guy was more focused on him?
If AJ wants Berroa behind the plate and will go seven scoreless innings when he gets him back there I’m all for it.
Felix
June 16th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
AJ Burnett is a nobody… an injury prone mediocre pitcher who is known more for his baking skills than his pitching.
Cashman could use your smarts. Yanks just put $83M on this nobody.
Uncle, are you saying that you are predicting A.J. Burnett to call a perfect game?
As fans we get very involved with what the roster will look like over the winter and throughout spring training. This spring the composition of the bull pen was the big issue given that the rotation looked set and only CF was in play.
Here was the opening day bull pen:
Phil Coke (L)
Damaso Marte (L)
Jonathan Albaladejo (R)
Edwar Ramirez (R)
Jose Veras (R)
Brian Bruney (R)
Mariano Rivera (R)
Mo, Bruney and Coke are the only ones remaining from opening day.
Just like last year the bull pen has been remade on the fly based on in season performances. How the team broke camp is a distant memory.
That’s the way bull pens are. Completely volatile. You have to go into the season and see what you have and then makde adjustments.
Last year the team had to make enormous adjustments as the pen was bad and enormously overworked.
They wound up having arguably the most valuable pen in the majors by the time the season was over.
This year the pen’s been terrible.
But they added Aceves, Robertson, and Hughes. Coke is settling in. And they may be starting to come together. Tyler Kepner had a very good story about this:
“We’re halfway through June, and this is what Aceves, Coke, Hughes and Robertson have done this month: in 23 innings, they have combined to allow 16 hits, nine walks and just five earned runs, with 26 strikeouts.”
This speaks to the organizations depth in pitching. They could rifle through 60% of their opening day pen and find better arms to replace them with.
And they still have Melancon, Mike Dunn, and Kontos in the minors.
http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/.....-together/
That’s a 1.96 E.R.A. spread across four setup men, with Bruney now added to the mix.
AJ is our version of Oliver Perez
But atleast Perez shows up in big games
Tomko can throw strikes. Veras is your newest Pittsburg Pirate!
He said, “I don’t know if it’s the catcher” when they were throwing breaking stuff in fastball counts.
I also don’t think AJ is a bad guy. I really don’t.
He does though have the habit of scapegoating others for his failures. That was his rap in FL and TOR, and Kepner’s story shows some of that in NY.
That’s ok. Other guys have had that rap when they have come here and learned the hard way that’s not the way to go.
Pitch to your capabilities and Girardi will let ANYBODY catch you. He wants to win. Keep scapegoating? Life won’t be pleasant in NY because the fans see right through that stuff.
Jose Veras gone!! YESSSSSSS
out list:
Jose Veras-check
Angel Berroa-
Veras DFA’d Hallelujah
I’m shocked that they cut Veras. I was half expecting Robertson to be sent down. Veras will get picked up by somebody.
As fans we get very involved with what the roster will look like over the winter and throughout spring training. This spring the composition of the bull pen was the big issue given that the rotation looked set and only CF was in play.
The pen on opening day was:
Phil Coke (L)
Damaso Marte (L)
Jonathan Albaladejo (R)
Edwar Ramirez (R)
Jose Veras (R)
Brian Bruney (R)
Mariano Rivera (R)
Mo, Bruney and Coke are the only ones remaining from opening day.
Just like last year the bull pen has been remade on the fly based on in season performances. How the team broke camp is a distant memory.
That’s the way bull pens are. Completely volatile. You have to go into the season and see what you have and then makde adjustments.
Last year the team had to make enormous adjustments as the pen was bad and enormously overworked.
They wound up having arguably the most valuable pen in the majors by the time the season was over.
This year the pen’s been terrible.
But they added Aceves, Robertson, and Hughes. Coke is settling in. And they may be starting to come together. Tyler Kepner had a very good story about this:
“We’re halfway through June, and this is what Aceves, Coke, Hughes and Robertson have done this month: in 23 innings, they have combined to allow 16 hits, nine walks and just five earned runs, with 26 strikeouts.”
This speaks to the organizations depth in pitching. They could rifle through 60% of their opening day pen and find better arms to replace them with.
And they still have Melancon, Mike Dunn, and Kontos in the minors.
woah when i saw “swisher 1B” my heart kinda stoped and i was like “omg is tex hurt!?!” lmao talk about paranoid, sheesh.
“I missed A.J.’s comments that were knocking Posada, does anybody have a link?”
There aren’t any. Just people’s interpretation of what AJ said.
Sammy Soda tested positive for steroids!
WOW! Didn’t see that one coming. Good job by the Times getting the story.
You mean, Sammy really didn’t want to take that Rick Reilly spontaneous drug test for a good reason?!
“But atleast Perez shows up in big games”
Tell that to Mets fans. They aren’t particularly thrilled with Perez right about now.
The Veras DFA will remove him from the 40 man roster thereby opening a slot.
Who gets that slot? Duncan or Rodriguez? or perhaps another reliever?
“I just wanted to be the first one to ‘whine’ about the lineup so it would take the pressure off of the others to think up a reason to complain.”
Just assume from now on if I’m silent about the line-up, I’m upset that Cano is batting 5th.
Can’t keep posting it everyday.
I’m so happy Veras was DFA’d, it took them about a month too long.
I’m also a bit surprised Hughes wasn’t sent down. When Wang took over in the rotation Cashman implied that Phil would be optioned back to Scranton when Bruney is ready.
My guess is the Yanks will make a decision after Wang’s start tomorrow. If Wang does well, he stays in the rotation and Hughes goes to AAA. If he does poorly he goes to the bullpen or DL and Hughes takes over. Unfortunately Wang is getting a pretty crappy deal, he should get more than 3 starts to prove himself.
Here’s the article with AJ’s quotes:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06.....f=baseball
Sosa being confirmed isn’t shocking.
Lawyers testing the ire of the judge who sealed the order is a little more shocking.
M, do you have a link for that comment?
Glad the Yanks made the right move and DFA’d Veras
Does this mean YES can’t show the Veras/Marte cha-cha commercial anymore?
Does anyone else think that Tyler Kepner visits the LoHud, as the whole Jorge issue was his lead story in the NY Times….Maybe Tricia fed him the tip……
Small m: still running around, checking in right now on a long line at the post office.
I always take it easy on you!
The reply I will have later is not contentious at all, but I posted yesterday about the exact point you made (throwing the pitch with conviction). I wouldn’t revisit it to further a “war of words” – I’m not at war with anyone, even if someone wants to be at war with me – nor do I presume that my thoughts are all that enlightening, but in this case they might be at least relevant.
“I just don’t think we should rip AJ for ripping Jorge when he never actually said anythign negative about Jorge at all. (Unless I missed something).”
I agree. CC has raved about what a great game Cervelli calls too, is that also a diss to Posada?
Tomko has had one ugly appearance and one bad game. Nothing wrong in his other 7 games. I’ll take success 7 out of 9 times. He has not allowed any inherited runners to score out of the 5 he had. I don’t care what his past numbers say as long as he does the job NOW.
Boogie Down Bob, I think its good news to see another name from the infamous testing come out. It means that there is access to it and other names will be released.
Once they are all out there it will help put this issue to rest. Till they are all out there every player is suspect. Not that it means that it caught every guilty player…
The best way to handle this would be full disclosure. Rather than one name coming out every 3-4 months. That is far worse.
Thanks, M.
The “I don’t know if its the catcher” comment is uncalled for. Seriously. I think player’s really just need to follow DJ’s, Tiger’s, and MJ’s lead. There is absolutely no value in sharing any actual opinion’s with the media. None.
If AJ felt Posoda was calling too many fastballs, he should have talked about it with Posoda. In private.
“NY Times is reporting Sosa is one of the 103 from 2003 according to lawyers with knowledge of the results.”
Nothing good comes from these further leaks, revelations, and accusations. After all, it is the users who hurt themselves and baseball, but these endless investigations and probings will end up killing the sport. The Mitchell report, Arod mess, Canseco, Congressional hearings, and the book on Bonds did nothing to bring any of it to light, it just made everything murkier and slimier.
Even if it comes out that the entire Boston roster from 1986 to the present day was juicing, it will not be a day vindication that our hated rival has been exposed; it will just be a sad day for the game and sports that this keeps going on. Well, maybe a few minutes of gloating first.
CB, IMO, the comments about AJ on this board have taken a very personal tone – we’re now ripping this guy every which way a player can be ripped. Again, I find it funny that few people had a problem with AJ’s comments before Kepner decided to manipulate them to back up his own conclusions. It’s fine to knock AJ for being inconsistent, but then maybe we should be killing the Yankees for signing him. I’m sure he’s doing the best he can – did anyone ever think that maybe he’s just not that talented at pitching? I just don’t think it’s necessary to rip AJ on a personal level (he’s selfish, he’s this, he’s that) in order to defend Posada. Does this mean all of the comments on this board since ST about what a good guy he appears to be were wrong?
Wait till they come to OUR house
June 16th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Uncle, are you saying that you are predicting A.J. Burnett to call a perfect game?
No I was referring to some thing about Pete’s line-up.
perfect game lost
no-hitter still intact
Burnett’s big mistake was saying
“I think it’s just a matter of — I don’t know if it’s the catcher…….”
before talking about why he was so good in the game.
i have a feeling one of these rookies if not 2 or 3 will shut the yankees down it will depend if the starters can shut there lineup down
I thought Sammy’s “backne” was purely coincidental.
By the end of the year we may see the whole list. Better to have one big hit than a guy every month or so for years on end.
we were 32-31 last year? yikes.
Nick,
You ARE a snake lying in the weeds.
I guess Sosa will be “calmly waiting” for a HOF nod for a bit longer than expected.
“Calmly waiting”, the ‘roids are finally out of his system.
I agree that Hughes is still up as protection for how Wang does. While I somewhat agree that Wang should get more chances, the East is quite bunched up and the Yankees can’t keep putting Wang out there to give up BP.
Veras has a good arm, but he is like Cabrera, can’t harness the talent into being effective.
Thanks m.
Now I see what you guys are saying about A.J., that’s a pretty annoying quote.
GB7,
Maybe Tomko has found his niche as a short innings reliever? He’s been a starter for the vast majority of his career, when he relieved I think he was a long reliever. He has decent stuff – 94 mph fastball.
Right now he’s the last guy I would go to in the pen but who knows maybe he’ll be useful.
Veras-You earned the right to be DFA’d. Yankees gave you many chances to pitch better and you never did quite turn it around.
At this point I trust Tomko a lot more than Veras. It’s that simple.
Welcome back Bruney.
Can anyone pull up this year’s bullpen stats from April 30 to today? And May 15th to today?
I think our much maligned bullpen was done in by two things. The decision not to carry a long man and the April implosion of CMW. They are all one-two inning at a time pitchers. I think being called on to go 8 innings when CMW imploded – and then be used in their normal capacity – and then do it again 5 days later – and then be used as normal – caused them all got extended and overworked. I think that’s what lead to their rough start.
I think once CMW was put on the DL the bullpen calmed down and for the most part has been very good since then.
I think that…but I can’t prove it because I don’t have the know-how.
Can anyone help?
“If AJ wants Berroa behind the plate and will go seven scoreless innings when he gets him back there I’m all for it.”
Angel Berroa, in his younger days, was Russ Ford’s personal catcher. For those who don’t know, this tandem combined for a 26-6, 1.65 in 1910 for the Highlanders. Ford threw 299.2 IP.
However, Berroa was doubted as a backstop because Ford has six bad starts in which he couldn’t throw strikes. Finally, when Russ Ford went 13-21 in 1912, that was the official end of his catching tenure.
He then moved to the infield, becoming the utility guy that became an ageless legend.
It is also worth mentioning that he took a young 6 year old under his wing, who had admired him as an idol. This youngster badly wanted to be a backstop just like Angel.
His name was Bill Dickey.
Bull,
I agree. The list needs to come out. It’s only a matter of time.
<>
I completely disagree with this attitude. Posada has been great, no question. But the team shouldn’t be trying to “get back” to 1996-2000. Those days are gone. Trying to freeze the past in place has only hurt this team over the last few years. Torre and the remnants of the dynasty teams set a tone that just made it harder for new players to succeed.
Whatever AJ’s faults, he shouldn’t have to cowtow to Posada on account of the latter’s achievements of a decade ago.
Betsy, I still like the AJ Burnett signing and it will pay off…He just needs to build upon his last outing..Which by the way could have been an ugly result in the 2nd inning…..I do expect for him to get into a comfortable groove and get on a roll….His issues are upstairs….
“Once they are all out there it will help put this issue to rest.”
It will not put it to rest, it will not be full disclosure, because there will always be another 103 players, or 50, or whatever. Nobody will ever actually who and how many. Would be better to be like football where nobody cares.
Pat M.
June 16th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Does anyone else think that Tyler Kepner visits the LoHud, as the whole Jorge issue was his lead story in the NY Times….Maybe Tricia fed him the tip……
and Bob Lorenz (reported something a while ago) and Mike F. etc, etc
cutting edge – this place is
“No I was referring to some thing about Pete’s line-up.
perfect game lost
no-hitter still intact”
Did I walk with my comment re: Cano?
Trading Veras to Pittsburgh for left handed reliver John Grabow isn’t the worst idea. I want to move the money. Not much in Yankee greenbacks but it’s a lot of Pirate dabloons.
Burnett’s reputation in FLA and TOR speaks for itself. There is no scapegoat when he is already 32. He has to look in the mirror.
So, how long before all the names dribble off this “confidential” list?
Sosa is not a surprise. But I think the larger point is that none of these names were supposed to made public.
Sigh.
Correction: ***They*** want to move the money
I love Posada, but I think next year Cervelli is our catcher next year with Posada our full-time DH. He calls a great game, is a good base-runner, and puts the ball in play. That said, you can not ignore the good job Jorge has done with previous pitching staff’s (lets not forget having to deal with the nut job Kevin Brown, Randy “cry baby” Johnson, ect………..)
thanks God, Veras get DFA’d
now, can the yanks get something that worth in a possible trade?
Rather than praising Cervelli in the postgame, AJ should have praised the HP Ump who was an absolute joke.
If we were on the wrong end of that Ump’s calls, we would still be talking about it today. That’s how bad it was. The Cora check swing was just deplorable.
The catcher looks good when you have a 13 run lead and a joke umpire behind you. The Posada bashing is getting OLD.
One by one, these cheaters will be outed.
Uncle Ellsworth (Expert texpert choking smokers don’t you think the joker laughs at you?)
June 16th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
This comment board is nothing without its sarcasm, condecension and trite sophmoric comments.
It’s SOPHOMORIC *sshole. Next time you quote the dictionary when trying to insult others and convey a misguided sense of intellectual superiority please remember to spell the words right you sophomoron.
My little diatribe above was in response to this:
“Posada is a borderline HOF catcher, team leader, 4-time champion, and one of our last link to the glory days, which is where we want to get back
“AJ should shut up and learn how to make it work. Respect your elders, know your place. Posada is on top of the chain, Burnett on the bottom.”
There is zero chance Cervelli is the starting catcher on the Yankees next year. Not going to happen.
“Again, I find it funny that few people had a problem with AJ’s comments before Kepner decided to manipulate them to back up his own conclusions.”
I personally didn’t see AJ’s comments before the Kepner piece and from what I can tell I don’t think a lot of other people did either.
I don’t like those comments from him at all and AJ said it – not Kepner.
And whether you want to believe it or not – AJ has a long history of this.
Just because someone keeps saying he’s “grown up” doesn’t mean it’s true. That has to be shown through action.
Now I hope this comment was just a mistake on AJ’s part and that’ll be the end of it. But I am concerned.
So far this year we haven’t seen the AJ Burnett from the second half of last year. We’ve seen the AJ Burnett of the more distant past – the AJ Burnett that he himself has criticized.
That is just not good.
I’ve said this dozens of times but AJ might be the most important person on the team. He and Wang are the biggest keys to the entire season now.
Thank God he didn’t send down Robertson and DFA’d Veras. Had to be done.
Now be prepared for Veras to be claimed by another team and get it together.
I won’t fault Cashman for this move though. Veras was cooked here and could do nothing to help this team let alone himself.
I wonder what the real story is why he couldn’t put it together here.
He certainly has the stuff.
Stultus Magnus
June 16th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
“No I was referring to some thing about Pete’s line-up.
perfect game lost
no-hitter still intact”
Did I walk with my comment re: Cano?
nope that’s not it.
Cervelli is NOT the catcher of the future. He just is not good enough. He has no power and hits for a low avg. His decent sucess this year is still not good enough for a starting catcher and even it is due to not being overexposed. He is a backup. If you want a starter, look at Montero and Romine, and especially Montero whom I’ve heard is a phenomenal hhitter.
veras goneee yessssss best news ever.
And no one caught on to Cashman’s comments in Kepner’s article?
Cervelli isn’t talented enough to be a starting C. He’s not much more than a singles hitter right now. Maybe in the future he can become a gap-to-gap hitter but that’s not the case right now. When Molina comes back Cervelli should go to AAA and work on his hitting.
Posada is still good enough behind the plate and with his excellent bat he’s a real asset there. He’d still be a good DH (if he can hit like he is this year) but not nearly the same value he provides at C.
Burnett walked 86 guys last year and gave up 211 hits with Greg Zaun/Barajas behind the plate
I guess they can’t call a game either. Neither can the Florida catchers when he was mediocre there too.
While I do agree that Posada’s catching leaves a lot to be desired… using Burnett as the example is so flawed. His entire career has been scapegoating.
“June 16th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
Jorge caught AJ 4 times 2-2 record. The 2 losses came against Boston when AJ blew a 6 run lead and the time he had too much rest.”
Not sure if you’re referring to the team result or AJ’s record but he is 1-2 with a no decision with Posada catching. The no decision was a game against the Angels where he struggled from the outset, giving up three runs in the first two innings. The one win was the 12-3 game at home against Texas.
Guest,
We dont take are spelling seriusly hear.
Where does this scapegoat nonsense come from? Every time AJ has pitched poorly he has been his own harshest critic. He was a hothead in Florida, but has grown up alot since then.
Would love to get Grabow for Veras, but that isn’t enough.
I hope the DFA of Veras means more mound time for Robertson. That kid has “it”.
Veras DFA’d…..Wahoooo!!!!
Patrick
June 16th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Thanks m.
Now I see what you guys are saying about A.J., that’s a pretty annoying quote.
GB7,
Maybe Tomko has found his niche as a short innings reliever? He’s been a starter for the vast majority of his career, when he relieved I think he was a long reliever. He has decent stuff – 94 mph fastball.
Right now he’s the last guy I would go to in the pen but who knows maybe he’ll be useful.
————————————————————
He’s good for multiple innings, though I’d like to see them kept to the two inning games. He did have a 3 inning shutout though. Toss out the game against the Mets, and he’s done pretty well.
thank you guest
if I had consulted the dictionary I would have spelled the word correctly.
Wait… now we’re going to kill Tyler Kepner (one of the best baseball writers in NY) for using a quote that AJ Burnett gave him?
When does the excuse making stop and when will AJ be accountable?
Man you all are tough on A.J. – And, not tough enough on posada.
This “issue” with posada not calling a good game, has been an issue for years and years. Pitchers from Jon Lieber, El duque, Mike Mussina, Randy Johnson, and a few others as well as now A.J. and Joba have not wanted to throw to Posada. They’ve all said things like his pitch calls are predictable and that he is stubborn and hard headed and wants it his way all the time. I think A.J., has some issues, but wouldnt it be worth it to have another catcher catch him to see if the “issues” go away. It wont necessarily prove that posada and him dont meld well, but everyone knows a pitcher is very mental and why not set his mind at ease on game days.
86w183
I’d love Grabow too but I’d give him a REALLY REALLY REALLY good physical before I traded for him. Last two we got from Pittsburgh broke.
I am so thankful that I do not have to watch Veras pitch another game in pinstripes, ever again. Watching him walk guys in key situations, or even worse with a big lead, was just too painful.
I hope that this move means that we are going to see more of David Robertson.
“I love Posada, but I think next year Cervelli is our catcher next year with Posada our full-time DH.”
Cervelli so far is overachieving at the plate.
And at there current rates of production, Posada will prodcue 60-70 additional runs over the course of a season.
To put that into context – that’s the same difference between Tex and David Ortiz.
That’s how much better Posada is than Cervelli.
That’s 6-7 additional wins. Every time Cervelli plays for Posada this team is considerably less likely to win. Now no one can catch 162 game so Cervelli needs to play and is doing a nice job as a back up.
But if he were to start on a regular basis it would hurt this team immensely.
I heard AJ’s comments during the post-game, coming out of his own mouth. At the time, I remember thinking, “uh-oh, did he really go there?”
86w183
June 16th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
Where does this scapegoat nonsense come from? Every time AJ has pitched poorly he has been his own harshest critic. He was a hothead in Florida, but has grown up alot since then.
Would love to get Grabow for Veras, but that isn’t enough.
————————————————————
Not sure if it would be, but, they’d like to save the remainder of that 2.3 mil he’s getting, and use it to sign some of the kids.
Why blame Burnett for being honest?
Burnett didn’t come here to kiss Posada’s rings. He came here to win his own.
“I heard AJ’s comments during the post-game, coming out of his own mouth. At the time, I remember thinking, “uh-oh, did he really go there?””
Same here, Doreen. I actually was only half paying attention to the interview then when he said that, my ears perked up.
The NYY should have traded Veras and Ramirez this winter while their value was high and made room for the younger relievers.
Now they have no value. We might get a fringe A-ball player for Veras or Edwar. Over the winter, we might have been able to get a versatile, super utility player for the bench or something
In his defense, isn’t AJ being sort of a jerk if he DOESN’T give some credit to Cervelli for his performance on Sunday? Seems like kind of a no-win situation for him.
CB
June 16th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
“I love Posada, but I think next year Cervelli is our catcher next year with Posada our full-time DH.”
Cervelli so far is overachieving at the plate.
And at there current rates of production, Posada will prodcue 60-70 additional runs over the course of a season
————————————————————take away his 4 infield hits from his total of 17 (15 singles) and that .298 ave isn’t that impressive, and neither is the one walk in over 60 plate appearances.
The yankees should make sure they trade Veras to an NL team – doesn’t matter what they get back.
They should not let him sign with the Angels or another AL team. Trade him and make sure you determine which team he winds up with.
Well, pitching like he has so far this year, he isn’t winning any rings.
He should just shut up and pitch. Nobody is asking im to kiss Posada’s rings.
However, Jorge Posada has accomplished a heckuva lot more in this game than AJ Burnett. Something AJ needs to remember when he falls back into the scapegoat game he likes to play.
“I heard AJ’s comments during the post-game, coming out of his own mouth. At the time, I remember thinking, “uh-oh, did he really go there?””
As soon as he said it, I thought to myself “Wow, in a couple of days he is going to wish he could take that quote back. The media is going to eat it up”.
“The NYY should have traded Veras and Ramirez this winter while their value was high and made room for the younger relievers.”
You are 100% right. Myself and several others were posting the same thing over the winter. Now it’s too late.
BD
June 16th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
In his defense, isn’t AJ being sort of a jerk if he DOESN’T give some credit to Cervelli for his performance on Sunday? Seems like kind of a no-win situation for him.
————————————————————
Giving Cervelli some of the credit isn’t an issue. The issue comes from mentioning other catchers.
CB,
Agree. Last thing they need is for Veras to go to a team we’re competing for a playoff spot with (LA, Tampa, etc.) and turn it around and solidify their pen.
Send him anywhere in the NL.
I have no problem whatsoever that AJ gave credit to Cervelli. Or if he complimented Cervelli. It was just how the words came out that lent themselves to be interpreted as making a comparison to another catcher.
CC has praised Cervelli, too. He did it without alluding to anyone else. I have also heard Joba give credit to Posada specifically after a particularly good game.
Frankly, after crappy games, AJ has only blamed himself. He’s never placed blame on anyone else. It’s interesting in that he did very well in this game and chose to give credit to the catcher. Which is fine, if it came out right.
There is a chance that he really didn’t mean to slight Posada and that the words just came out awkwardly. But it didn’t sound too good.
You guys are assuming Veras and Ramirez had trade markets. Lots of scouts watch these guys. They could probably tell both overachieved last year.
Usually guys who have knocked around the game, and have had an isolated time of success, don’t offer much on the trade market.
I would definitely want a team contending against us for a playoff spot to burn a bullpen position on Veras.
A guy with no control vs our line up = done
Pete fixed the typo he had Swisher and Tex at 1b and there was only one comment – and that was a serious one.
DFA for Veras was the right choice. Much better to get rid of him than to have sent down Robertson or someone like that.
“take away his 4 infield hits from his total of 17 (15 singles) and that .298 ave isn’t that impressive, and neither is the one walk in over 60 plate appearances.”
i think .298 for a backup catcher who was hitting 190 in AA is very impressive…
Rishi pasted Olney’s blog from today, it’s much more candid (although anonymous) than Kepner’s article (again, nothing on Cashman’s quote?!).
If I were the Yankee staff, I’d encourage the pitchers to trust Posada. And I’d tell Posada to pick his battles. Let the pitchers win some of them. Then it’ll be more of a partnership.
I think that a pitcher will throw more accurately, if he throws with conviction.
(and yes, I’m aware that NYS is in their heads).
SJ44,
They must have had SOME value though. At least more value than they have right now. Cashman should have taken advantage of that considering the plethora of relief prospects the Yanks have. Several people on here suggested it.
Anyways, I’m leaving for the game now. I get to watch CC pitch, the Yanks are fielding their best lineup and facing the Nationals. It should be a good night for the Yanks (knock on wood)!!
“hits from his total of 17 (15 singles) and that .298 ave isn’t that impressive, and neither is the one walk in over 60 plate appearances.”
GB7,
His batting average is quite good but as you point out it’s about the emptiest .298 one could possibly imagine.
He walks less than Cano.
So even though he’s hitting .298 he’s only getting on base % is only .310. That’s kind of amazing – he’s hitting .298 and getting on base at a .310 clip because, as you point out, he’s drawn 1 walk in 60 plate appearances.
1 walk in 60 plate appearances. Cano does that and people hate him for it.
And Cervelli isn’t hitting for any power. His slugging percentage is .333.
Jose Molina had a lower BA but was probably having a better offensive year than Cervelli. Molina’s OBP was .333 and his slg% was .386.
Cervelli has a .644 OPS. That’s bad even for a back up catcher.
Molina had a .720 OPS before he was hurt.
Cervelli could get better – but he could regress as well.
Cervelli’s not supplanting Posada in 2010 but I will say as of right now he is the back up catcher (in 2010) and Molina is out.
Cervelli’s been such a great story. Kid’s never seen AAA and he gets the call and actually competes and contributes.
wow. dfa veras at 28 over a 35 yr old bum tomko….
man they must have been fed up with his inability to throw strikes. I would have kept him over Tomko but the bottom line they both suck…
veras showed signs last year but he can’t keep it together for any meaningful amount of time..
tomko who stinks should be the mop up/ long man………..
^^scratch that…i thought the 298 was w/o them..ok your right
RalphieD (OPPC all day)-298 is impressive for Cervelli but not so impressive for anybody else.
A team like Pittsburgh can have the patience to work with Veras, like they have with Ohlendorff and Karstens. They aren’t going anywhere over the next couple of years. NYY can’t take that time, and I doubt the Angels or Tampa can, either.
WOW! I have absolutely no issue with giving creds to Cervelli!!!!!!! He has performed much better than expected. That said, I didn’t like the slap at Posada to the media. If Burnett or anyone else has an issue with anyone then settle it in the clubhouse. I mean if someone has the guts to say it to Posada face to face, LOL!, and survive. Kind of like rushing the mound with Nolan pitching. Next!
Cervelli may not even be here when Molina comes back or maybe he will. So all this talk of him starting next year are a bit off target. Maybe the Yanks keep 3 Catchers all year or maybe they DFA Molina. Who knows. I don’t believe Cervelli has any options left. Does he?
A.J. Burnett’s comments were somewhat comparable with the ones that Ian Kennedy made last year about how he wasn’t upset after he was shelled by the Angels.
As soon as the comments came out, watch out.
Probably all Veras would be good for in return would be for a minor leaguer or two or maybe a journeyman who the Yankees could use off of the bench, that’s about the most that they could possibly hope for.
Just get him into the NL and out of the Yankees’ hair, that’s all we need.
Doreen,
No doubt AJ and Jorge have some issues. That’s ok. El Duque and Jorge got into a couple of fistfights! lol
When Torre asked El Duque if he wanted to take Posada off his starts, El Duque said, “No way”. He felt that creative tension brought out the best in him.
Its much easier for Jorge and AJ to work out their issues than it is to give a guy like AJ a personal catcher.
A lot of people in Atlanta would like a do over of the Maddox years. They feel they left a WS or two on the field having Eddie Perez (Maddox’s personal catcher) in the lineup instead of Javy Lopez in the post-season.
By nature, pitchers and catcher have a challenging relationship. Its much easier to work out differences than change catchers, especially when the dropoff is so great (as with Cervelli and Posada) between the starter and backup.
I think the idea we have to sweep is a bit simplistic. Tomorrow Washington send John Stannon to the mound. His last two starts he picked up wins against Cincinnati and the Mets giving up 1 run in 15 total innings.
Clearly someone we have to destroy or we suck.
BTW we send Wang against him. I’d prefer a solid performance from Wang and a loss to a 10-9 victory.
I’d prefer Veras on an AL team, the Angels would be appropriate. Veras is a hack, he’s not about to turn it around with that delivery.
losers check out cerv elli’s sluggin % it is terrible. he is a slow singles hitter, fast compared to molina but slow compared to most weak hitting middle infielders. he is a good fielder but he needs to work on his hitting big time else he will only be a very part time catcher that is it, unless you guys like brian schneider jr……….
Shairon Martis is 5-1 while the Nationals are 16-45. What is he doing right?
CB
June 16th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
Cervelli could get better – but he could regress as well.
————————————————————
I guess the only way to know if he can stick in a few singles and sac bunts at the bottom of the lineup is to wait. I think the more teams see him another time around, it might expose those flaws.
“A lot of people in Atlanta would like a do over of the Maddox years. They feel they left a WS or two on the field having Eddie Perez (Maddox’s personal catcher) in the lineup instead of Javy Lopez in the post-season.”
This is one of the reasons why “personal catchers” on a team trying to win the world series now are such a bad idea.
We’ve all seen the yankees shut down offensively in the post season for several years in a row.
They cannot, under any circumstance, afford to have cervelli playing catcher over posada in the playoffs.
And if AJ is granted his own personal catcher then he’s going to have significant adjustments to make in the playoffs with posada.
i think the yankees have enough offense that they do not need to worry about hitting at every single position. The pitcher seem more comfortable with Cervilli, they get into more of a rhythem…Posada constintly (excuse spelling) puts down signs that they either shake off, or having conferences on the mound. We got three veteren pitchers on the mound, let them throw what they want…
“RalphieD (OPPC all day)-298 is impressive for Cervelli but not so impressive for anybody else”
thats definitly not true though…if you are a .298 hitter, you are a good hitter..im not saying cervelli is a .298 hitter but there is no way you can say that .298 in general is bad…its definitly not
So now everyone is up in arms that Cervelli hits CLUTCH SINGLES? I thought our ‘HR / OBP’ offense is too inconsistent? Wouldn’t it be nice to have a guy who does nothing but hit singles? The single, backbone of the modern rally!!
Who cares if we dont get on base or slug, all we need is a single to get a runner in from 2nd.
isn’t that what we are missing?
you guys are funny
Can’t wait to see Posada’s reaction after AJ pies him after a walk off.
Stuart-
Cervelli’s ceiling is as a back-up. But one who seems pretty good behind the plate and the pitchers like to work with.
He is hitting better in the bigs than he did in AA so I don’t know in the long term that he can keep this performance up. Even if he can hit about .265-.280 with good D and fast enough running to not be a constant double play candidate that seems pretty good for a backup catcher on a min. contract.
Posada can keep his starting job though
SJ44 -
That is what I said I hoped would happen. That at some point AJ (and whichever pitchers have “problems” with the catcher) and Jorge learn how to reach some accord on how to work together. Because they are going to have to at some point. I do not see Cervelli in a playoff lineup.
Life ain’t perfect and you can’t always get what you want.
Finally! Veras is gone! – Of course someone else will pick him up and the Yanks won’t be able to hit him.
There is nothing wrong with giving credit to the catcher, but it should never be at the expense of another. It seems like athletes often fall into that trap:
‘This is my favorite city’…’X is the best manager’…’We would have the best infield if he was our shortstop,’ etc.
I’m sure by now AJ realizes he has caused a poopstorm with his playoff batterymate and fan fave. Disappointing. I have said this before, but I’m convinced that Jorgie deserves better than that.
RalphieD (OPPC all day)-298 with no power and several dubious infield singles he is not likely to get during the mjaority of his career is bad.
Cervelli could very well be the Yankees answer to Minnesota’s Mike Redmond who backs up Mauer. He can hit a bit for single, sticks in a double on occassion, bunts and plays solid defense. Cervelli’s advantage is that he has very good speed for a catcher and decent speed for others.
mjaority is majority.
“Shairon Martis is 5-1 while the Nationals are 16-45. What is he doing right?”
Must be getting 6 runs a game of support, because he has Veras like ERA numbers.
Grabow is now the interim closer for the Pirates.
How about reclamation project Fausto Carmona? One stinker for another with a change of scenery. Doubt the Indians would do that deal since sending down Lee turned him into Cy Young last year!
John Lannan faces Wang tomorrow and he is a pretty good pitcher, and could very well be the Nationals only All Star representative.
Personally, I thought AJ’s comments after the Boston game about how he said he was going to get on a roll soon and “isin’t going to change a thing” were much more egregious than his comments praising Cervelli.
I don’t think A.J. said anything wrong…he’s just doing bad and people are groping around for things to blame on him.
Day 3, It’s great to see that the comics page has bad such a nice comeback…..What’s that great Line by Vince Scully about stats, a drunk, and a lamppost ???? It certainly applies to this debate…..
I don’t think Burnett would dare pie a guy like Posada
It would be funny if he tried though. Posada would probably set him straight afterwards lol
If Matsui is not healthy enough to play the OF beginning next week, then keep him off the field. I’m ok with that. I wish his knees were healthy, but if not, then do the right things. We need his bat and power all season.
Cervelli’s OBP was below .300. Like how he hustles but I’d rather have two of the Molina brothers behind the plate next year with Posada sharing catching and DH.
Danny
June 16th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Personally, I thought AJ’s comments after the Boston game about how he said he was going to get on a roll soon and “isin’t going to change a thing” were much more egregious than his comments praising Cervelli.
————————————————————
I’ll say it again. It wasn’t his praising Cervelli for the job he did. He would have been remiss if he hadn’t. The issue is saying that other catchers may have been the problem for his bad games.
NY Times is reporting Sosa is one of the 103 from 2003 according to lawyers with knowledge of the results.
——————————————————
If this is true then it is obvious that the New York Times has access to the list of 103 names. They seem to be revealing the names at a time that suits them. Is anyone else (other than me) concerned about whether this is ethically proper? It seems to me like there is an opportuniy for blackmail with this practice. In my opion they should release all of the names on the list.
“I don’t think A.J. said anything wrong…he’s just doing bad and people are groping around for things to blame on him.”
AJ pitched a pretty damn good game against the Mets, unlike the other two Amigos from the Marlins- Beckett and Pavano.
here’s my thought: release the list. as fans, we’ll never know who did what and for how long. The only thing we may ever know is what players were stupid enough not to take something on the banned list (there are plenty of things that cannot be tested for) or did not ‘mask’ for a brief period of time in 2003.
“RalphieD (OPPC all day)-298 with no power and several dubious infield singles he is not likely to get during the mjaority of his career is bad.”
you are missing the point entirely…what i said was that .298 is a good AVERAGE…we are not talking about slugging %…i know he does not hit for any power but that was not the debate
Posada not wanting to get pied says a lot about him.
Does melky really not like getting pied? From what we’ve heard, he’s got a silly side.
At this point I could care less about the freaking list.
And we don’t even know if Posada doesn’t want to get pied.
“I’ll say it again. It wasn’t his praising Cervelli for the job he did. He would have been remiss if he hadn’t. The issue is saying that other catchers may have been the problem for his bad games.”
Bingo, GB. That’s what it comes down to.
RalphieD (OPPC all day), that is the debate. 298 is NOT good with no power. You have to talk about both, because just referring to one is not the full story.
When did Posada say he didn’t want to get pied?
Okay m. You just answered my question.
Also before the weekend most of us thought we’d probably take 2 of 3 from the Mets, the only loss to the hands of Santana. Turned out Burnett was the Ace, especially[with a little luck,granted]when he got out of a no out bases loaded jam. If AJ pitches to his capabilities, Sabathia and him are 1,2 IMHO, in the playoffs.
When reached for comment, Sammy Sosa forgot how to speak both english and spanish.
Gardner has a higher OBP than Melky
As always, Gardy just needed a couple months to get used to a new level. Now that he is here, he is more than holding his own
He adds plus defense in center and elite speed. He can wreak havoic on the basepaths and distract pitchers. He needs to play more. He can add a spark to the lineup
jpb1973
June 16th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
NY Times is reporting Sosa is one of the 103 from 2003 according to lawyers with knowledge of the results.
———————————————————————————
If this is true then it is obvious that the New York Times has access to the list of 103 names. They seem to be revealing the names at a time that suits them. Is anyone else (other than me) concerned about whether this is ethically proper? It seems to me like there is an opportuniy for blackmail with this practice. In my opion they should release all of the names on the list.
——————————————
Not necessarily as they got it from a lawyer with knowledge of the results and that lawyer could have only given Sammy’s name.
Yankee Trader
June 16th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
“I don’t think A.J. said anything wrong…he’s just doing bad and people are groping around for things to blame on him.”
AJ pitched a pretty damn good game against the Mets, unlike the other two Amigos from the Marlins- Beckett and Pavano.
————————————————————
I would like to see him pitch in a couple of 2 or 3 to nothing games before thinking that he’s turning a corner. He pitched well in 6 of the 7 innings. as usual, he has that one bad inning. This time, though, it didn’t get away from him, whether he got a couple of breaks or not. It was taking advantage of the breaks that he hasn’t been doing, lately.
NATIONALS (16-45)
Guzman DH
Johnson 1B
Zimmerman 3B
Dukes CF
Dunn LF
Kearns RF
Gonzalez SS
Nieves C
Hernandez 2B
Not a bad lineup at all…. CC and our pen will have their hands full.
You guys can’t just look at Cervelli’s average and say ‘that is not sustainable’. He hits 20% line drives. If he maintains THAT then he can maintain a .300 average by having a normal amount of his flyballs and groundballs fall for hits.
He was also a strong hitter at every level he played in the minors with the exception of THIS YEAR (small sample size).
He also had BB rates of 8%, 10%, 13%, and 9.4% in the minors. Most minor league hitters do not come up and walk right away. They need to prove they can hit strikes before pitchers stop pounding the zone. Look at Gardner early this year vs now.
Cervelli will be a much more valuable backup catcher than Molina.
jpb1973
June 16th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
NY Times is reporting Sosa is one of the 103 from 2003 according to lawyers with knowledge of the results.
———————————————————————————
If this is true then it is obvious that the New York Times has access to the list of 103 names. They seem to be revealing the names at a time that suits them. Is anyone else (other than me) concerned about whether this is ethically proper? It seems to me like there is an opportuniy for blackmail with this practice. In my opion they should release all of the names on the list.
—————————————————————
Not necessarily as they got it from a lawyer with knowledge of the results and that lawyer could have only given Sammy’s name.
——————————————————-
Wasn’t Selena Roberts in the employ of the NYT at the time she had access to the list? If so, I simply can’t believe that they have access to 2 of the names but none of the rest.
I bet the group of us could come up with 103 names of players who did steroids even if not named in the report. I’ll wait for the “rat” to leak the names, however.
Jerkface, I don’t know if he’ll be better than Molina. But he is not good enough to start. He is a backup.
Paging Mr. Veras, Mr. Veras
Please pick up the Pirate Yellow courtesy phone.
This is your last call for JetBlue flight 1053, non-stop from JFK to Pittsburgh.
I’ll reserve judgement on Cervelli’s bat after he’s been around the league more than once.
“Cervelli will be a much more valuable backup catcher than Molina.”
Are you saying that because of his body habitus, more likely to stay healthy than Molina? Can’t compare arms!
I think it’s dangerous to predict Cervelli’s future at the plate.
Besides, how many catchers, backup and starting, are smoking it? Not that many.
Catchers can contribute in other ways, not just with their offense.
wi zak?
gardner has plus defense??speed doesn’t make someone a plus defender…
Cervelli has a good strong arm.
There are two good things about DFA’ing Jose Veras.
1. It opens a spot on the 25 man roster…for Bruney
2. It opens a spot on the 40 man roster…hopefully for a young player like Austin Jackson, who could be called up at any time if he’s on the 40 man roster.
foolish, not dangerous
June 16th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
NY Times is reporting Sosa is one of the 103 from 2003 according to lawyers with knowledge of the results.
———————————————————————————
If this is true then it is obvious that the New York Times has access to the list of 103 names. They seem to be revealing the names at a time that suits them. Is anyone else (other than me) concerned about whether this is ethically proper? It seems to me like there is an opportuniy for blackmail with this practice. In my opion they should release all of the names on the list.
—————————————————————
Not necessarily as they got it from a lawyer with knowledge of the results and that lawyer could have only given Sammy’s name.
————
I’m an attorney. Ethically and legally, none of these names should have been leaked because of the confidentiality agreement and because the results are currently under seal by Federal Court order.
Breach of contract is one thing, but violating a Federal Court order is very serious. The attorney who leaked this information better get his own attorney, and a good one at that.
The most important aspect of this entire discussion is that the testing would have never taken place if the confidentiality agreement was not in place. The player’s union would have never allowed it otherwise.
“Gardner has a higher OBP than Melky”
Gardner is playing better but at the same time all of Gardner’s rate stats also got better as he started to play less.
That’s pretty typical of bench players. The less exposed they are, the more selectively they are played, the better off they do.
For instance, Gardner doesn’t play very often at all against left handed pitching.
That alone will make his hitting get better and will drive up his OBP.
He’s only drawn 15 walks in 150 PA’s. That’s not great for a guy who’s game is his legs. The increase in his OBP is being driven by his increased BA (though his walks are up as well compared to the beginning of the season).
He’s been a good addition to the bench but I don’t know how he’d do playing more than he has.
The vast majority of his experience and opportunity to “get used to” major league competition was the start of the season. He was awful playing everyday. Since then his experience has only increased marginally while his rate stats have improved more significantly. I think it’s the change in role rather than more time on the roster that’s driving his improvement, though how those two things balance is unclear.
mc,
do the players/players union have any recourse? one could argue that this violation of a federal court order has cost arod millions in endorsements.
There’s a better chance of a pitcher being added to the 40 man roster than Jackson, right now.
Gardner will be a consitent 290-300 hitter. He will flurish once he starts playing everyday and will eventually become the teams lead off hitter.
*BREAKING NEWS*
“Meanwhile, Alex Rodriguez was in Monument Park for about 15 minutes to meet fans. There were a lot of photos taken including. Nice of Alex to take the time.”
Pete wrote something nice about Alex!! Woohoo. We are SO winning #27 this year.
I think Gardner will end up being a very good hitter for the Yanks.
There’s a better chance of a pitcher being added to the 40 man roster than Jackson, right now.
——————————————————-
Good point!!! Pitching is the more immediate need.
A-Rod and the Union have standing to sue whoever leaked his name. A-Rod damages could be fairly significant. I doubt he will, as it would further damage his reputation. Then again, you never know.
They should just release the entire list. Otherwise, we will be subjected to these mini leaks for years to come.
They should just release the entire list. Otherwise, we will be subjected to these mini leaks for years to come.
Melky and Gardner are both near the tops in the league in UZR/150 for centerfielders. Gardner has the slight edge vs Melky. You might remember some of his bonehead plays and think he isn’t a good defender, but he gets to a lot of balls.
Cervelli will be a better backup than Molina because he has a more dynamic offensive game and the drop off in defense isn’t enough to offset that. Molina is an atrocious hitter that is incredibly slow. Cervellis minor league performance indicates a player that will hit for average and walk a respectable amount. Keep in mind Molina had a .500 OPS for us last year and sits around .600 for his career. He has only walked 4 times this year so its not like Molina has a great eye. he walked 12 times last year. A 3% BB rate. He has a great arm but only threw out 24% of runners in the small sample this year. Cervelli is at 38% for the year in a similiar small sample.
We should keep 3 catchers when Jose comes back, but cervelli should get more games than Molina. More dynamic, better chance for growth, lower chance for decline, healthier, more versatile.
Just in terms of roster flexibility you should get rid of Molina over Cervelli.
This new bullpen will now be very good it will rival the red sox bullpen.
Mo, Bruney, Hughes, Coke, Aceves, Robertson, Tomko(longman)
That’s A-Rod’s damages…
Sorry, but our bullpen is going to be better but not even close to the Sox pen.
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com.....8;c_id=nyy
Nice article, “Cervelli’s eyes turning heads…”
At first the AJ quotes sounded bad, but this article might provide some context. The article said Sunday’s game was the first time Cervelli caught AJ. That doesn’t sound right, but if it is, then I can see it was more about Cervelli and less about Posada.
anyone shocked that sosa failed a test in ’03? think big papi is next…. 102 to go
If they’re DFAing Veras, there may be a trade in the winds.
Love Posada……but, prior to his arrival the Yanks went 18 games errorless.
Since he’s been back? ERA OF ERRORS: The Yankees have committed at least one error in 10 of the last 12 games.
He broke the streak.
Just saying. Carry on.
Nick-
Is this you?
http://deadspin.com/5292898/gr.....-his-house
would love to see papi/manny on that list
Wait till they come to OUR house
June 16th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
Sorry, but our bullpen is going to be better but not even close to the Sox pen.
——————————————————
The 8th and 7th inning now will be lights out with Bruney in the 8th and Hughes/Aceves/Coke in the 7th. The yankee starters need to just give 6 quality innings. The yanks bullpen have shorten the game.
The Red Sox bullpen has not performed very well in the last week and I don’t think they will keep it up all season either.
The Yanks and Phillies did some damage against them last week, though they are among the best offensive teams around.
Papa Smurf, Hughes will not be here forever, and I’m not so confident in Aceves and Coke (I think the bloom is off Aceves and Coke is inconsistent). As for Bruney I have no idea how he’ll pitch back from an injury or how long he’ll last.
I don’t care who the names are on the list. It doesn’t do anybody but the media and fans of caught players any good.
MC, all I could think of in Philly was the Howard HR. I don’t think the Papelscum was pitching,and then the pen was shutdown the rest of the game.
In the previous thread, m wrote:
“I’d like to think that pitchers who throw a pitch with conviction will throw it more accurately.”
I agree. During the broadcast of the Joba’s last start, in which he kept shaking off Posada, Al Leiter said something to the effect of “I’d rather have a pitcher throw with 100% conviction and be wrong than with 50% conviction and be right.” Trisha employed that notion with gusto during the discussion yesterday.
I wrote:
“Yes, I think most of us would rather a pitcher throw a particular pitch with 100% commitment than a pitch with 50% commitment.
This does not mean that Joba should be shaking off Posada as many times as he did or that Posada has a problem calling a game.
It means that Joba needs to learn to throw the pitches that Posada calls for with 100% commitment.
It would be very rare for a pitcher to agree with a catcher’s pitch selection every single time. Even pitchers that prefer the catcher to call the entire game shake off pitches sometimes. So they agree on the next pitch selected, or the one after that.
If Joba can’t completely commit himself to the pitch that Posada or Molina or Cervelli or Tony Pena call for him, that it going to be a problem for Joba and for the Yankees.
I have more confidence that Joba will eventually be able to work with every Yankee catcher than I do with the notion that Joba’s failure to execute pitches was the fault of Jorge Posada.”
Unless you think that Joba should be calling his own game, he needs to be able to throw whatever pitch is agreed upon with conviction – if he isn’t doing that already.
“Why Can’t the Yankees Pitch to Posada”
That’s the headline on the ESPN NY website.
The stupidity now has momentum. This is the kind of ridiculous issue that could only be hatched in NY.
I can see this sticking the rest of the year and becoming an issue Posada gets pestered about for the rest of the season. Every time a pitcher has a bad outing with him behind the plate this is going to come up again and again.
Just amazing. A completely baseless charge is now evolving into full fledged nonsense.
The Washington Natinals are the worst team in baseball. I will not accept anything but a sweep and lop-sided wins.
They better sweep this series or else
If you release the names, you’re doing the “2 wrongs make a right” thing.
Just because we’re unhapy they ruined the reputations of these people despite promising not to doesn’t mean we should ruin other people’s reputations.
CB,
Burnett’s dumb quote set the ball in motion for this distraction.
Wait till they come to OUR house
June 16th, 2009 at 5:37 pm
Papa Smurf, Hughes will not be here forever, and I’m not so confident in Aceves and Coke (I think the bloom is off Aceves and Coke is inconsistent). As for Bruney I have no idea how he’ll pitch back from an injury or how long he’ll last.
————————————————————
The “bloom is off Aceves” because of one bad game? Get serious.
Coke is like most other relievers. They have long streaks of outstanding and short streak of nothing going right.
Nick,
I wrote earlier that I think the pitchers need to trust Posada more and that Posada needs to pick his battles. I think that will lead to less “bickering”.
doris from rego park: very funny story. I found the Kyle Farnsworth angle to that story highly amusing.
“Burnett’s dumb quote set the ball in motion for this distraction.”
Without a question. Nicely done on AJ’s part. Welcome to NY.
And at this point the charge is so completely baseless that there will be no way to refute it.
It’s like trying to prove a negative. You can’t really do it.
No matter what people say about how sillly “cERA” is or how no one should care what AJ Burnett has to say because this has been the story of his career this is now a problem for Posada.
Amazing.
Must be great to be a pitcher on the Yankees. If you pitch great, its because of you and if you pitch poorly, its because of Posada.
Amazing. Stupidity knows no bounds.
GreenBeret7, not just that game. I’ll try and look it up but he’s been allowing more runs lately, at least that’s how I rememmber it. Maybe only one or two a game thru several innings. But more.
If I’m wrong, I’ll admit it and eat crow with gusto.
By the way, I am serious. Please don’t ask me to get serious unless you really think I’m joking. It’s insulting, and I have nothing against you and never have and hope not to.
Bard was awful in Sunday’s Red Sox v. Phillies game if I recall.
MC, I didn’t watch so I’ll take your word for it.
I’m sick of the pitchers saying they can’t pitch as well to Posada. Have a meeting and sort it out cause Jorge isn’t going anywhere.
Wow, I had a lot of typos in my post about Aceves. You know what I mean.
If it were only AJ, the focus would be on Burnett.
The problem is it isn’t only AJ. I think enough is seen and heard behind the scenes for the topic to be an issue.
Who cares that AJ started another distraction/controversy?
He’ll just bake a pie for Posada as an appology
One way to stop the stupidity of the pitchers b***ching about the pitch calling is to let the two pitchers call one of their own games. When they get lit up, they can shut up and do as they’re told.
GB,
That’s exactly what I would. Call your own games. When they get lit up, you tell them, you don’t shake off anything for the next month.
For AJ Burnett to have any complaints, given his career, is a joke.
But hey, it worked. He has his own catcher.
Now, he better pitch up to his contract because there are no more excuses.
Posada should go 1978 Thurman Munson on the media.
This is total BS.
m: I don’t have any problem with the battles that Posada is picking right now. And I would rather Posada pick the wrong battles with 100% conviction than the right ones with only 50% conviction.
Joba, of course, admitted he was wrong after the game. I hope he meant it and will learn from it. I think he will.
And let me add that I have more credibility on this topic than anyone else here. To date, I think that I remain the only LoHud commenter who has ever disciplined Jorge Posada for his bad behavior:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9.....861380236/
So much for Aceves allowing a lot of runs, lately.
http://www.baseball-reference......;year=2009
This is my first visit to the site today (normally I check in at 11am and then about 50x throughout the day). Never have I been so excited then when I saw the lineup and Veras DFA’d. Wow, drinks are on me.
Aceves: 1 run in 2 innings on the 13th. @ Bos no earned runs but you know what happened, he gave up 3 runs.On the 4th 1.2, 1 ER. May 26, 3 ER.
This doesn’t necessarily mean anything and there were scoreless outings sprinkled in between but I think that all these little burst outings givig up 1 oor 2 runs, coupled with the debacle in Boston, in my humble opinion I don’t think Aceves can keep it up.
AJ’s quote just have credence to the theory that Posada was ruining the pitchers.
He gave Kepner and everyone else the evidence they needed to write the stories.
Once again lots of typos. At this point, whatever.
“If it were only AJ, the focus would be on Burnett.”
Not at all. The asymmetry of the argument places the onus of fault always on the catcher.
The whole point of the arugument is that it’s not the pitcher – it’s the catcher’s fault. And the catcher has to disprove it. But disproving it is essentially impossible.
Anyway, I don’t think Aceves has the stuff to be this good all year.
Girardi’s comment about Joba and Posada bickering and Cashman’s quotes are far more direct than what AJ said.
The mlb.com article I linked puts AJ’s comments in perspective. He credited Cervelli for keeping the mets guessing in fastball counts.
“SJ44
June 16th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
Must be great to be a pitcher on the Yankees. If you pitch great, its because of you and if you pitch poorly, its because of Posada.
Amazing. Stupidity knows no bounds.”
That’s too funny, but true with some fans and media types.
The start of Burnett’s quote was
“I think it’s just a matter of — I don’t know if it’s the catcher………”
Saying “I don’t know if it’s the catcher” was so stupid. How else could it be interpreted?
Burnett isin’t the sharpest tool in the shed as we know, but he has to be smarter than that.
SJ44
June 16th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
GB,
That’s exactly what I would. Call your own games. When they get lit up, you tell them, you don’t shake off anything for the next month.
For AJ Burnett to have any complaints, given his career, is a joke.
But hey, it worked. He has his own catcher.
Now, he better pitch up to his contract because there are no more excuses.
————————————————————
For any pitcher to have a personal catcher is ridiculous. They’ve had different catchers the entire careers, including Little League. For them to get this far, it couldn’t have too much of problem.
MC, it’s my understanding that the person who leaked the information wasn’t revealed. How does that person get into trouble if no one knows who it was? The journalists hide behind their sources, are they forced to reveal them by law if need be?
Maybe A.J. needs to bake himself a nice warm humble pie!
/shows self out…..
“One way to stop the stupidity of the pitchers b***ching about the pitch calling is to let the two pitchers call one of their own games. When they get lit up, they can shut up and do as they’re told.”
Then the Posada Truthers would simply blame the way posada “frames” the pitch or “sets up.”
Or they’d say that the pitcher doesn’t have “100% confidence” with posada or isn’t “comfortable” with him behind the plate, etc., etc.
Because they of course have deep knowledge over the subtle intricacies of catching and handling pitchers.
AJ made these exact quotes on the YES postgame. Nothing was taken out of context.
Kepner used a dumb quote by AJ to write his story. Nothing more.
Wait till they come to OUR house
June 16th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Aceves: 1 run in 2 innings on the 13th. @ Bos no earned runs but you know what happened, he gave up 3 runs.On the 4th 1.2, 1 ER. May 26, 3 ER.
This doesn’t necessarily mean anything and there were scoreless outings sprinkled in between but I think that all these little burst outings givig up 1 oor 2 runs, coupled with the debacle in Boston, in my humble opinion I don’t think Aceves can keep it up.
————————————————————
Whatever world you come from that allows you to think that Aceves is a problem, I ain’t visiting there. He’s been outstanding since he showed up last september.
ESPN is Red Sox Nation! What do you expect. Al Leiter’s comments were based on his personal feelings. As someone pointed out, Leiter’s best seasons/games were when he was told to shutup and pitch what the catcher told him to pitch. I’m sure that rubs a Pitcher the wrong way much like a coach calling the plays for a QB in FB. Most want to do it themselves. It is also easy to second guess someone else when something goes awry. (We’ve never done that on this board!)
That said, with todays computers and documenting batters and studying the swings of batters a game plan is worked out for the pitchers, catcher and coaches. Then it is up to the Catcher to execute. I wouldn’t doubt if Girardi didn’t suggest pitches as well via Eiland to Posada. Sometimes we fans get wagged because we are looking at things from the tail end instead of the source.
Supposedly Joba shook off the bartender who told him to call a cab.
CB,
I meant AJ is not the only reason for the firestorm. There’s plenty of antecdotes and statistics to be twisted to make their point.
If it were only AJ, there would be no story. End of story. They would be writing about how selfish AJ is.
But you add in the ERA (even when adjusted for Wang), you add in Joba battling (yes, I know he’s wrong), you add in that the ride is much smoother with Cervelli & Jose.
And you end up with something they can run with.
But AJ alone doesn’t make the story.
Why do people wear suit jackets and jeans?
GreenBeret7 I am NOT calling him a problem, hes been a HUGE boon, I’m just saying I don’t think his stuff, coupled with his last few outings, translates to sucess all year. If I end up wrong, which I hope, I’ll admit it cheerfully. I just don’t have confidence in Aceves all year.
Patrick, everyone is overreacting to AJ’s comments because they are frustrated with him….He said nice things about Cervelli, he never once knocked Posada.
Nick, that was funny.
Well Done!
“Girardi’s comment about Joba and Posada bickering and Cashman’s quotes are far more direct than what AJ said.”
No one would say that they should continue bickering.
That’s a given. There is no way they should repeat that performance.
That’s what Girardi and Cashman were primarily saying.
But suddenly this has morphed into the reason for the bickering is due to the lack of “game calling skills” on the part of the veteran catcher rather than inexperienced 23 year old.
And the focus of this is not Joba. He’s become very secondary. This has become an issue of AJ because he’s the only one who made a direct comment suggesting blame.
Joba is 23 and he was too smart to say anything like that.
SJ, please point out an exact quote where AJ criticized Posada? Man, I can’t believe the attack dogs are out today……
I think people are blowing AJ’s comments out of proportion. Its important to follow the context and sequence of the comments. Klepner interviewed AJ after the Boston game about his poor performance and AJ put a lot of the blame on pitch selection while saying it was his fault not Posada’s. In the context of Klepner’s story about Posada’s game calling, he followed up with AJ and asked what was different Sunday and he said better pitch selection. Yes, he probably shouldn’t have not said the “I don’t know that its the catcher” part or at least worded it better but I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt that he was trying to do his best to praise Cervilli while not blaming Posada which in the context of the story is difficult to do.
In any case, I think what AJ said is less damning than Cashman’s response to the cERA differential, “I can’t really say why there’s a difference. It could be sample size. It could be that the other guys are just better defensive players.” Yet people don’t see to have a problem with Cashman’s remarks.
Just pointing out while we’re talking about A.J. that if he pitched to the Sox this year like he did last year, we’re probably tied for first.
Wait till they come to OUR house
June 16th, 2009 at 6:00 pm
GreenBeret7 I am NOT calling him a problem, hes been a HUGE boon, I’m just saying I don’t think his stuff, coupled with his last few outings, translates to sucess all year. If I end up wrong, which I hope, I’ll admit it cheerfully. I just don’t have confidence in Aceves all year.
————————————————————
He doesn’t need “great stuff” to succeed (which he has). All he needs is the guts to believe that he can get anybody out at any time…which he does.
You made a production out of the Boston game. Name one Yankee pitcher that has done well against them this year.
Nick,
Nice use of the frowny-face to help that joke slide under the radar of offensiveness.
Very funny.
CC has said all the right things.
Never blamed the stadium or said it was in his head… the other pitchers and pitching coach did.
Never talked about the catcher once.
AJ needs to learn some PR from him (and some pitching as well).
“Jorge is obviously that rare combination of being a catcher and an offensive player,” Cashman said Monday. “Cervelli and Molina are more one-sided, to the defensive side. I can’t really say why there’s a difference. It could be sample size. It could be that the other guys are just better defensive players.”
Nick in SF,,,,,Great and very funny line,,Joba & the bartender…..Classic
Boy, Kepner is getting credit for doing nothing but transcribing AJ’s quotes that every other beat writer had already written in their recaps……
I also noticed that Cash was hardly enthusiastic about Phil’s performance. Notice in that Kepner link about the pen that Robertson was “fantastic”, Coke has done “well” (which I beg to differ with – Coke is the epitome of unreliable” and Phil gets a boring “nice”. It’s also a bad move keeping the kid in the pen. Terrible.
“Why do people wear suit jackets and jeans?”
How about the guys who wear jeans at the gym? what the hell is the mind-set there?
I cant believe most of you arent talking about the biggest story today. Veras DFA’d!! Wow, they actually ignored the radar gun and looked at the stats. Go figure. Now the only problem i see is who becomes the fall guy in the pen? First it was Edwar, now Veras, who’s next? Theres always a fall guy. Robertson perhaps till Marte comesback?
Joba is 23 yrs old and had one bad game where he had no control and nothing was working. Everyone has them. To this date, he has been our 2nd best pitcher. One bad game, nothing to over-analyze.
AJ has an entire career of mediocrity and disappointment, as well as a history of scapegoating and strained relationships.
Oh, and Joba never blamed Posada for anything. Infact, he was very mature about it afterward. AJ gave a quote to start a controversy.
Comparing Joba to AJ is pretty odd.
GreenBeret7, while this has nothing at all to do w/my arguement, CC. Even Coke did well that same game.
His stuff looks all right, not great…but the “guts” to get people out doesn’t necessarily translate…Remember when Coke was going through his bad stretch? Everybody loved saying he liked “attacking” hitters. Well I remember Pete himself saying that he was HR prone. I don’t think that this idea of putting the ball in the strike zone and being HR prone are necessarily unconnected. I’m sure you could find a ton of minor leaguers willing to “attack” the zone that would not do well in the majors.
Anyway, my point wasn’t making a production out of the Boston game, it was that I’ve noticed him givng up more runs recently and Boston was an ugly culmnation of that.
Thanks, Tom, vin, and Pat M.
Emoticons are our friends.
““Why do people wear suit jackets and jeans?”
How about the guys who wear jeans at the gym? what the hell is the mind-set there?
———————–
LOL. I know, right. Strange.
Im not the biggest fan of Posada behind the plate. Being that it becomes a horse race on the base pads. But am i correct in thinking that Posada has a fifth pitch he calls when he wants a wild pitch/3 feet out of the strike zone?
CB, ok fair enough……I will say that I was not thrilled with his comments when I read them. It does smack of passive-aggressiveness. However, I did feel somewhat differently once I actually heard the clip. I don’t think AJ’s intention was to knock Posada, I really dont. I know I have said things that people took the wrong way….and I had no intention of offending.
I will say this, though – I hate personal catchers. I don’t think AJ should have one, I don’t think CC should have one, I don’t think anyone should have one. Michael Kay had some good points today. Girardi, Eiland, the pitchers and Jorge should just get together and hash this out. I think things will be fine if they just communicate with each other.
Betsy – Cashman has always been a straight shooter. Remember last year when Hughes was dominant in that AAA playoff game, he said “It’s only AAA, he has done well there before. we know he can shut down AAA hitters” or something along those lines?
And this year of course his infamous “Wang’s contract says baseball player, not starter, he has a 20 ERA” comment.
Amazing how AJ’s comments went unnoticed for 36 hours.
Betsy, it’s not about complimenting Cervelli. He should have. It was the tack on comment about the other games that started like this:
“I think it’s just a matter of — I don’t know if it’s the catcher………”
Now, you tell me what that implies and how that is perceived by fans and the media. Then tell me what Posada possibly/probably thought about it after reading that.
Yeah Nick, classic line. I bet Joba would laugh at that one too.
I saw a guy in his suit and tie at the gym once. Said he didn’t have time to go home and change so he came straight to the gym from work.
Looked pretty odd, to say the least.
My opinion is they shouldn’t have to re-seal the ‘roid list because it’s already supposed to be sealed. Regardless … seal the damn thing.
As I understand it (and I could be wrong – I’m not a lawyer) anyone leaking info from a sealed document or case is breaking the law. Anyone with access to or knowledge of the names on the list who leaks any names should be prosecuted. If anyone somehow gets and leaks a name and ‘protects their source’ (Ms Roberts) I think that should be illegal if it isn’t.
It IS disturbing, as others have mentioned. More so than the specific names on the list, or the number of names on the list or the names that got away with avoiding the list.
I don’t care if there were 25 Red Soxs on the list and 8 of them were Manny & Papi getting caught 4 times each. ‘Outing’ any of them after the list was legally sealed is just as against the law as what they all done done to get on the list.
“Then the Posada Truthers would simply blame the way posada “frames” the pitch or “sets up.”
I’m confused.
I was always under the impression that the Posada-Truthers were the pro-Posada posters.
I mean, the truth is is that Posada is the best option.
Maybe Burnett should spend less time baking pies and more time trying to get on the same page as his catcher
There are other things to that quote, like voice inflection, or how he stumbled over the words.
I didn’t see the quote so he could have been saying it in a way like “I think it’s just a matter of (pitching better)…I don’t know if it’s the catcher(, I think it’s more that I couldn’t make the pitches).
You could get the quote exactly right and still get the meaning wrong.
“Amazing how AJ’s comments went unnoticed for 36 hours.”
Did you happen to catch Doreen’s post and the posts from some others before?
They said the minute they heard AJ say that on the post game they knew this would be trouble.
This might be AJ being inexperienced in NY but the minute he said it it was going to be an issue.
That it took 36 hours is the surprise – not that it became an issue at all.
In the end this is completely unfair to Posada.
Why are we assuming that AJ asked for Cervelli?? or any personal catcher for that matter?
Maybe it was simply Girardi pairing them to see if things will be better.
Greenbaret7,
You hit the nail on the head. That one line was dumb and unnecessary. He doesn’t know if its the catcher?
I saw a guy in his suit and tie at the gym once. Said he didn’t have time to go home and change so he came straight to the gym from work.
Looked pretty odd, to say the least.
———
Anyone have that dream/nightmare when they were kids about going to school naked(forgetting to put your clothes on, maybe pants)? When you grow up the dream changes to going to the gym forgetting my gym clothes and working out in my suit and tie. Scary stuff.
I have to say I did wonder at the time why we traded Alberto the General, since his nice glove made him an ideal candidate for back up/ 4th infielder. Now he is hitting 320 as well.
Did we really need another RHRP?
Rick, hopefully they aren’t wearing actual suit jackets, but “sport coats”. Seems trivial, but there actually IS a difference [if you are interested, Goog le it - fascinating
]
What is interesting is how this all got started…..A few of us mentioned about Joba shaking off Posada, then the topic expands to a cathers era ( which is crazy ) then the issue is in Kepner’s column in The Times, and suddenly ESPN is on it…..Sombody is monitoring the LoHud….Wonder if Pete served this up to Tyler ????
Thanks, Buddy.
I can report that the line on today’s game has moved to -400 on my sportsbook. My book has square lines a lot of the time, but even so, I don’t know if I’ve ever seen that before for a baseball game. That is beyond out of control.
Maybe Burnett should spend less time baking pies and more time trying to get on the same page as his catcher
———-
I agree GB7, i Think he should hand that job to someone who has nothing but time in their hands. Someone like Berroa. Or give it to the batboy and let Berroa take that job.
You have to let all of the players into the HOF.
The whole era is tainted, There are still 102 names still unknown, Why should they get rewarded because they were lucky enough not to be caught?
The baseball writers need to stop being hypocrites. All the players who have HOF numbers should be allowed in
GB, as I said, it could be interpreted as a passive-aggressive knock at Posada, but maybe AJ just misspoke. I’m not Shakespeare myself…….
I doubt the team is crazy about the pies anyway. Maybe after big games it is ok, but to do it after every walkoff is kind of lame.
Bronx Jeers: no, “Posada Truthers” is a satirical reference to 9/11 Truthers – I won’t get into the details here, but google it or just the ‘truther’ term. Basically, it’s just a reference to those who dare to tell the ‘truth’ about this controversial subject.
In any case, I wonder how it is in the clubhouse. I really hope there is no tension between AJ and Posada…..or AJ and anyone else. He should just explain what he meant to say because I honestly don’t believe he meant anything by it…….No, it’s not fair to Posada.
Slade was looking around the clubhouse with wide eyes. He had the locker next to Mariano Rivera. “This is really amazing,” he said. “I feel like the luckiest kid in the country right now.”
==========================
Aw.
What’s the issue with the pies? None of you are seriously suggesting it’s taking time off pitching, are you?
British Airways asks staff to work for free for up to month
—————-
Just read that and thought hmmm. Maybe we should intigrate that into baseball. If someone makes a ridiculous base running mistake on back to back nights or pitches a clunker(getting paid a mil per win). Maybe they can give the money they would have earned that day or days to some charity. Like the S.o.S. needs some of that to keep blogging foundation.
GB7, It implied to me that he didn’t want to do anything different. “I don’t know if it’s the catcher..” speaks volumes to me that he just wants to keep everything the same. Kind of like wearing the same socks and eating chicken.
Why should we discount the Boston games from AJ’s record? He was brought here to beat Boston!!! His numbers against the Sux is the main reason he got his contract.
Pie Man needs to pitch better to whatever catcher he is paired with.
Nick in SF, My broker has the Yanks 385 / Washington 290……The biggest number that I’ve ever seen…..Of course I’m on the Yanks
teams are lucky to get a couple of walk offs a year. You have to win the game in the last at bat at home. I have no problem with just breaking out the whipped cream on walk offs.
If you’re smart you bet like 5 dollars on the Nats…but only if you’re not a Yankee fan…
Pete grillin’ the kid
His numbers against the Sux is the main reason he got his contract.
———-
I thought we gave him his contract so he can stop fluffing his era by facing us and shutting us down time after time. Sort of the cant beat em join em mentality.
Can someone tell me what these hundreds numbers on the betting means?
Pat M: sometimes I get better lines than you, but that’s usually when I take the sharp side of the square line. In this case, my book is really awful. It’s -400 on the Yanks but only +300 on the Nats. I just checked Pinny and they have the Yanks at -370 and the Nats at +340.
It’s getting close to go time to decide whether to play this game at all. If I do it will probably only be on the run line… -400 doesn’t even give much of a multiplier effect.
CB,
LOL. Nothing gets past the LoHudders.
I was talking about the media.
The Cervelli article I linked was from yesterday. Yet no one put it in the “could it be Posada” context until Kepner did. Then Olney linked Kepner. And so on and so forth.
If the AJ comments were an underhanded slight, then someone would’ve picked up on it a lot sooner. Someone with credentials. Like I said, nothing gets past the LoHudders.
Nick,
-400? +340? It is a game of runs scored, how does those numbers relate?
“If you’re smart you bet like 5 dollars on the Nats…but only if you’re not a Yankee fan…”
If you’re smart and want to make money, you bet against the Yankees every game of the season and don’t even think about it. At the end of the season, you will have a profit. Even if the Yankees win 100+ games.
I’m not that smart. Or not disciplined enough to do it.
Slade Heathcott is as big as Pena? I got the impression he was a big kid because I heard so much about his power.
What are Vegas oddsmakers giving the Yanks now to win the Series?
Nick in SF, It’s been like that with The Yanks for past 12 years…They are the fav’s 90 % of the games thay play…
“-400? +340? It is a game of runs scored, how does those numbers relate?”
Those numbers only relate to the odds of the outcome, not about the runs scored.
-400 means you have to lay down $400 to win $100.
+340 means that if you bet $100 you can win $340.
In both scenarios you also get back your original stake if you win.
“If you’re smart and want to make money, you bet against the Yankees every game of the season and don’t even think about it. At the end of the season, you will have a profit. Even if the Yankees win 100+ games.”
Lohud 401K?
I really don’t know why everyone keeps talking about the woes or so called woes of Georgie. He’s the #1 catcher, he’s the multi-World Series winner, nothing is going to change that…period….stop it already and just be thankful that we do have Cervelli ready to rock when Georgie becomes mostly DH. the pitcher has to make his pitches, and if he’s not throwing strikes, then that can’t be blamed on the catcher, stand up and take some accountability for the LOVE OF GOD!
CB: I think the anti-Yankee betting strategy probably beat more 401Ks last season.
I don’t know how many people caught Damon Oppenheimer’s chat on mlb.com today. Someone asked him to compare Slade Heathcott to a major leaguer. He said he hates doing that but that the best comparison he could come up with was a young Kirk Gibson.
My 2 cents.
Dear AJ,
You had a 6-0 lead an gave up a slam to Jason Veritek. That’s JASON VERITEK !!! Does it even matter if you threw a fastball or a curve? The pitch sucked and so did you that day.
So again to recap.
A 6-0 lead and then the slam by JASON VERITEK. Who is not very good.
So, I’m sure I can speak for both of us when I say that I hope that cream pies do not represent the crux of your contribution this season.
Best,
Bronx Jeers
Nick in SF…I did take the Blue Jays @ 220
Listening to the Heathcott audio now, Pete.
Thanks so much.
He sounds super excited.
It kind of tugged at my heart when he answered the question of who he came with. Hopefully, the New York Yankees will be his new adopted family.
That’s the headline on the ESPN NY website.
The stupidity now has momentum. This is the kind of ridiculous issue that could only be hatched in NY.
I can see this sticking the rest of the year and becoming an issue Posada gets pestered about for the rest of the season. Every time a pitcher has a bad outing with him behind the plate this is going to come up again and again.
Just amazing. A completely baseless charge is now evolving into full fledged nonsense.
************************************************
Yep, thats New York for you.
*EVERYONE VOTE FOR TEIXEIRA AT 1B IN THE ALL STAR GAME!!! YOUKILIS TOOK THE LEAD!! I’VE VOTED OVER 50 TIMES…DO YOUR PART TO AVOID THIS TRAVESTY!*
lol. Heathcott pushing the pitching. He must’ve known the easiest path to the Bronx leads to the bullpen.
Here’s a link to a transcript of Oppenheimer’s chat:
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com.....8;c_id=nyy
“I think the anti-Yankee betting strategy probably beat more 401Ks last season.”
You should have let John Henry know that.
More hedge fund – less twittering?
mel,
I heard the other day that Heathcott is a red sox fan. Well i have no problem with growing up a red sox fan like Hughes did. I think of it as some people were raised under a rock and they needed the Yankees to show them the light. Heathcott, its o.k., light is good.
The only reason this Posada debacle picked up suck momentum is because there was an offday and nothing else to write about. The commentors here practically wrote the articles for the writers across America. WE SHOULD GET ROYALTIES!!!!!!!!
Whats awesome is that even if he doesnt sign with the Yankees he will go to LSU which is my college team of choice so all looks good
UMM- “such” momentum. That was an unfortunate typo above. LOL
If Heathcott turns into a young Kirk Gibson the Yankees will be very pleased I’d imagine.
This Posada stuff is just so disappointing to me. I can’t take it. Pete, do something! Fix this.
I wonder what the next great Yankees discussion topic will be.
Maybe Derek Jeter has bad breath?
Watch, we will be seeing that headline soon enough on espn
Watching Artie Lange on Joe Buck Live, it’s so funny.
Erica: Freudian slip? I approve.
“Watch the Angels pick him up…..”
I do not think Angels will get that chance.
The teams with lower win/loss record will have the first shot. His salary is not high so any of those teams even from small markets will pick Veras.
Its more than just AJ
per Olney:
A Posada problem?
Catchers may have a hand in the Yankees’ problems, writes Tyler Kepner, and he notes that the staff has an ERA over six when Jorge Posada catches.
There is no question that Posada’s style of working with the pitchers is completely different from that of Francisco Cervelli, Jose Molina or Kevin Cash, the other catchers who have started for the Yankees this year. Posada is sometimes at odds on pitch selection with his pitchers, which is not unusual. What is very different is how Posada often persists with his own pitch selection. When A.J. Burnett pitched in Boston last week, he sometimes shook off Posada, and Posada kept putting down the same sign: No, seriously, I want you to throw the fastball. Sometimes, the hitter would call timeout and step out of the box, or sometimes Posada would wind up jogging out to the mound to discuss the disagreement, even if the count was 3-1 or 3-2. Posada didn’t mean it this way, but one talent evaluator felt it had all the effect of icing a kicker; Burnett simply couldn’t get into any rhythm with all the stopping and starting.
Here’s the thing: The Yankees have the makings of a terrific rotation. They’re paying CC Sabathia $161 million and Burnett $82.5 million, and they believe that Joba Chamberlain has the stuff to be an elite starting pitcher. Many scouts and executives watching the Yankees feel that Posada should just let the pitchers throw what they want to throw. “When he caught Sabathia on Opening Day, I couldn’t believe what he was doing, pushing his own [pitch selection],” one GM said.
From Kepner’s story:
When he lost a six-run lead in Boston in April, Burnett questioned the pitch selection, though he blamed himself, not Posada. Asked Sunday about the difference in pitching to the rookie Cervelli, Burnett gave a careful but revealing answer.
“I think it’s just a matter of — I don’t know if it’s the catcher — but we threw curveballs in fastball counts, we had them looking for something and they had no idea what was coming, I don’t think,” Burnett said. “That’s huge.”
It’s an issue that the Yankees probably will address sooner rather than later. But Posada is putting himself in position to be a borderline Hall of Fame candidate, and for longtime stars, change is never an easy thing. Cervelli, on the other hand, continues to draw praise, Arthur Staple writes.
why can’t mr. whipped cream take responsibility for his poor outings!
Slade Heathcott?
Sounds like a character in a Brett Easton Ellis novel.
Good headline name though.
“SLAYED BY SLADE! Heathcott’s walk-off bomb sinks Sox!”
“When he caught Sabathia on Opening Day, I couldn’t believe what he was doing, pushing his own [pitch selection],” one GM said”
Interesting quote.
How about AJ earning his money. With his “great” stuff he should be pitching better. He walks too many guys. And when he doesn’t pitch well, just say “I stunk” instead of looking elsewhere.
Brian M
June 16th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
I have to say I did wonder at the time why we traded Alberto the General, since his nice glove made him an ideal candidate for back up/ 4th infielder. Now he is hitting 320 as well.
Did we really need another RHRP?
————————————————————
Gonzalez may be hitting after 70 at bats, but, doesn’t mean it would continue. He wouldn’t be getting a lot of at bats, bit 6 errors at shortstop in 15 games doesn’t look very appetizing.
“How about AJ earning his money. With his “great” stuff he should be pitching better. He walks too many guys. And when he doesn’t pitch well, just say “I stunk” instead of looking elsewhere.”
Agree. As the great Bruney once said… it is a tired act.
Lefties kill Martis to the tune of a .326BA and a .958 OPS.
It makes absolutely no sense to DFA Veras while you are still carrying
ANGEL BERROA
on the roster. He plays one a MONTH and he’s more valuable than a guy who throws 95 mph who had success last year?
This front office is very dumb.
It is interesting to read all the vitriolic comments on AJ related to Posada’s game calling.
AJ never said any thing directly about Posada or his game calling. he never asked Girardi to replace Posada with Cervelli. After his last game he said that Cervelli was thinking same as he was about the next pitch and he felt comfortble. There is nothing wrong with that.
The visible problem came and then blew up into a big story because Joba and Posada could not get on the same page and it was there for every one to watch.
E June 16th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
Whats awesome is that even if he doesnt sign with the Yankees he will go to LSU which is my college team of choice so all looks good
—————-
BOOOOOO….. Salty….BOOO
Question: If two wrongs dont make a right then what doesnt two wangs make?
Answer: a kid with a Taiwanese name.
Angel B. makes me laugh, that is why he is on the team.
Betsy -
Earlier today, I did say that I heard AJ’s comment immediately after the game and it certainly raised my eyebrows, especially knowing the super intensity with which any statement by the Yankees is viewed. My feeling was the way it came it, it just left too much open to interpretation by others. He may or may not have meant to slight Jorge, and I’d be willing to bet he’d phrase his comments differently if he could, but it just didn’t come out quite right, imo.
But that this is now news on ESPN, wow. Now, I will say, poor Jorge. Because he is going to have to answer these kinds of questions. And after all his years, and all his success, he doesn’t really deserve this. If there is a problem between him and some of the pitchers, or if they Yankees think there’s something that needs to be addressed, it needs to be in-house and not blown out of proportion in the media.
I also have no problem with what Cashman was quoted as saying. I thought he got the situation quite correct. And I thought there was no disagreement that Molina and Cervelli might be stronger than Posada defensively, but Posada is certainly more well-rounded as a player. I just don’t necessarily doubt Posada’s game-calling skills, and one of the reasons I don’t is that I am not all that educated in that regard, and frankly, in spite of what some people have written here, I don’t remember reading ever before that that was a problem. I had read he had some clashes with the likes of Randy Johnson and Kevin Brown (hello? who didn’t?) and that Mike Mussina felt better pitching to someone else. Over the course of his career, I’d say that’s not all that bad. You can’t get along with everyone, and somewhere along the way, there may be a pitcher or two or three that you just can’t reach an accord with.
If Girardi could change, Posada can change in his dealings with the pitching staff too. This so called fiery stuff is a bunch of non-sense. Girardi was fiery too, see what happened to him last season. The longer this story continues, it will snow ball and it is only going to make Posada look bad which is unfortunate as he does not deserve it.
michelle b: good to see you here, it’s been a while.
Did anybody notice how lazy Cano was as he took his time drifting back to that ball? ATROCIOUS!! ATROCIOUS!!!
You people keep forgetting the X factor. Good clubhouse guy. Hell thats what kept Nieves with the club for so long. Who knows. Maybe Berroa has all the black market goodies for all the guys in the clubhouse. Including pie cream.
6 pitches
nice pitch calling Jorge!
Come on CC… 6 pitches?! I blame Jorge!
Great start by CC (and Jorge!).
Did anybody notice how lazy Cano was as he took his time drifting back to that ball? ATROCIOUS!! ATROCIOUS!!!
_________
I know he should of dove head first for that grown ball!!!
nice inning cc
I get the feeling that tonight’s game might be a special one for CC..
Mark-Cant Touch This (Milk man Rules)
June 16th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Did anybody notice how lazy Cano was as he took his time drifting back to that ball? ATROCIOUS!! ATROCIOUS!!!
_
I know he should of dove head first for that grown ball!!!
————————————————————
Fine him….bench him…trade the bum.
Why is everyone piling on Cervelli.” Oh it’s an empty 298 avg”. The kid came out of A ball and is holding his own. His position is catcher and he’s doing a hell of a job. Watch a sequence of pitches that he will call on a batter, it’s amazing for a raw kid. He is holding his own at the plate, I don’t care if it’s empty, just the fact that he is holding his own is surprising. So all this pontificating is so much preaching to the nodding choir. He’s doing good right now, great. He has all kinds of potential – even better. He stats show that he always had a high OBP. Right now he is just focusing on putting the bat on the ball which is as it should be. Enjoy his work behind the plate because it is good and will get better. Cervelli doesn’t make Posado a bad catcher, he does that on his own. We finally get a chance to see a high quality catcher. The position is catcher not bat, any bat you get is a bonus. If you are presented with a challenge, you either accept the chance to compete or bray about what you done. I just hope Posada rises to the challenge and improves.
School year is over and i am officially at home lounging on the couch for 2 months….
Brilliant at bat. Facing a guy you’ve never seen, you swing at the first pitch?
WOW…
3 pitches what an offense!
If Cervelli were catching the inning would have only lasted 3 pitches.
I think it should be made clear that AJ never blamed any catcher for a bad performance. As I recall, he took full responsibility for all his poor outings. It is somewhat ironic that this flap has come up after a good outing.
Brilliant at bat. Facing a guy you’ve never seen, you swing at the first pitch?
WOW…
————
You cant blame Mr. Maxim. He might have somewhere to go after the game. If we had his late night plans, we’d all be swinging. Hell i would forfiet my at bat.
A.J said nothing wrong, and ESPN along with the rest of the genius baseball writers have nothing to write about, what do you expect.
___
This is the game A-Rod Takes off
Doreen – Been to the New Stadium
June 16th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
I think it should be made clear that AJ never blamed any catcher for a bad performance. As I recall, he took full responsibility for all his poor outings. It is somewhat ironic that this flap has come up after a good outing.
————————————————————
It was the later comment on Sunday that was stupid and unnecessary. Praise one and damn the other?
A-Rod get it going already!!
Doreen,
Youa are right about AJ. That is what I wrote earlier.
This whole issue started with that game when Joba and Posada were not in sync and it was there to see for every one.
I’m at the stadium. If any posada truthers want to have it out meet me under the Paul oniell banner in ten min
Why is A Rod pulling that low outside pitch all the time? Just Amazing. He’s hitting all arms no lower body. Going to the opposite field is easier to do. You don’t have to torque the body. It’s called “dumping one into RF”. Baffling.
“I’m at the stadium. If any posada truthers want to have it out meet me under the Paul oniell banner in ten min”
Why, you do not want to leave in one piece
GB7 -
I know. But there are some people still posting that AJ should stop blaming the catcher for him not doing his job. And that’s not what’s going on here.
BBF -
I was at the game on Friday night. So I missed the commentary here and I missed any television discussion about Joba/Posada. But I’ll tell you, at the stadium, it was incredibly annoying, and I got the feeling that most people were down on Joba (well, people I was seated near, anyway –
).
Umm Andy doesn’t like to call his own game.
CC showing Joba how throwing strikes can be kinda helpful sometimes.
lol Patrick, you forgot to tell us what your going to be wearing and youll kick all our —.
So AJ struck out Alex Cora and Fernando Martinez and it was because Cervelli called curve in a fastball count?
Dam you dirt!!
Well that was weird. Imagine if he throws a one hitter.
Of course John you have no idea what that hit because you are going blind.
Someone get Jobber a new hat. That is gross!
Figures that it was Rodriguez’ lack of range cost sabathia the perfect game.
Soriano is 14 for last 95! as leadoff hitter
DP woot woot!
oh but of course, nice DP! even though routine
No foul, but no harm!
GreenBeret7 June 16th, 2009 at 7:28 pm
Figures that it was Rodriguez’ lack of range cost sabathia the perfect game.
*********
I know Alex is awful! Pena would have had that.
Did anyone look at the back of Jobas cap when they went to him? What is that white stuff going around it? It looks like he spilled something on it? hmmm.
Figures that it was Rodriguez’ lack of range cost sabathia the perfect game.
_____
He should of dove for it!!!
are we really complaining about alex?
Or, was that sarcasm minus the
Bronx Jeers
June 16th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Slade Heathcott?
Sounds like a character in a Brett Easton Ellis novel.
=======
LMAO.
Crash cymbal!
Soriano is 14 for last 95! as leadoff hitter
———–
Soriano wouldnt have looked so lazy getting a routine ground ball and would already have some dirt on his jersey.
What was Posada doing calling that cue shot pitch! It cost CC his no-hitter.
CC looks good tonight
Cano.
Is aggressive.
If you don’t like it….
Tough crap
I’m wearing a yankee universe sweatshirt (tacky I know but it’s the only sweatshirt they are selling on the main level and it’s cold out)
I’ll take any comers! Down with the posada truthers!
I just figured that I might save a couple of people the trouble of complaining about Rodriguez. I’m just saving a few people keystrokes and the site some band width. That’s the kind of guy I am…I help everyone.
Jorgie
Can hit
If you don’t like it
Tough crap
here we go! ‘Zilla just get a few RBIs here
Patrick
June 16th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
I’m wearing a yankee universe sweatshirt (tacky I know but it’s the only sweatshirt they are selling on the main level and it’s cold out)
I’ll take any comers! Down with the posada truthers!
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
They’re raising money for a good cause with those “Yankees Universe” things…I say wear with pride
That’s why posada starts the majority of games ladies and gentlemen
Rishi June 16th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
are we really complaining about alex?
Or, was that sarcasm minus the
*****
I thought the posts were dripping with sarcasm and a
wasn’t necessary. 
Hideki grounds out to the right side, hard to believe
This team is just so dumb at the plate.
YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS GUY PITCH.
Why are you swinging at the first pitch? You don’t know ANYTHING about him. You don’t know the movement, how deceptive his motion is, where he likes to throw it, ANYTHING. Why don’t you at least take ONE pitch and see what he has?
Boy, CC has thrown two strong innings. How is that possible with Posada catching?
after some of nutso stuff posted it’s getting hard to tell!
way to move up the runners, i guess the scouting report is swing early
This team is just so dumb at the plate.
YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS GUY PITCH.
Why are you swinging at the first pitch? You don’t know ANYTHING about him. You don’t know the movement, how deceptive his motion is, where he likes to throw it, ANYTHING. Why don’t you at least take ONE pitch and see what he has?
________
Yes they are so dumb they make million of dollars playing in the MLB
OH darnit. Where can I find the Joe Buck Artie Lange video. HBO took it off you tube.
three run homer time
Boy, CC has thrown two strong innings. How is that possible with Posada catching?
________
Simple that’s not Posada it’s Molina with a Mask on!
grand slam time
# Peter Abraham June 16th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
Boy, CC has thrown two strong innings. How is that possible with Posada catching? #
********
he’s fighting through it and doing well.
(for the record I am joking, I know you can’t see the faces.)
Loaded for Melky.
Chance for a big inning here.
So they are talking about the home plate ump putting his arm on the shoulders of the catcher during the pitch. Wouldnt that slow a catcher down trying to get up to throw a runner out? Whats next? Hands on rear calling an audible?
Boy, CC has thrown two strong innings. How is that possible with Posada catching?
===============================
Shocking turn of events, right?
Some guys are just naturally talented. Others have good baseball sense too and are complete players. You don’t have to have the latter to have the former, like in the case of Melky Cabrera.
there’s a sac fly!!
RBI
“Boy, CC has thrown two strong innings. How is that possible with Posada catching?”
Cervelli-style contact lenses?
Better than nothing.
Sac fly OMG!!
There’s a run
nice job melky
Man Adam Dunn has a piss poor arm
Some little ball, there. Two productive outs in one inning.
at least we got one
“Boy, CC has thrown two strong innings. How is that possible with Posada catching?”
Yogi’s calling this game via ARod’s blackberry.
If people vote at the ballpark for the All-star team, it certainly didn’t help the Yankees players this weekend that half the fans in the park were Mets fans.
1 run. Bronx Bombing.
one run that should be enough for CC the God
What a crowd tonight… Where are we, Baltimore?
At least Baltimore fans don’t stand up in front of you as the pitcher’s in his windup.
Seriously, Pete. Do something. Talk to Andy. Talk to Girardi – not during the gaggle, but on your own. He’s a catcher – he might have some insight, lol. Get the monkey off Jorgie’s back – he doesn’t deserve it.
I’m stuck watching the Yanks on Extra Innings via the Washington feed.
I didn’t know Rob Dibble was doing their games. I wonder how many times they called upstairs and asked if he could pitch during blowouts.
Halladay no issues playing catch. That’s good news.
You know its bad for the Nats when they have 20% of their starting lineup are ex Yankee bench warmers.
Back to back former Yankees.
“why can’t mr. whipped cream take responsibility for his poor outings!”
Or he could be Mr. Cool Whipp
Carl
June 16th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
1 run. Bronx Bombing.
====
Hey – we win 1-0, I’ll take it.
CC > Johan
I’d like to see the yankee offense score a lot of runs tonight so that they can pull CC early from the game.
CC racking up so many innings in the regular season isn’t helping how he pitches in the post season.
It’s great that he can go just about 8 innings every start but it’s not necessarily a good thing for him to keep doing it.
It would be much better to have his total inning closer to 215-220 than to 240.
Some of the older Yankee fans here may have noticed this….In the old Satdium ( 1923-1973 ) the aux. scorboards used to put the the visiting teams city on the board…The new Stadium puts there team name…..I just noticed this….The last time a team from Washington played at the Stadium was what 1972 when Ted Williams was the mgr ????
Thanks Nats, for being you.
Nice error
“Boy, CC has thrown two strong innings. How is that possible with Posada catching?”
CC is calling his own game
Does Matt do anything but yell? He’s an ulcer or heart attack waiting to happen.
As to AJ, I just don’t believe he’s a bad guy or that he would intentionally throw Jorge under the bus. I don’t care what he did in Florida as a young, stupid kid….or even Toronto. I give all new guys a clean slate and, as far as I’m concerned, AJ has been a terrific teammate. I agree that his words could be misconstrued, but I just will not jump on the poor guy as if he’s committed a crime.
By the way, I predicted earlier that the Yankees would not hit this guy…..or the next pitcher or the next, lol
CB: Its not inning that hurt a pitcher, its number of pitches. We can save CC by not having him throw 120 pitches
jennifer-
DVR the Joe Buck show, it’s on like 10 million times.
CC is a beast. Its so great being able to go to him every 5 days.
The staff should see that he goes on schedule every turn. Unless they think its necessary, they shouldn’t give him extra days off. He’s far superior to anything else they’re throwing out there right now.
Girardi’s comments today have been the final “nail in the coffin” for me regarding Matsui’s future. If the guy can’t even play the field part time during interleague,if you’re THAT worried he’s going to get injured, there is ZERO chance they resign him. None.
Buddy- It was the after show, I wasn’t on tv. I found it on huffington.com
wow that was smashed
Buddy
Also I think it will be Buck’s first and last show.
oh boy, this could get boring and ugly
With Veras DFA’d, Tomko and Berroa should be high on the list as next to go.
Pat M.
June 16th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
Some of the older Yankee fans here may have noticed this….In the old Satdium ( 1923-1973 ) the aux. scorboards used to put the the visiting teams city on the board…The new Stadium puts there team name…..I just noticed this….The last time a team from Washington played at the Stadium was what 1972 when Ted Williams was the mgr ????
=======
Another thing to dislike about NYS.
They don’t honor the in-progress yellow numbers, either.
Nats announcer talking about Posada not getting enough credit. I’m tellin’ ya, we started this whole debate and our voices have been heard nationwide. We are powerful, people!!!
4 men lob
Power to the people right on!
Trisha started the fire.
It is amazing how the whole Posada isn’t a good receiver started on this blog.
jennifer-
I couldn’t find the after show part, can you link it?
Thnx!
63 pitches for Martis
*Denise*
June 16th, 2009 at 7:56 pm
oh boy, this could get boring and ugly
————————————————————
Well, Dennis, you could try juggling chain saws or dodging in and out of traffic on the expressways. That should make it lively enough for you.
how did the Yanks score the second run, had to step outside
“Nats announcer talking about Posada not getting enough credit. I’m tellin’ ya, we started this whole debate and our voices have been heard nationwide. We are powerful, people!!!”
Yes indeed.
We started the discussion here.
Pete talks about it with his buddy Kepner
Kepner writes an article about it in NY Times.
The rest is history…..
Hopefully it will die down soon.
“how did the Yanks score the second run, had to step outside”
cano hit a rocket to johnson that he couldnt handle..scored a hit
Were asking for it. This looks like it will be a game into the 8th inning. Step on thier throat. What is that 6 LOB? and its the 3d inning.
“Its not inning that hurt a pitcher, its number of pitches. We can save CC by not having him throw 120 pitches”
True. I was just using innings because it’s the most widely used index. I’d guess CC’s average number of pitches per inning probably doesn’t have a lot of upside variation. But of course number of pitches makes more sense.
I do think they need to protect his arm more if they want him to be effective in the post season.
There’s kind of an idea that CC has this superhuman arm strength. I’d rather they not test that proposition.
We should start a rumor.
Hank Steinbrenner kidnapped by aliens, pass it on
Ortiz is back on the juice. Hitting homeruns at a torrid pace.
CC has 38 pitches o0
Does anyone know why the MLB Extra Innings broadcast is from WAS? They have the stupidest commercials. Some fan gives a play by play of a Nationals win, which is quite a feat considering that they have only won 15 games all year.
buddy.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/.....16163.html
Based on the reach of this blog, I hope that you will all use your powers for good and not evil. Stand up for Jorgie. No need to stand up for him at the expense of a teammate, but help make sure that the next wave of articles are in defense of a great Yankee.
Cano:(
tishbi
June 16th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
Were asking for it. This looks like it will be a game into the 8th inning. Step on thier throat. What is that 6 LOB? and its the 3d inning.
————————————————————
No doubt about it….scoring runs in two out of three innings while keeping them at zero is a sure sign of a struggle.
Were asking for it. This looks like it will be a game into the 8th inning. Step on thier throat. What is that 6 LOB? and its the 3d innin
_________________________________________________
You are right, only bad things can happen if we let it stay close
The stadium seems extremely quiet. The Nats are quite a letdown from the Mets I guess.
did everyone vote for Allstars on MLB.com?
someone should tell michael kay to re-learn his multiplication table. 4 times 8 is not 36
How do you not get a DP on that. Ughhh, I hate these games where you have to win.
Indian of yore…
Standing on a sitting sun…
Senators’ shadows…
Lets score 4 this inning
So nice to have Big Chubs pitching for us.
Shrek homers
3-1 boston
get some more runs for CC
WOW!!! What’s wrong with Sabathia….only one lousy strikeout and 3 hits allowed. Not very impressive.
Thanks jennifer, I saw that clip. I thought you meant there was more on the after show.
CB,
Being that C.C. is the most consistant pitcher we have and our Ace. We might not have a choice but to milk every last drop of him if we plan on making the playoffs. We’re damn if we do and damn if we dont. Hopefully having Bruney back will make Girardi more confortable going to the pen in the 8th. Hughes the 7th?
GreenBeret7 June 16th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
WOW!!! What’s wrong with Sabathia….only one lousy strikeout and 3 hits allowed. Not very impressive.
======================
Damn that Posada!!!!
Posada’s thrown 74% of his pitches tonight for strikes. Remarkable.
Posada brought his plus command tonight. 46 pitches – 34 strikes 12 balls.
“4 times 8 is not 36″
Thats hilarious
Holy Cow! Listening to Rob Dibble on the Nationals broadcast on the Extra Innings package is freakin’ painful. The man is a terrible color guy…the play by play guy is going out of his way to talk nice about the new stadium and Dibble starts some digs about the expensive seats. Hey Dibble…you’re the color guy for the worst team in baseball, jackass!
Posada can’t catch in a big game
we just seem to be going thru the motions
Wasn’t that the after show? or is there something else?
WOW!!! What’s wrong with Sabathia….only one lousy strikeout and 3 hits allowed. Not very impressive.
————–
GB7,
Its not C.C.’s fault that Posada isnt giving the strikeout sign. Cervelli would have had him pitching a 1 hitter that nubber hit and at least 5 k’s by now. Oh well.
Listening to the Nats radio broadcast. I don’t know if it’s Charlie Slowes or Dave Jaegler doing the play by play.
Whoever it is he’s really good.
At least compared to His Warbleness.
The Posada debate will die when we let it die. That requires a concerted effort from everyone.
Posada rocks.
If Veras is DFAd, who takes his 40 man roster spot?
Red Bull for everyone. They look a little sluggish tonight.
“we just seem to be going thru the motions”
Not driving in runs but Martis is at 83 pitches already. The Nats have a historically bad pen.
We can hope Posada is watching how great Nieves is handling this young pitcher. No shaking off of pitches.
Come on, are we really surpised that the Yankees are hardly doing anything?
I’m still finding amusing the person who seemed to think that Posada called for the grand slam that Varitek in that game against the Red Sox.
That one seriously blew my mind.
Nick Johnson diggin his nose yuck.
They’re up 2-0. Not what I’d classify as hardly anything.
Posada is the greatest existential question of our time.
I just voted for Tex 25 times.
GB
Wasn’t Dibble a hothead when he played in Cincy?
Throw Strikes
June 16th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
If Veras is DFAd, who takes his 40 man roster spot?
——————————————
Bruney was activated today.
CC is having trouble putting Wil Nieves away? Must be Posada. LOL!
Although… *ponders* IF he DID call for it.. what kind of sign would he give the pitcher to do that?
A raised middle finger? A thumbs up? Or just a good old heavy metal sign of the devil?
Tom in N.J
June 16th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
Posada is the greatest existential question of our time.
====
Shall we say,
“I catch, therefore I can”
And if you don’t like it
Tough crap?
“Does anyone know why the MLB Extra Innings broadcast is from WAS? They have the stupidest commercials. Some fan gives a play by play of a Nationals win, which is quite a feat considering that they have only won 15 games all year.”
—
Thats convenient, the Nats only have 15 fans
hmmmm, Nats hitting CC!
Posada is not about answers he is about more questions.
Horrible pitch calling.
come on CC
Awww, a Red Sox troll. Do we have a kennel for it?
I just voted for Posada 25x
LOL
Angel, true, but the Yankees are supposed to stomp the Nats….What it comes down to is that this team is, offensively speaking, no different than the last few vintages. Yes, they come back – I’ll grant you that – but they won’t keep that up (in fact, they haven’t) and they are way too streaky and just plain bad with RISP.
wow
whoa! wow!
Well I just woke up
That wasn’t good…
Jorge hung that one.
Oh that wretched Posada.
Look what he did leading CC astray like that.
What was that!?
This is like playing our own AAA team and they know what’s coming!
Okay, CC gives up a HR to a guy who didn’t have any? Yup, it’s Posada.
Slider inside come on are you kidding me?
#8 and #9 hitters have killed this pitching staff all year. Unreal.
Gonzalez and Nieves single and score two runs. Lot different from their days in NY.
Throw Strikes
June 16th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
If Veras is DFAd, who takes his 40 man roster spot?—————————————————————
Bruney was activated today.
————
Bruney was already on the 40 man, but now they have a 40 man roster opening with Veras being DFAd
DFA Posada
Let me guess- CC will escape all blame, lol
That’s where the kid hit the 2B the last time, inside off the plate, why would you go there again?
we should be leading 8-3
I love when yankee pitchers give up homeruns to guys who havent hit a HR in the last three years..
Great now they’re giving up 3 run bombs to #9 hitters
Can you guys beat a horse to death or what!
That’s ok, Po can tie it with a swing.
“If Veras is DFAd, who takes his 40 man roster spot?”
They will keep it open until they have to promote some one from the minors who is not on 40 or they make a trade.
First time my jaw dropped this entire season…for 1 minute straight.
So, jumping ahead, I’m getting a little more worried about tomorrow with Wang
I would never kill Posada because he has been very good for his career, but that guy looked retarded on 2 changeups away, why go inside? Especially when he already got a hit on a fastball inside
Actually, I don’t recall the dynasty teams being all that consistent offensively year in and year out though.
I’m going from memory there though, and anything more in the past than yesterday and I’m a bit iffy, lol – so I could be misremembering.
How dare Jorge call a meatball like that!
Cervelli never would have called such an easy HR pitch like that!
Seriously, don’t worry guys. Their bullpen sucks.
But man, did our Ace IMPLODE or what? Terrible inning for CC, he’s supposed to be our anchor in the rotation, you can’t do that.
I guess we just don’t scout the Bottom half of the other teams order.
kinda reminds me of cc’s game against tampa at home…hes cruising then bam 3 run homer from a backup/scrub…
Misses slider away. Misses Change up away. 3 run home run slider in. Good job Posada.
This is like playing our own AAA team and they know what’s coming!
————-
hmmm. Whats Arod been doing out there?
I love how flaherty was like whatever this next pitch is it can absolutely not hang up inside. On cue the Jorge “the ERA raiser” Posada calls for a pitch and it gets hammered.
Nice pitch call on that slider inside.
Posada is a joke
The Yankees will still win this game, but that inning was disappointing.
way to come up big against scrubs. nieves, the ag, and a 9th place hitter.
ouch….
OH! Did anyone notice what sign Posada gave to call for that HR? Cause then I’d have my answer about the Varitek GS!
Was it a sign of the devil or was it just a middle finger with attitude?
I blame Jorge, we should of used his super powers to bring down that hung slider.
CC has a habit of letting up for one inning in the middle of the game
That is why this ballpark is such a disadvantage for th Yankees. The ballpark causes opposing single hitters to become power hitters. While the Yankees have power and can hit it out with out the ballpark being of much help.
Those better be the only runs allowed. Can’t let the lowly Nats beat ya like this. Only two runs scored? Isn’t their pitcher supposed to be lit up?
okaaaaay. Time to wake up and get to work bats
i cannot believe morons on thisz site blame posada for fat boy HR’s.
you guys are absolute fools…….
Well, CC is proving my point that he is not an ace. A real number one starter like Beckett would not blow the 2 run lead to the Nats. Sabathia loves that rolling slider to righties and those hitters love it even more.
Come on, no excuses for CC. It’s not fair to criticize other pitchers and then not do the same to the big guy. He just blew a 2-0 lead to the Nats……that’s good?
Pinstriped behemoth,
Stunned by a Senator’s swing…
National crisis…
Somewhat shocking stuff going on out there with CC, but it was very telling when he was unable to put away Wil Nieves.
A below average hitter can become a great one when the count gets deep. They are only down one run, however. And about 20 pitches away from getting into the Nats’ bullpen.
take a deep breathe….we are down by just 1 in the bottom of the 5th to the nationals…lets not jump off a bridge…this is exactly why you play the games…never know whats gonna happen in baseball
“way to come up big against scrubs. nieves, the ag, and a 9th place hitter.”
It is possible that pitchers take those guys for granted and don’t pitch as aggressively against them as they should.
PaulydaGoat-So before that pitch was thrown you knew exactly what to call to assure that he wouldn’t have hit it out?
You people dont know crap about baseball, and you are questioning the pitch call. Hilarious. If it was Cervelli calling the same pitch, no one would have had an issue with the pitch.
Is this how its going to be from now on? Every time a pitcher gives up runs, the blame will be finger pointed to Posada? Does that even make sense?
Blaming the catcher for a bad pitch by CC.
What a bunch of morons.
“The Nats have a historically bad pen.”
————
that is the bottom line
yanks will win this game because of it.
Guys don’t worry the yankees will come back. I know its pathetic that we have to come back against a scrub pitcher with CC on the mound.
and Martis cruises past our 3 and 4 spot hitters
People criticizing Posada’s pitch calling-you are all, every single one of you, MORONS.
“i cannot believe morons on thisz site blame posada for fat boy HR’s.”
Stuart, calm down. Most of the comments are sarcastic. I know mine are.
cano is feeling it right now
“Let me guess- CC will escape all blame, lol”
Not CC’s fault. That’s all on posada.
One of CC’s primary weapons against right handed batters is the slider he buries to the back foot of a right handed hitter.
Doesn’t matter that that’s one of his main strikeout pitches and he didn’t execute it.
It’s the catchers fault.
Angel, those teams were much better than this team at executing the fundamentals. One reason I am so pessimistic about this team is because there is no reason for me to expect them to do better in the post-season than they are doing now. They’re great at leaving runners on third with less than two out, with not scoring a run after loading the bases and no out …….basically, they don’t do the things a team needs to do in the playoffs. Of course, that’s assuming they make the playoffs…….which is hardly a given.
Losing to the Nationals, oh brother.
Pretty sad that the Yankees come out flat, at home, against the worst team in baseball. They’ve already blown tons of opportunities to score and CC just gave up a 3 run homer to some nobody. This should be an easy game, and right now they are just going through the motions. Not good.
That home run would have been caught by Torii Hunter, or Carlos Beltran, two players who would have been happy to patrol CF for the Yankees. Have you ever seen Damon jump and haul in a potential homer?
SJ, we think alike. Same word choice even.
Hey i want to pitch against the Yankees they never saw me pitch before that’s and automatic 6 innings of 2 run ball for me.
CC’s command has been off the whole inning. The guy just hit a fastball for a double. He swung at 2 balls off the plate away. So you speed up his bat going inside with some off speed stuff? Put Posada on the DL.
Yankee Trader-Are you blaming Damon for not scaling the wall to steal a HR?
Come on man! Be reasonable!
SJ,
you better hope the Pittsburgh staff picks it up over the next few years or the peeps in here are gonna be ripping your nephew for “calling bad pitches”
Can we blame CC for not executing his slider inside (a dangerous pitch to any hitter) and blame Posada for calling it?
Can’t we have it both ways?!
“That home run would have been caught by Torii Hunter, or Carlos Beltran, two players who would have been happy to patrol CF for the Yankees.”
You do know that Damon plays LF, right?
Damn, this kid has a S:B ratio of 48/48 and he’s making light work of this Yankee lineup?
Yankees: making dreams come true, one game at a time.
Can we please just get this guy out of here and get to the Nats bullpen?
Oh, and trade Berroa for Gonzo
If CC had made a good pitch, he would not have hit it out.
That’s the bottom line. Forget the choice of pitches.
Those calling to get rid of Posada-Repeat, MORONS.
Pel,
have you seen Beer League?
great movie…
LOL CB…….and you know that people will say that. I am honestly not trying to get on CC – the reason why I made that comment is because for all his aceness, CC has not been that consistent this year. It’s already the middle of June – he’s had his moments (that 4 game stretch, the game in Boston), but honestly – has CC pitched as well as we expected? IMO, he hasn’t….
okay this guy martis is done after five. The yanks have to gouge this bullpen
another grounder to the right side by Matsui
The idiots on this board calling for Posada’s head are a beautiful example of 20/20 hindsight.
Martis is a cat with 9 lives. 5 walks in 5 innings.
9 left on.
sad…
“Is this how its going to be from now on? Every time a pitcher gives up runs, the blame will be finger pointed to Posada? Does that even make sense?”
Yes. That’s where this stupidity is headed. Watch it’ll be in the press and on talk radio tomorrow.
This is one of those ridiculous issues like Joba to the pen that is getting primed to take on a life of it’s own.
Just look at the comments here.
CC threw an awful pitch – a pitch he usually buries and throws all of the time to right handed hitters. All of the time. But it’s going to be posada’s fault.
“has CC pitched as well as we expected?”
———-
out of curiosity, what was his ERA at this point last season?
A championship team destroys an inferior team like the Nats, see what Boston is doing to the Marlins.
CC doesn’t have his best stuff tonight, but it should be good enough to beat the Nats. One would think.
Posada is terrible. The Yankees were on fire before he got of the DL. He comes back and we’re just an average team. But I guess since he caught the last Yankee championship 9 years ago hes great! Give me a break.
How would Hunter or Beltran could catch a ball in LF while playing CF?
okay this guy martis is done after five. The yanks have to gouge this bullpen
__________
The great Mathis, please please hurry get him out of the game. He is almost as good as the great Neives
Betsy, if you expected him to pitch better, you’re fooling yourself.
CC is a very good pitcher who eats inings and can occasionally be dominant. He is exactly what I expected him to be, which is fine.
This game is flying by.
losing to the nationals would be epic
CC Sabathia:
ERA as of June 16th, 2008: 4.26
ERA as of this instant, 2009: 3.77
give the guy a break. he got off to a slow start. his ERA has been excellent since then.
“How would Hunter or Beltran could catch a ball in LF while playing CF?”
Those guys have Flash like speed.
Wow, the Yanks are embarrassing themselves.
Meanwhile, Boston is taking care of business which good teams do.
“If CC had made a good pitch, he would not have hit it out.”
The pitch that Hernandez got a double off of was a good pitch. It wasn’t even a strike and Hernandez hit it well. Shouldn’t that tell you that maybe they shouldn’t pitch inside to him unless they bounce one in the dirt?
“Those calling to get rid of Posada-Repeat, MORONS.”
No one wants to get rid of Posada, but the complaints aren’t going to stop until the staff ERA with him behind the plate goes down.
The name calling in here is pretty hilarious. Like ANYONE has any credibillity on here. It’s practically anonymous for the most part. If anyone is actually upset enough to insult people on here about their knowledge or opinions on baseball, that is pretty pathetic.
How do u allow a HR to Anderson Herandez a Met reject who cant hit for his life?
CC pitching a complete game and lose
“CC’s command has been off the whole inning.”
His pitches aren’t crisp. How many swing and misses has he gotten this whole game?
He only has 2 K’s against a team prone to K.
He’s just didn’t execute this pitches so his stuff doesn’t look that great.
After that Boston series I don’t know if I can show my face if we lose to the Nats.
WAS announcers continue to make snide comments about the prices at the stadium.
How anyone can defend Posada’s game calling skills is beyond me.
1-2 on a guy who clearly is sitting on inside pitches. He hit a fastball in the same count for a base hit on the inside corner his last at bat. The guy has looked absolutely TERRIBLE on pitches away, out of the zone.
So what does the world champion Jorge Posada call? A slider down and in. Why would you even risk making that pitch in a 1-2 count in which the guy is chasing a ton of pitches down and away, off the plate, and missing badly?
Even if he buries that pitch it was still too risky a pitch to make with so many pitches left to burn in that at bat. It’s the wrong pitch regardless, that doesn’t change either way.
Mo’sflatcutter, I was nice at first but I really do think you’re a troll.
Guess what buddy? The…game…is…not…over…!
And in what inning they win the game doesn’t make it any less of a win despite what fans think.
don’t think the players are taking this game seriously
i live in dc, and if the nats even win 1 of these three, i am going to have to take a week off of work to avoid the heckling.
“WAS announcers continue to make snide comments about the prices at the stadium.”
Carpenter and Dibble are top notch a-holes!
If I was a team I would only pitch my minor pitchers against the Yankees. That would guarantee a good outing.
Oh the reason why the Nats have 16 wins is not because if the offense they have an average offense. The reason is because of their hideous pitching!!
they better wake up! Melky lead the way!!
wow nice catch melky!
uhhhhhh WOW
“It’s practically anonymous for the most part.”
Practically anonymous? It’s totally anonymous. That’s why most of the people say that crap that they do. Calling people idiots and morons; they wouldn’t do that in person. That sort of thing gets you a beat down.
wow melky
Nice Melk!
Boston Dave, sorry – I disagree. I don’t think CC has been great. I don’t care about his slow start – that’s fine. He’s not teflon- he deserves criticism when it’s warranted. I think people love the guy’s personality, so he gets a break on that count.
melky!!!
Washington has a terrible record but they have been playing better –
Friday night they were up 3-0, lost to Tampa 4-3.
Saturday they led Tampa 2-1 in 6th – pen blew up in 8-3 loss.
Sunday they led Tampa 4-0, lost 5-4.
Great play by Melk, now the 200 million dollar offense needs to handle stuff.
Posada’s thought process: As a hitter if I was up at the plate I would never expect them to come inside after looking so foolish on those first two pitches outside and I do not really know what the scouting report says on this guy, so yeah lets go inside.
Could not help myself, but even tho I am not a Posada supporter you can not nitpick on every single call he makes during a game. That said, while it probably was not a great idea to go inside there, CC can not be giving up a 3 run jack to the Nationals to give up a lead.
Okay that woke up the stadium. Yeh Melky
That was stellar!
RS-I’m sorry, YOU should have called the game and seen how you did!
This is a joke, a classic example of 20/20 hindsight.
People can say NOW what pitch they would have made, but at the time they had no clue.
And people have already argued why cathcer ERA is a ridiculous stat, so I won’t bring that one up.
Go Melky! Great catch.
Boston Dave,
It’s hysterical and predictable all at the same time.
I guess folks aren’t shy about showing everyone on here how little they know about baseball.
Makes for good comedy though.
How anyone can defend Posada’s game calling skills is beyond me.
1-2 on a guy who clearly is sitting on inside pitches. He hit a fastball in the same count for a base hit on the inside corner his last at bat. The guy has looked absolutely TERRIBLE on pitches away, out of the zone.
So what does the world champion Jorge Posada call? A slider down and in. Why would you even risk making that pitch in a 1-2 count in which the guy is chasing a ton of pitches down and away, off the plate, and missing badly?
Even if he buries that pitch it was still too risky a pitch to make with so many pitches left to burn in that at bat. It’s the wrong pitch regardless, that doesn’t change either way.
____
CC could of shook him off
“No one wants to get rid of Posada, but the complaints aren’t going to stop until the staff ERA with him behind the plate goes down.”
The staff ERA is not going to go down until the pitcher pitch better.
CC’s just spent years throwing to Victor Martinez – one of the worst defensive catchers in all of baseball.
And he won a Cy Young throwing to Martinez.
It’s like a living in a parallel universe where the person throwing the ball has less influence with what happens than the person catching it.
By that logic someone on the pitching staff Tony Pena was catching during his playing days should have won the Cy Young every year.
cathcer is catcher.
I mean all Posada joking aside, which is admittedly out of hand, the Yank’s best team is when Posada is DHing and Cervelli is behind the dish.
cc not going more than 7 tonight.
So, you know what, let’s just skip ahead and give the Sox the WS trophy already. Sheesh.
What a bunch of babies.
Seriously? That’s CC’s BEST PITCH. It is his out pitch. They set him up with three pitches on the outer half. He guessed right, CC didn’t bury the pitch like he usually does, and it leaves the park. Blaming Posada is ridiculous.
Just to clarify. All my posts about Posada being to blame, are sarcasm – and not to be taken seriously.
Just having some fun.
drive by bloggers should chill out, this is just chit chat, not a national debate
No surprise Sabathia is struggling he doesn’t like throwing to Posada. He loves throwing to Cervelli.
Mike, then you lose a valuable hitter in Matsui and gain an offensive liablitiy in Cervelli.
Oh Matt, don’t even go there, folks here will chew you out and call you a moron and give you the middle finger.
Nice Angel(F), what an ironic name. Call a fastball down the middle when your pitcher is in trouble and you get a taylor made grand slam. Let your mind blow on that.
Papa Smurf-Sabathia’s first win of the year, he pitched to Posada at KC. A shut out, 7 innings.
But it doesn’t mean anything to “trick” him inside when you were ALREADY tricking him off the plate away. You aren’t “tricking” him when he is SITTING on that location.
You didn’t “set him up” for anything. He was sitting on ONE PITCH the ENTIRE at bat, and you GAVE IT TO HIM. Whether you threw it away or inside, he was sitting on ONE PITCH. So if you continued to throw it away, chances are he would have CONTINUED to miss it.
get cracking bats
“Toronto’s beating hammels”
No they aren’t. PHI is up 3-2.
Okay this should be Cy Young’s last inning against the Yankees. Thank God that great pitcher is coming out, so we can get into the bullpen.
Thank you Matt.
DAMMIT!
“Seriously? That’s CC’s BEST PITCH. It is his out pitch. They set him up with three pitches on the outer half. He guessed right, CC didn’t bury the pitch like he usually does, and it leaves the park. Blaming Posada is ridiculous.”
It’s amazing. People questioning that pitch haven’t been paying attention to the way CC pitches.
That slider to the back foot is one of his primary out pitches.
If he didn’t want to throw it he would have shaken off the catcher.
But CC throws that pitch all of the time. And when he’s crisp hitters swing and miss all of the time.
I hate the blame game – it’s always someone else’s fault. I know why fans are doing it – they don’t want to think this vaunted staff is as bad as it looks, so they find it easier to blame Posada. Guess what? This vaunted staff is pretty lousy as it stands – it’s being held together by CC, who hasn’t been consistently outstanding himself.
Laura lol you’re 100% right. Neither me or anybody else would call people anything if not for the anonymity.
But this is the first time I’ve EVER insulted anybody on this blog. So I’ll give a public apology: I snapped. Morons is a harch word. But in my opinion it’s a pretty ridiculous arguement.
wow the dingbats are out in full force tonight.
>have you seen Beer League?
>great movie…
Yeah, I liked it a lot, actually.
this team is utterly pathetic 5.04 ERA in the NL and he doesn’t get tattooed
PATHETIC
harch is harsh.
How about 4 hits and 2 runs off Mr. 5.00 + ERA on NINE baserunners?
1-7 with RISP against the WORST PITCHING STAFF IN ALL OF BASEBALL.
It’s NEVER the pitching, guys.
“So, you know what, let’s just skip ahead and give the Sox the WS trophy already. Sheesh.”
They might as well, we are the only team standing in their way and we have proven we can’t beat them.
lol, something called LLJN made fun of my name.
Now that’s ironic.
They’re just waiting til the 7th inning to score.
Once again this offense looks lifeless in the middle innings.
It’s almost always the pitching.
Very rarely does the offense lose us games. It’s happening now, but this an exception, not the rule.
well this game definitly isnt going to go in the highlight film for the season…not yet atleast
S.A.–The sun will come out tomorrow; I’m down with the OPPC
June 16th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
We should start a rumor.
Hank Steinbrenner kidnapped by aliens, pass it on
******
He wasn’t abducted by aliens. He twitters using the name John Henry
A pitcher they’ve never seen before – spanking the yankees… sigh… what else is new.
Boston should only pitch AAA pitchers against the Yankees then they are guaranteed to go 18-0 against us.
Cy Young is at 108 pitches I think
Why was everyone so anxious to end the inning in 1-2-3 fashion?
this IS an.
Why can’t they just pretend the pitcher is Johan Santana?
DiMaggio’s Ghost…
Gliding, Guiding, Melky’s glove…
Brushing, blades of grass…
8 pitch inning, awesome.
Matsui’s bat is not what it used to be. Additionally, he is just a GIDP waiting to happen. Cervelli is a decent bat and brings versatility–some hustle, good fundamentals. Matsui would be a great PH.
Also FC would bring great D and good game calling. Heck we don’t know what his ceiling is either. We’re gonna have to make Posada last the next 2 years. Having him catch most of those games will only diminish his ability as a hitter. I would do something where Posada catches maybe every other day or 2 out of every 3 depending on the series.
Even if they come back and win, are we supposed to seriously think this is a championship-caliber club? Same old, same old………lol.
“It’s NEVER the pitching, guys.”
Matt, I know you think it’s ALWAYS the offense, but that’s not the case. There are games when the offense sucks; there are games when the pitching sucks. It’s not always the offense.
The other site I visit isn’t obessively, Francesa-like, villifying Posada like may here.
I think I’ll stick with the other joint – the odds of us winning are better that way.
See ya, losers.
Al from BK-That was the most ridiculous ommnet I’ve evr read on this blog. Sorry, I’m trying to be nicer now, but I had to respond to that one.
No, it’s not the pitching.
When you don’t score any runs, the pitching presses because they know that any mistake is GAME OVER.
So the pitchers nibble more, especially in this ball park. That causes them to walk more hitters, giving up more runs.
It’s always the offense. Whenever our offense goes out and gets our pitchers an early 3-4 run lead, they usually hold it. Whenever our offense gets shut down for the first 5-6 innings, the pitching gives up a bunch of runs.
Losing to the National= Deduction of player salary by 50 %
This is my fault. I wasn’t home until the 4th inning. Everything was great and the Yanks were winning 2-0. Then I started watching and it all went downhill. I might need to put on Jon & Kate Plus 8
Congrats Walter Johnson Martis. You out dueled CC Sabathia.
Heh, Doreen. You had to know someone would take you seriously on that one.
Thats just what this place has become. Full of people who if they were any more spineless as “fans” of the Yankees, they’d be invertabrates.
Don’t you guys know that this offense does nothing before the 7th inning. Only on special occasions do the realize there is a game going on in the first 6 innings.
…although I wish I could take Dynasty Is Destiny’s wonderful haiku w/me…
Farewell.
swisher makes some very nice plays…and then some were you just scratch your head..nice one now though
Matt-Um, that’s not true. It just isn’t. I won’t even bother giving examples.
bodhisattva – OPPC member – Destiny Wears Pinstripes
June 16th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
The other site I visit isn’t obessively, Francesa-like, villifying Posada like may here.
I think I’ll stick with the other joint – the odds of us winning are better that way.
See ya, losers.
************************************************
Not all of us think like that.
Every team that plays the NY Yankees are going to put forth their greatest effort….It’s just that simple…Just like the simple minds of those who are still clinging to this foolish notion that the catcher’s game calling is a reflection of his ability …..It’s gone beyond being comically entertaining…..
nice swish!
They’ll score in either the 7th or 9th. They like pies so it may be the 9th.
why dont teams just bring up rookies from triple A its kind of obvious that yankees dont hit any1 they never see.teams should seriously consider that
“No they aren’t. PHI is up 3-2.”
Laura, what’s wrong with you? Why must you be factual? Be irrational! That’s the post 2004 Yankees fan way.
Damon-Tex-Alex: get to work
Sheesh if a few of you people were any more spineless as Yankee fans, you’d be invertabrates.
Good grief.
The sad thing is – if this was a NL park game, CC would be hitting instead of Matsui. He couldn’t have done much worse.
Now that Cy Young Mathis is out of the game. Lets go offense. Oh watch when Mathis pitches against boston he will give up 6 runs in 2 innings.
Why do the Yankees suck with pitchers they have never seen? it is scouting?
our 3,4,5 hitters against the National’s relief pitchers (best bullpen in basbeall)
a comeback win against the Nationals and you consider this team a world series contender?
Oh wow, the word omnnet from earlier should be comment.
That was really bad spelling.
Yankees should trade for Nick Johnson. Matsui and his 347 OBP is not getting the job done. Make Nick Johnson the DH!
C-EVERY team comes back against the Nationals, so yeah.
I think Girardi might need to seriously consider a line up change. Lets ponder this:
Jeter SS
Swisher RF
Damon LF
Texiera IB
Rodriguez 3B
Cano 2B
Posada C
Matsui DH
Cabrera/Gardner CF
lets make the lowly nationals bullpen the best in history
Rob Dibble is an idiot. He just referred to the Nats as the good guys ala Hawk from CWS.
“lol, something called LLJN made fun of my name.
Now that’s ironic.”
That is funny…
Boston is beating Florida like a drum 8-2.
The main difference I see between Boston and the Yankees is consistent baseball.
One day the Yanks put 15 on the board, the next, they can’t get more than 2 runs off some nobody pitcher from the worst team in all of baseball!
It’s pretty simple, you cannot beat the Red Sox with your “B” game. You better come in with your “A” game or they will pound you. On the other hand, you can beat the Yankees with your “B” game, whether you are a good or bad team.
This game is not over, and there is a long way to go in the season, but, as of now, the Yankees aren’t in the same class as the Red Sox, Tigers, or even Rays.
Carsten Charles still in…
This National dilemma…
A soprano sings…
Pathetic we should never be trailing in this series, not even once.
If some of you guys were any more spine less as Yankee fans, you’d be invertabrates.
Incredible.
I wouldn’t use the Nationals as a measuring stick to whether their a WS contender.
We know they’re better then the Nationals. This crap happens in all sports: let down against a lesser team.
a team of old washed up Yankee retreads and they are still winning
HA
Boston is so consistent that earlier inthe season they blew a five game lead.
Tex!
THANK YOU MARKY AND DAMON!
TAHT WAS CLOSE, BABY!
YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
National crisis adverted
That’s why the Nats suck.
the way the showed the crowd i thought that was 500ft
Tex doing his clutch thing again, thankfully!
about time
THAT WAS ALL NIEVES’ FAULT!
WE DID NOT LOSE.
A-Rod needs to get on track here.
Baseball is a funny game, the unexpected can happen at any time against any team.
All tied up
Nats announcers stink……..
Thankfully the stadium finally woke up
John Sterling:
“Hit by Tex
IT IS HIGH OH IT IS FAR IT IS FAR
IT IS caught at the wall
NO DROPPED”
man he sucks!!!
The announcer said “that takes the win possibly away from Matis”. POSSIBLY????? It’s a tie game; he can’t win, you dweeb!!
Boston’s Chin has taken over the first base lead in the all star game, all you fans should go on mlb.com and vote for Tex.
You all do know that offense is not the Nationals’ problem, right? (And by you all, I mean all of you moaning about CC giving up 3 runs.)
“Is this how its going to be from now on? Every time a pitcher gives up runs, the blame will be finger pointed to Posada? Does that even make sense?”
Unfortunately, yes it seems like it will be & no it doesn’t make any sense to me either.
I guess thats the way the cookie crumbles.
atleast advance the runner bud
damn..arod is 4-31
An auspicious start…
Damon reaches first, Tex swings…
Parity achieved…
Blown away lol
A-Rod in a nice little slump there.
yep once again you fail. its honestly amusing.
Arod needs to start playing like one of the best in all of baseball…………
You all do know that offense is not the Nationals’ problem, right?
========================
Yup. That’s why I’m starting to get a wee bit more worried about tomorrow with Wang.
I’m nervous for him.
David Cone is right.
Everybody who calls themselves a Yankee fan needs to go vote for Tex over Puke.
VOTE TEX
I have a feeling Wang is going to be awesome tomorrow. I truly hope I am right
does john sterling fill out his scorecard in Braille?
*** how many games did it take texiera to get on track***
28 games?
You all do know that offense is not the Nationals’ problem, right?
====================
Yup. That’s why I’m starting to get a wee bit more worried about tomorrow with Wang.
I’m nervous for him.
_______
Not to mention we see another pitcher we haven’t seen before.
Villone has to hate the fact that he’s a National!
Red Sox fans see their resident PED user slumping and they don’t boo *him*.
What’s up with that?
Wasn’t Villone in the Mitchell report too??????
Doreen,
If all the fans were as shortsighted as some people here, I wouldn’t blame CC if he opted out after 3 seasons.
He makes one mistake and gives up 3 runs over 7 and it’s still not good enough.
Needless to say we need this run
wow, Cano out!
Stat Padder!
Boston Dave June 16th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
“The Nats have a historically bad pen.”
——————
that is the bottom line
yanks will win this game because of it.
———
gotta love that the team with the most come from behind wins still can’t get any credit from some people.
Cano heating up!
The blog!
GOOD CANO…..dumb cano.
upton would have caught that.
Silly of Cano trying to stretch that
if only robbie busted it out of the box…
THANK YOU FORMER YANKEE GREAT RON VILLONE
We need to work on our baserunning.
Boston Dave June 16th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
“The Nats have a historically bad pen.”
——————
that is the bottom line
yanks will win this game because of it.
————-
gotta love that the team with the most come from behind wins still can’t get any credit from some people.
_____
Coming back against the Nats is not an accomplishment
their outfielders pretty much “suck”
Nats have the worst defensive outfield in baseball.
Dukes, as it has become quite obvious in this game alone, is not a CF.
They are forced to play him there because Milledge didn’t work out (though he isn’t great in CF either)
A sullied slugger,
In the eyes of Washington…
Swinging and missing…
Slade that’s nice but sign already
“A RBI triple from Cano”
Got the lead, now need to hold onto it
I am not holding my breath for the unveiling of the Ron Villone banner and monument as a former Yankee great
Sox up 8-2 in the 8th
Wait till they come to OUR house
June 16th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
Boston is so consistent that earlier inthe season they blew a five game lead.
………………………………
Which proves nothing.
The season is close to the halfway point and they are playing the best baseball in the AL right now. They are in first place in the East and showing no signs of coming down to earth.
I don’t see them giving up first place unless something unforseen happens (and it certainly could!), they have too much playoff and World Series experience to go into a tailspin. Now, if they had a major injury …? ? ?
>Coming back against the Nats is not an accomplishment
a win is a win is a win is a win
Al from BK
June 16th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
Silly of Cano trying to stretch that
————————————————————
Horrible baserunning it wasn’t even close. In a 1 run game that was a dumb decision.
CC NEEDS a shutdown inning here, no cheap runs.
When Arod came back…he looked like he was taking what pitchers give him. he didnt seem like he was thinking too much at the plate. Now he seems as though he’s thinking way too much at the plate.
Did the 3rd base coach wave cano to third? Why?
“Coming back against the Nats is not an accomplishment”
———–
winning the game is all that matters. the game is 9 innings. coming from behind is an accomplishment against any team if it results in a win.
why are you even a fan if it makes you so miserable?
Where is Milledge now?? He was the great Mets prospect of the future. Last I heard he was with the Nats
cant blame cano too much for trying to stretch it..if it was 0 or 2 outs i doubt he would of tried…but with 1 out it was an acceptable play…plus it was bang-bang..not a terrible job…but then again his speed is somewhat lacking..
why isn’t Tex hitting cleanup?
Way too many runners getting tossed out at 3rd & home this season with less tha 2 outs…..There’s being aggressive, and then there’s bad baserunning…..That was bad baserunning
With any fan base, you have good fans and you have stupid fans. The fans that boo A-Rod not only are stupid, they also don’t know anything about the team they supposedly love. They don’t know that the Yankees are a better team with A-Rod in the lineup even when he’s not producing. They don’t appreciate the fact that he cut short his rehab to get back on the field so that we wouldn’t have to be subjected to Cody Ransom or Old Man Berroa at 3B. They have short memories and don’t remember all of the big hits he has gotten over the years. They are stupid Yankee fans. They are an embarrassment to us all.
Jeter is out!
Why is DJ out?
Um someone tell Kay that he probably did something when he jumped over the runner.
Uh oh- Jeter looks like he has some sort of strain
Uh oh. Jeter better not be hurt.
Bruney’s mustache looks sooo stupid, he’s warming up
>Coming back against the Nats is not an accomplishment
a win is a win is a win is a win
_________
Yes but I’m not over joy that we came back against the nationals
uh oh on jeter
wow, jeets looks like he pulled his quad
lol Denise you don’t like that?
“I don’t see them giving up first place unless something unforseen happens (and it certainly could!), they have too much playoff and World Series experience to go into a tailspin. Now, if they had a major injury …? ? ?”
Boston’s not giving up anything.
If the yankees want the division they’ll need to win it.
And the only shot they have of doing so is to have better starting pitching.
That’s why Wang’s start is so big tomorrow. Without Wang Boston is the clear favorite regardless of how Hughes well Hughes pitches.
Needing to insert Hughes into the rotation precludes him from throwing in the pen or providing depth should Andy or someone get hurt.
I hope its an ankle and not a hammy for jeter.
Jeter doesn’t get that
I’m not going to say anything until we here whats wrong, if we lose DJ for a couple of days this will be the perfect time.
the Nats announcers keep saying Pena is in for defense for Jeter….laugher!
Robinson Cano…
Clutch hitting in the seventh…
Yanks lead, Captain leaves…
You guys make up such ridiculous speculation.
How about it could just be a cramp as well? It’s cool weather.
If he pulled his quad, do you think he runs that well down the line? He looked like a muscle tightened up, he wasn’t grimacing with pain or something that extreme. He was still going full speed.
It is the return of the Porn ‘stache. LOL
Is there a report out there anywhere that lists the Yankees’ inability to hit against pitchers they’ve never seen before and/or rookies? I’d like to see those numbers
Tex is amazing
Al from BK
June 16th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
Silly of Cano trying to stretch that
————————————————————
It was the play. 1 out, team has the lead. It took a perfect relay and two throws to get him. He ran from the box. You might try the book “Baseball For Dummies”.
MLB might as well mail the gold glove award to tex now.
Nats announcers may be as bad as Sterling, and that’s BAD!!!
Carl,
no, they are so out now! looks like he’s trying to be someone he’s clearly not!
Big G is the only one that can get away with it now!
New acronym: TGFT
Thank God for Tex.
First base hasn’t looked so good in a LONG time.
100 pitches for CC.
*Denise* June 16th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
Carl,
no, they are so out now! looks like he’s trying to be someone he’s clearly not!
haha
Nick Johnson looks like Ron Jeremy to me so he’s rockin’ the Porn ‘stache as well.
here comes the ‘stache! oh god!
Actually MATT,
its not rediculous speculation — he looked like he strained his quad muscle. He really was limping out of the box and certainly wasnt busting it up the line. And IMHO, being in thesports med industry, it looked like to me, that he pulled a muscle.
CB -
“Boston’s not giving up anything.
If the yankees want the division they’ll need to win it.”
……………………………….
Absolutely!
The Yankees have to want it, and be willing to fight for it – and I don’t see that yet.
I don’t foresee any lame Nats commercial waxing poetic about Elijah Duke’s effort tonight.
Big Horse. Don’t kill Posada after the game CC!
it would of been nice if CC could of got that last out but its ok, bruney is going to make his triumphant return
Another Questionable call by Joe G.
It was the play. 1 out, team has the lead. It took a perfect relay and two throws to get him. He ran from the box. You might try the book “Baseball For Dummies”.
—————————
All right soldier, let’s have some military decorum
tough spot for porn stacheio Bruney here.
I would have let CC finish. It was his game.
Laura,
I saw Ron Jeremy at a ski resort a few years back, he is so fat now, don’t think he can even see his “package” anymore!
*Denise*
June 16th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
Bruney’s mustache looks sooo stupid, he’s warming up
————————————————————
Are you saying that your mustache is better looking?
For all of his trash talking, Bruney better show up tonight
CC didn’t look too happy to be taken out of the game.
Sterling does make alot of Mistakes but he reacts as a fan and most of you probably thought it was a HR off the Bat of Tex
lets see if Bruney is on FB
If Jeter got hurt playng the Nats (aka the rats), I hereby put a curse on the NATS for the rest of their baseball existence!!!
“I saw Ron Jeremy at a ski resort a few years back, he is so fat now, don’t think he can even see his “package” anymore!”
Yuck! Bad visual.
CC Doing chew…has Kay yelled at him yet?
is it me or does Burney lose weight every time you see him
The power went out, so I missed a little of the game. Update me, why was Jeter taken out?
We DFA’s Veras ?
YES !
Bruney should grow the Fu Manchu ala Gossage
yeap he is there and I left him a message on his wall, as I’m absolutely sure he’ll check his Facebook when he gets home from the game:)
96 man
Sometimes I have no idea what Giradi is thinking, leave CC when he is gas and is losing it, then he takes him out when he has had one bad inning and is still fresh.
wes,
jeter looked like he may have pulled his quad or had a leg cramp in his last at bat.
“CC didn’t look too happy to be taken out of the game.”
Then he shouldn’t have walked Johnson.
“Bruney’s mustache looks sooo stupid, he’s warming up”
Ha! Its better than that thing Matt Garza has growing on his chin.
who’s Brian Bruney ?
bruney throwing that gas!!! nice job eigth inning guy…just please stay healthy!!!
ah Green Beret,
I can assure you, no mustache on me, anywhere!
“I saw Ron Jeremy at a ski resort a few years back, he is so fat now, don’t think he can even see his “package” anymore!”
————
When your as gifted as ron. You dont need to see it. It reminds you its there everyday when you trip over it.
any news on Jetes?
“who’s Brian Bruney ?”
LOL!
That’s Ron Jeremy to you, sir!
Lets hope its nothing series with DJ
Welcome back Bruney
Jeter had a hot date, told Girardi he was taking off…
2 points.
1) AL from BK is the worst fan in the history of sports.
2) Those trashing Cano have no clue. 4-4 tonight and making difficult plays in the field look routine.
GB, In a 1 run game I think having Cano at second, in scoring postion with 1 out …..Then again with Washington being so inept defensively maybe you do take the gamble,,,,
Good job Bruney!
But, uh, ditch the stash. You look like a guy trying to pitch earrings at the local 5 and dime.
I’m with ya, Miggs!
A few runs would be nice. Mo has enough saves already.
By the way, I’m electing Nats Manager Manny Acta into the Baseball Hotties Club (Manager Edition).
left ankle stiffness for jeets
ankle stiffness = jeter
Jete left ankle stiffness good news
Jeter with left ankle soreness.
Pepitone
I bet many here don’t know what a 5 and dime is.
good job gardy..theres his value
Gardner learned his lesson
Lol I was gonna say. I thought Matsui stole that base.
The Nats announcer was about to say that Hideki stole 2nd. Um, I don’t think so dude. LOL!
“1) AL from BK is the worst fan in the history of sports.”
I know it’s inconvenient when someone speaks the truth. Also Jeter with a sore ankle, so thankfully no hammy.
Hope Jeter is okay, but its good to see Pena getting a little playing time. He’s much better than Berroa.
Okay, I just added 25 more votes for Tex and friends for the all-star game. Vote you guys
I love B Gardner, in scoring postion…..
How is that good news?
Pepitone
“I bet many here don’t know what a 5 and dime is.”
That’s when you want a twenty bag but only have 15 bucks right?
Like I said. Left ankle soreness.
You can’t throw out every worst case scenario before you even have any idea what’s going on. There are so many minor injuries that can look a lot worse to the naked eye just because they hurt a lot at that moment in time.
You can get hit by a ball in the leg and be in a ton of pain and not even have a broken leg. You can get drilled in the hand by a pitch and not always break your hand. Sometimes you need to just wait and find out what the injury is before making wild speculation.
Woolworth’s, 5 & dime
“How is that good news?”
They thought it was his hammy or a quad strain. It’s not good news, but its not as bad as some had assumed.
cmon Swish
# Betsy June 16th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
How is that good news?
_________
better than a hammy or quad
I didn’t see the play on Cano trying to go for 3rd, but the situation was actually pretty good for him to try. You’re always told how you never want to make the first or last out to get to third; he made the second, no problems there. Furthermore, despite Posada and Matsui following him, the Yankees haven’t been exactly good at getting runners in from scoring position lately. Much easier to get a sac RBI than get him in from second.
Lastly, the Yankees have a couple more times to come up to bat against a terrible Nats bullpen, not to mention he was running on their sub-par defense. All said, if there was a reasonable chance he could make it to third, let him run there. It might not be the best move, but it wasn’t unreasonable.
“Woolworth’s, 5 & dime”
I was heartbroken when Woolworth’s went out of business.
Hmph a sprained ankle….. i stand corrected.
“How is that good news?”
Well compared to a hamstring or quad yeah it’s good news.
The Nat announcers are as bad as the team it self.
Zimmerman has some skills.
Pat M.
June 16th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
GB, In a 1 run game I think having Cano at second, in scoring postion with 1 out …..Then again with Washington being so inept defensively maybe you do take the gamble,,,,
————————————————————
For my money, I had no problem with him trying, given the score, the inning and one out. He ran straight out of the box and made a quick turn on the bases. It took two perfect throws and a relay to barely get him. 0 outs or 2 outs, I’d have an issue, safe or not.
Al from BK is being persecuted for speaking the truth!
He’s a modern Nietzsche, I say!
“The Nat announcers are as bad as the team it self.”
Actually, Trevor, I think that they are worse!!
“Sterling does make alot of Mistakes but he reacts as a fan and most of you probably thought it was a HR off the Bat of Tex”
That’s great. And maybe if we were all being paid to call radio games you’d have a point.
The problem is, the guy is old and blind and it’s aggravating as hell to listen to him call a game. He should (be made to) retire.
There was a 5 & dime called J.J. Newberry’s in my neighborhood growing up. I remember Woolworths too.
““How is that good news?”
They thought it was his hammy or a quad strain. It’s not good news, but its not as bad as some had assumed.”
Hammy injury= 3-4 weeks
Quad injury= 4-6 weeks
Sore ankle= day to day
Those other injuries being thrown around were far more serious in terms of rehab.
pat
June 16th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
Pepitone
I bet many here don’t know what a 5 and dime is.
…………………………
HA HA HA HA!!!!!………… i guess we both showed our age, huh?
For you youngsters out there, a 5 and 10 store was like a .99 store, except things were generally priced 5 or 10 cents. I could get a full sized Mars candy bar for a nickel, or go see a double feature for $ .35, oh the good ole days!!!!!
Matt,
once again – the guy was limping down the line — saying he may have hurt his quad is not what i call “wild speculation”. That would be more like oh he broke his leg!.. now thats wild speculation.
All of these walks; we should have scored 10 tonight.
I’d love to see the squeeze play here with Gardner on 3rd.
I bought 5 pairs of converse All Stars at a Woolworth’s going out of business sale.
I was 15 and those sneakers lasted with me through college.
And you wander why Yankees struggle. I give you two stupid at bats. Melky’s walk sets up the DP.
Pena!
El Nino strikes again!
that works too.
El Nino !
“S.o.S. June 16th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
I saw a guy in his suit and tie at the gym once. Said he didn’t have time to go home and change so he came straight to the gym from work. Looked pretty odd, to say the least.
————-
Anyone have that dream/nightmare when they were kids about going to school naked(forgetting to put your clothes on, maybe pants)? When you grow up the dream changes to going to the gym forgetting my gym clothes and working out in my suit and tie. Scary stuff.”
______________________________________
Well dude, a long time ago I had a series of dreams where I was in a suit & tie at work and the on various days any of the secretaries wasn’t … and suddenly I wasn’t either. After that, whether each was a scary dream or not depends on who the secretary of the du jour was.
Ramiro!
PENA! I like this kid.
Why is Beroa on this team again?
Hey Perez:
Can you teach Arod to do that!
haha yeah Ramiro Pena! Nice!
Whooops, I meant Pena.
06 Damon vs 04 Damon. Tune in after the break.
And you wander why Yankees struggle. I give you two stupid at bats. Melky’s walk sets up the DP.
________
I know he should of swung at ball 4 and gave the yankees no chance on scoring on an out. What an idiot.
The Nats are certainly a hairy bunch.
“06 Damon vs 04 Damon. Tune in after the break.”
Man he does look like Damon of 04!
“Why is Beroa on this team again?”
Because he went to high school with Bob Sheppard. (aka the voice of God)
Damon 04 was so much hotter than this dude.
C -
I saw Bruney up close in Trenton on Saturday. He is very slim. Very.
Laura – All we are saying is give Wang a chance!
June 16th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
All of these walks; we should have scored 10 tonight.
————————————————————
The walks didn’t matter since their 4 hits before the 7th inning were all singles from two hitters. Nobody was hitting except Cano, and Posada’s single. It was good that Posada had a hit, because, as you know, he called a terrible game, allowing the bottom three to account for the 3 runs.
“The Yankees have to want it, and be willing to fight for it – and I don’t see that yet.”
Pepitone,
I want to see this rotation throw 33 innings every time through the rotation.
That’s what I was expecting at the start of the season – I thought that was the key number.
33 innings each 5 days. That’s more than doable.
When they start getting that they’ll gain momentum.
Mark
If you don’t know better, then nothing to talk about.
Berroa has some dirt on Joe Girardi, that is why he is still here.
“Damon 04 was so much hotter than this dude.”
Spoken like a true pretend girlfriend.
Laura – All we are saying is give Wang a chance!
June 16th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
“Damon 04 was so much hotter than this dude.”
Spoken like a true pretend girlfriend.
******
Hahahahaha. Thank you Laura. I take our pretend relationship very seriously
Laura – All we are saying is give Wang a chance!
June 16th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
The Nats are certainly a hairy bunch.
………………………..
Yeah, they look like the 1993 Phillies, and that pitcher is the spitting image of Jeff Reardon.
I never noticed it before, but Damon looks like he’s trying to dig a hole to China with that right foot of his.
This pitcher looks like the Letterman-version of Joaquin Phoenix.
“Hahahahaha. Thank you Laura. I take our pretend relationship very seriously”
Well, hopefully, not *too* seriously. We don’t want to get into a Single White Female situation.
This what happens when you play a bad team. The stadium has no juice. Dead silence.
4 more saves until 500!
Yet another fan talking about a Nats win. That makes 5 that they’ve shown so far. Only 10 more wins to go. LOL!
I want to see this rotation throw 33 innings every time through the rotation.
That’s what I was expecting at the start of the season – I thought that was the key number.
33 innings each 5 days. That’s more than doable.
When they start getting that they’ll gain momentum.
……………………………..
I’m with you, CB.
Weitters vs KRod no outs and baseloaded…
Orioles have the bases loaded no out against K-rod.
# Bo knows June 16th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
Mark
If you don’t know better, then nothing to talk about.
_________
I know he should of swung and not taken ball four. Right?
I’ve never understood the rule that if you swap out the DH, you have to have the pitcher hit. What does one thing have to do with another?
A DP ends that game.
who would have ever thought we’d need Mo for a game vs. the Nats?
“Orioles have the bases loaded no out against K-rod.”
strikeout then GIDP to end the game, watch
Weitters looked over-matched there.
Laura – All we are saying is give Wang a chance!
June 16th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
Well, hopefully, not too seriously. We don’t want to get into a Single White Female situation
***
No, I am not a psycho. I just enjoy knowing he is my pretend boyfriend
Mo is getting real pissed at Dukes messing around up there.
It’s like he’s saying, “Hey, youngster, get in the batter’s box and take your whooping like a man.”
Ump is terrible.
Mark, don’t even bother. Your first response said all that needed to be said.
“No, I am not a psycho. I just enjoy knowing he is my pretend boyfriend”
It would be more enjoyable if he knew he was your pretend boyfriend.
So if you pinch hit/run for the DH, and that person remains in the game as a fielder, then that means some other fielder was taken out (in this case, Swisher). So Swisher’s spot in the order is empty, therefore the pitcher hits when it gets there. The DH doesn’t just move over there.
It’s usually a relatively moot point, as you don’t often replace your DH until late in the game when you are using relievers for one inning apiece and can pinch hit for them. It only becomes an issue if you run out of bench. Also, in this case, if Mariano doesn’t blow the save then his spot in the order won’t even come up anyway.
don’t cha know?
Nicely done, Robbie.
Who said Cano has no range?
Wow. Cano really does make it look easy.
Another great play by Cano. Pound for pound, he’s as good as Pedroia when he commits himself.
Cano has become a very, very good fielder.
Bases loaded walk K-Rod. still 1out.
Cano is on fire tonight.
They should make him Principal of the clubhouse to keep him focused.
Robbie makes that look too easy.
who orgasms like Keith on the air
OH !
AH !
where does Robbi rank in the Voting?
BD June 16th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Mark, don’t even bother. Your first response said all that needed to be said.
______
How does my first response say everything you know sarcasm right?
“So if you pinch hit/run for the DH, and that person remains in the game as a fielder, then that means some other fielder was taken out (in this case, Swisher). So Swisher’s spot in the order is empty, therefore the pitcher hits when it gets there. The DH doesn’t just move over there.”
I forgot about Swisher leaving the game. Makes sense now. Thanks, Brandon!
Hey…what is will farrell doing wearing adam dunns uniform..??
That was pretty tacky of Rivera to give those 3 little fist pumps, stealthily trying to show up the batter.
“Hahahahaha. Thank you Laura. I take our pretend relationship very seriously”
Well, hopefully, not too seriously. We don’t want to get into a Single White Female situation.
*****************************************************
No worries about that. A-Rod has already cornered the market on that.
6-4 mets 2 outs.
Mo –
“Sit down youngster, ya bother me.”
Mets trying to lose that game. 6-4.
Laura – All we are saying is give Wang a chance!
June 16th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
“No, I am not a psycho. I just enjoy knowing he is my pretend boyfriend”
It would be more enjoyable if he knew he was your pretend boyfriend.
****
He is married. There are some lines I would just never cross. I can just keep calling him my pretend boyfriend to all of you lovely Lo Hud folks and if Johnny ever reads this… then he will know he is my pretend boyfriend
Adam Jones is going to look like a sissy here.
“No worries about that. A-Rod has already cornered the market on that.”
How could I have forgotten about that? Silly me.
Wait till they come to OUR house I told you the other night that splatcutter was a troll. The jerk never came and said anything during the big win did he. He shows up tonight and now the Yanks are winning is nowhere in site. Maybe you should listen more and talk less.
I don’t think you want to be calling people morons because you don’t like their opinion. Don’t blame people on this blog if they don’t buy Posada. The national media isn’t buying Posada. Open your eyes. The whole thing is now out there enough that the Yankees might have alredy sat him down. They won’t ignore it.
The crowd woke up for the 9th inning.
Pena is the man! Yankees win!
good job all around to end it!
“If this score holds up, CC will be 5-1, 2.92 in his last eight starts.”
I love it
Who says Pena has no range?
whew, seemed like a quick game
Jeter doesn’t get that ball.
Pena flashing the leather to make the last out.
Mo!
Yankees win.
nice play by pena
Yankees win. Now lets go wang!
“If this score holds up, CC will be 5-1, 2.92 in his last eight starts.”
but hes not an ace!…*sarcasm*
Holy Crap, Mo had NOTHING. Poor location, all pitches at 90,91. If he tried that V the Sox he would get KILLED. Color me seriously concerned.
Hope Bruney wasn’t watching that
Pena adds one more…
The Sandman enters, sprinkling…
Good night, Nationals…
Pena is a keeper; that’s for sure. When Ransom is healthy, send him down to the minors.
Good win, we needed it.
Oh and attaboy El Nino, that’s a web gem.
Trevor,
you really think he doesn’t?
Who gets the belt? CC or Cano?
“If this score holds up, CC will be 5-1, 2.92 in his last eight starts.”
——-
looks inconsistent to me
Just watched K-Rod get a save and he didn’t do anything over the top. Lights out Bruney is in his head.
Keep it under 3 we win!!!!!
CC didn’t have his A game tonight, but he did what great pitchers do- he battled through the rough patch and got it together after the 5th. He also got himself a W.
Good win for the Yankees tonight, although there aren’t many bad ones.
Big night tomorrow, we’ll get to see if CMW is able to stick around in the rotation or not.
DYNASTY IS DESTINY! – really good stuff tonight. You brought your A game.
“How does my first response say everything you know sarcasm right?”
Yes, I do. I meant don’t even bother arguing. I was agreeing with you.
The team and fans looked flat during most of the game. Teixeira double really woke everybody up.
Laura – All we are saying is give Wang a chance!
June 16th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
Who gets the belt? CC or Cano?
————————————————————
Let’em Sumo rassle for it. I say that Cano tosses Sabathia out of the circle in 45 minutes. Everyone knows that Sabathia has no stamina after years of throwing all of those innings.
“How does my first response say everything you know sarcasm right?”
Yes, I do. I meant don’t even bother arguing. I was agreeing with you.
________
Oh lol my bad well thanks for having some sense and agreeing with me
Melancon came into the game with the bases loaded 1 out…allowed 1 run to score on a groundball out to 1st base but other than that he was great
2.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 4-2 GB/FB, 1 E (throwing) – 24 of 31 pitches were strikes (77.4%)
It was a dicier game than need be due to the offense sleep walking for too long.
But it was a good win, anchored by pitching and defense.
CC’s is an impressive pitcher. He really didn’t have his best stuff tonight. His fastball didn’t have it’s usual life and his velocity was a touch down (down – average velocity 93 with max 95).
But he still pitched a good game – not great – outside of that one mistake.
3 runs in 7 2/3 isn’t a bad game. And the nats are a decent offensive team. Their problem is that their run prevention is awful.
And of course CC had to overcome the enormous obstacle of Jorge Posada, so there’s that too. Amazing he could do it.
One down point of the game, IMO, was that Mo still doesn’t look good. His cutter simply doesn’t have as much movement and life on it. Last year he would have had dukes struck out quickly. Instead it turned into a battle with 2 strikes. And he’s still falling behind hitters.
Let’s hope this turns around for Mo. Last year was arguably the best year of his career so the stuff should be there.
Wow Jorge only called one bad pitch tonight, he’s showing promise.
MASN guys keep whining that they don’t have the kind of payroll that the Yankees do….well no sh-t, nobody in baseball does!!!
Dyansty,
BTW I’m both enjoying and am very impressed with the haiku! Keep it up!!
Papa Smurf -
I was watching K-Rod, too. I think they took the camera off him early. But even so, you’re right, he did look a little toned down. But then again, it was a squeaky save.
“Wow Jorge only called one bad pitch tonight, he’s showing promise.”
Isn’t it amazing how all of those posts about Posada’s bad game calling just happened to pop up after CC gave up that home run on a very poorly executed slider?
What a coincidence.
MLBTR just put up a post that says nady would be a type A free agent if the season ended today…yanks are gonna have to offer him arb then…even if he accepts it wont be that bad..especially since if he doesnt you can get 2 draft picks
hi all – just back from a work dinner? what happened to Jeter?
DT,
Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed the haiku!
CB
June 16th, 2009 at 10:17 pm
“Wow Jorge only called one bad pitch tonight, he’s showing promise.”
Isn’t it amazing how all of those posts about Posada’s bad game calling just happened to pop up after CC gave up that home run on a very poorly executed slider?
What a coincidence.
yep. And CC is no rookie and no pushover he’s not throwing anything he does not want to.
Expect lots of dicey games this year as the offense always sleepwalks through games……
Thanks for all the responses about Jeter’s ankle, but if it’s actually a sprained ankle, that’s hardly good news as those can linger.
well here’s to Wang and the good luck his baby hopefully brings tomorrow
CB,
Thanks for the vote of confidence!
poet of the blog
Dynasty is Destiny
keeps bloggers mellow
Cano gets the belt tonite
“And CC is no rookie and no pushover he’s not throwing anything he does not want to.”
If Jorge gets all the blame for CC’s mistakes shouldn’t he on the flip side get the credit for calling a masterful game outside of that one pitch?
CC has as deep an understanding of pitching as anyone in the game. He’s tremendous. The idea that he’s doing things out there against his will is preposterous.
And isn’t it amazing how CC wasn’t shaking off Posada every other pitch like Joba was. But of course Joba can call himself a better game than CC can…
McAllister was nasty tonight
7IP 8 K’s 2 ER
Swisher’s favorite baseball movie- For The Love Of The Game.
Great game from Cano, even though he tried to run the Yanks out of covering the run line.
Yanks win, Toronto has the lead in the 10th, could be a nice evening…..All eyes on the Wang-Man tomorrow…I do believe that he’ll have an impressive outing….His return is vital for Yankee success in 09……
Jeter doesn’t know when he hurt the ankle but thinks it may have been on the Sheff DP this weekend. He’s day to day.
I reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllyyyyyy hate the My9 post-game stuff.
forgot it was my9 – the post game is terrible
Pat M, not sure how Toronto winning is a good thing……They’ve hung in there very well – I knew they would. The Yankees are in for a real fight for the wild card – these teams are just not going to lay down.
Jeter has left ankle stiffness and mine in broken in a cast and I’m hobbling with crutches….almost something in common!
Jeter should just rest the rest of this series, Pena needs the work and shouldn’t make a big difference on beating the Nats
Just so the Yankees increase their options they should concentrate on winning the division as well as keeping an eye on the Wild Card….or has the division already been conceded?
The Yanks have to really guard against sleeping against teams like the Nats, Marlins, and Braves.
The reason why the Yanks didn’t get to play in October last year is not because they couldn’t beat the Rays and Red Sox – it was because they lost an alarming number of games against bad teams.
For instance, they were 20-16 combined against the Rays and Red Sox last year. But they compiled an embarrassing 15-20 record against the Indians, Tigers, Tigers, Royals, and Pirates – all of whom were sub .500 teams a year ago.
People tend to focus too much on their record against their hated rivals and not enough focus on the teams they should beat because they play a helluva lot more games against those teams than they do against the Red Sox.
They can’t take these bad teams for granted. They need to focus and go out there and continue to play hard.
CC sucks
If only he could be as good as that stud AJ Burnett, we would be 10 games ahead of Boston.
“Pat M, not sure how Toronto winning is a good thing”
$$$
Otherwise, it is not.
Gammons: Mauer is the Michael Jordan of baseball
“Are you saying that your mustache is better looking?”
Classic.
Whether her response implies a scary dream or not is left to the imagination.
Gammons: Mauer is the Michael Jordan of baseball
All those championships he doesn’t know what to do.
“McAllister was nasty tonight”
They should have him set up to be the 6th man next year for the rotation.
He’s having a very good year in AA, particularly for his age. I really hope they promote him the second half to AAA so he gets some experience against advanced competition. That’ll set him up nicely for next year.
Franco – Agree 100%. These are the games you HAVE to get. So far, us beating these “inferior” teams is the reason why we are only 2 games back of Boston despite losing all 8 to them.
The Yankees have to pound these mediocre/bad teams, especially the NL ones. You know our rivals will. These games are ultimately what will determine playoff spots. Who takes can take care of business best against the lesser teams and pick up games?
“Just so the Yankees increase their options they should concentrate on winning the division as well as keeping an eye on the Wild Card”
As a practical matter, how would you recommend they go about doing this?
Farnsworth never came across as the kind of guy to start a fight but once one gets going he’s got no problem getting right in there and letting everyone know who’s boos. I wonder if he gets suspended for body-slamming anyone after getting bitten:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....id=4265038
A friend of mine works for the Yankees. He said the word is that Girardi told Posada to tone it down and start to meet the pitchers half way. Let’s see if that lasts.
Tampa Bay up 8-3 against the red-hot Rockies who had won 11 in a row
Toronto beating up Philly tonight as well (though they are not as big a threat)
In this division, every game counts. Our competitors are going to crush these NL teams, we need to be prepared to do the same. We’re not going to run away with anything, playoff-wise. It is going to be a fight to the bitter end.
BREAKING: Kansas City Royals right-handed reliever Kyle Farnsworth had his left index finger bandaged Tuesday after being bitten by one of his two bulldogs.
‘BOSS’ not ‘boos’
yeeeesh
AL Leiter on MLB Network talking about pitch count. He must read my blog or something.
Oops.
That’s supposed to say “Indians, Tigers, Reds, Royals, and Pirates – all of whom were sub .500 teams a year ago.”
I really thought us and Boston were going to pull away and have the summer to ourselves to battle it out, but have the security of the WC as well.
With the way Tampa is playing, and with the Angels heating up as well…. it’s going to be a tough battle with no room for error.
Pitchers get hit when they miss location. Cannot blame the catcher.
Thank you CC. He is the only Yankee pitcher that gives them innings consistently. Gives the pen a break when he’s out there.
“BREAKING: Kansas City Royals right-handed reliever Kyle Farnsworth had his left index finger bandaged Tuesday after being bitten by one of his two bulldogs.”
OUCH
Sabathia – 5-1, 2.92 ERA in his last 8 starts
Despite what some crazy people say, he has been very good for us.
I smell a coverup.
I think Farnsworth really went after the seagulls in Cleveland.
Sabathia – earning his money and giving us 7-8 innings every single start. He has barely gotten any run support in his last few starts either.
Hope AJ is watching.
Melky with the #1 web gem on baseball tonight and they said NICE THINGS about him! shocking
Angels took a few more hits this week.
Santana to miss at least 1 start start, Shields is headed for season ending surgery and Escobar is headed back to the DL and will likely be used as a reliever when he is able to come back.
Hunter also has brusied ribs and is day to day after a collision with the wall.
Heathcott is only the size of Ramiro Pena?
I thought he was some big time power guy? Or is he more of a Damon-type hitter (lots of doubles, teen HRs totals)
“Sabathia – 5-1, 2.92 ERA in his last 8 starts”
Those numbers underestimate CC’s value.
Think about how many innings he’s given the team over that time.
He’s thrown 62 innings for the yanks over the last 8 games. 62 innings. He’s averaging close to 8 innings per start over that time frame.
So it’s not just he’s throwing to a 2.9 ERA – he’s thrown 62 innings of 2.9 ERA ball.
That’s immensely valuable.
You have to offer Nady arb. if he is a type A guy.
If nothing else, let him be a 4th OF on the bench.
“Heathcott is only the size of Ramiro Pena?
I thought he was some big time power guy? Or is he more of a Damon-type hitter (lots of doubles, teen HRs totals)”
dude hes 18…hes got growin and filling in left
CB,
Agree. The numbers don’t even tell the story of how good CC has been. In a rotation with 5-6 inning wonders like AJ and now Andy…. he has been giving us length every single time. He had a bad start (for him against the Rays), yet he still went 8 innings despite giving up 5 runs and allowed us to come back by keeping the game where it was for 3 innings by throwing up 0s after the 5th inning HR.
CC has been such a great addition. Only pitcher earning his money.
The AL Ease is rediculous… 4 teams over 500 is just absurd. There are only one or two divisions with three teams at or over 500 and the rest are at 2
“Heathcott is only the size of Ramiro Pena?”
Nope he’s bigger. Pete had it wrong. Heathcott is just about 200 pounds. Pena is only 160.
Sabathia is the definition of a horse.
That HR he gave up was a joke by the day. It was a bad pitch, but it shouldn’t have gone out.
But in a rotation full of disappointment, he has been incredible. Hope Wang can join him tomorrow and form that 1-2 punch we dreamed about in the winter.
*way
“Nope he’s bigger. Pete had it wrong. Heathcott is just about 200 pounds. Pena is only 160.”
I was going to say that.
new post
Bats better be ready to hit Lannan tomorrow with Wang going.
Lannan is their best pitcher and has actually done very well for them.
Yeah, what do I know? They were standing right next to each other in BP and I was three feet away.
For starters Pena is now 175. That 160 was when he signed. And every high school athlete in America exaggerates how big he is.
Heathcott may be a little heavier but he’s roughly the same size as Pena. He’s not a particularly big kid at all, which is fine. He’s a center fielder.
Sabathia is the highest paid pitcher in the game. He is the ace and has to pitch deep into the games. Burnett is a solid number 2 he just needs to give 6-7 strong innings. If the yankees get Wang straigtened out then they will have a very strong rotation.
ANSKY,
you have no idea what I look like, so no, no ‘stache, let it go
Yeah Pete is right. I actually read somewhere that Pena put on some weight from when he was first signed.
“A friend of mine works for the Yankees. He said the word is that Girardi told Posada to tone it down and start to meet the pitchers half way. Let’s see if that lasts.”
Yeah okay…your “friend”.
any post game audio
forget Cy Young
Martis kind of looks like Delmon Young