The LoHud Yankees Blog

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


Pitching matchups for the Marlins series

Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Jun 19, 2009 Print This Post Print This Post | Email This Post Email This Post

Friday: LHP Andy Pettitte (6-3, 4.52) vs. LHP Sean West (2-1, 3.00), 7:10 p.m., YES

Saturday: RHP A.J. Burnett (5-3, 4.46) vs. RHP Josh Johnson (6-1, 2.76), 7:10 p.m., YES

Sunday: LHP CC Sabathia (6-4, 3.67) vs. RHP Chris Volstad (4-7, 4.75), 5:05 p.m., YES

 
 

Advertisement

101 Responses to “Pitching matchups for the Marlins series”

  1. chr1zisNYY June 19th, 2009 at 11:26 am

    Sweep? Please?

  2. ditmars1929 June 19th, 2009 at 11:29 am

    Another weekend with no early day games. Thanks, MLB.

  3. Coach6423 June 19th, 2009 at 11:32 am

    Wow, a 5:05 Sunday get away game….thanks MLB.

  4. AD June 19th, 2009 at 11:35 am

    I can see 2 outta three.

    Andy gets through tonight, maybe gives us 6 innings, and the pen takes over and wins

    Burnett Gets Shelled, walking 9 guys over 4 innings.

    CC is lights out, tosses a CG

  5. sab June 19th, 2009 at 11:35 am

    Sweep? Please?

    I think that should read:

    Sweep? Please?…God let the yankees win at least one…

  6. Stultus Magnus June 19th, 2009 at 11:35 am

    What is up with Saturday games these days? It seems like over the past 2-3 years Saturday day games are becoming a rarity.

  7. EDUB June 19th, 2009 at 11:36 am

    Yeah that really blows. Wish MLB was more Europe friendly

  8. vin June 19th, 2009 at 11:36 am

    I’m thrilled the Yanks don’t have a day game on Saturday for two reasons:

    1) No FOX, which means I won’t be forced to watch the Angels (or something) instead.
    2) Posada can play against the Marlins’ best pitcher.

    The “early” Sunday game is nice as well.

  9. vin June 19th, 2009 at 11:38 am

    “What is up with Saturday games these days? It seems like over the past 2-3 years Saturday day games are becoming a rarity.”

    Really? I think there are plenty of Saturday day games. The evening Sat. games are usually teams that Fox doesn’t want to broadcast – Nationals, Marlins, Royals, etc.

  10. Wave Your Hat June 19th, 2009 at 11:39 am

    (I intended to post this in the last thread, but it took so long to research it I guess I’ll post it here).

    There seems to be a notion floating around that in the old days Joba would still be maturing in the minor leagues.

    It’s true that Joba is young, and its also true that most pitchers his age are in the minor leagues.

    However, many of us expect Joba to be a high ceiling pitcher, to have the potential to be a once-in-a-generation type pitcher, a Cy Young winner, a possible Hall of Famer.

    That caliber of pitcher has always come up young. They seem to make the majors as soon as they can get major league hitters out. The overwhelming majority did not spend significant time in the minors learning their craft.

    I took a quick look at the Hall of Fame starting pitchers and the Cy Young award winners (starting pitchers) since the 60′s, and here (by age in which they first appeared in the major leagues for more than a cup of coffee, but otherwise in no particular order) are the ones that came up by age 23:

    17: Bob Feller

    19: Catfish Hunter, Sandy Koufax, Jim Palmer, Don Drysdale, Vida Blue, Dwight Gooden

    20: Steve Carlton, Dennis Eckersley, Greg Maddux, CC Sabbathia, Brett Saberhagen, Denny McClain, Fernando Valenzuela

    21: Jake Peavy, Tom Glavine, Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz, Johan Santana, Bob Welch, Don Sutton, Early Winn, Nolan Ryan

    22: Whitey Ford, Tom Seaver, Juan Marichal, Frank Viola, Chris Carpenter, Roger Clemens, Roy Halladay, John Denny

    23: Bob Gibson, Jim Bunning, Ferguson Jenkens, Gaylord Perry, Randy Jones, Jim Perry, Jim Lonborg, Tim Lincecum, Doug Drabek, Rick Sutcliffe

    There are a few (very few) Hall of Famers and Cy Young award winners which came up after age 23. A partial list includes Randy Johnson (25), Ron Guidry (26), Orel Hershiser (24) and Cliff Lee (24).

    You can see that plenty of pitchers in the old days, in fact almost all of the ones actually in the Hall of Fame, came up young.

    This is not to say all those pitchers listed above pitched very well by age 23, although most of them had. It does say that if you expect Joba to be that kind of pitcher, you can’t excuse him by saying he really ought to still be in the minors learning how to pitch.

  11. sab June 19th, 2009 at 11:39 am

    Coach 6423 – yankees have a day off on Monday…here in the summer in Miami it gets unbearable in the early afternoon – its either stifling hot, humid and sunny or it downpours so hard you can’t see in front of you –

    5pm is probably the best time to play as the rains seem to go away for a few hours at that time and its not quite so unbearable in terms of the heat and humidity …mosquitoes love it at that time though..

  12. Erica June 19th, 2009 at 11:40 am

    Wave Your Hat-

    I am extrememly impressed with the research beind this well thought out post

  13. Stultus Magnus June 19th, 2009 at 11:40 am

    “Yeah that really blows. Wish MLB was more Europe friendly”

    Oh man, that would be tough. Maybe next week you can actually watch a game.

  14. Coach6423 June 19th, 2009 at 11:41 am

    I didnt look at the advance schedule. As long as they are off Monday, 5 is an ok start time. Im quite sick of them getting the late start time shaft on get away days is all.

  15. tampayank June 19th, 2009 at 11:42 am

    it’s going to be brutal for that 5pm first pitch Sunday…CC better get hydrated

  16. Wave Your Hat June 19th, 2009 at 11:43 am

    Thanks, Erica.

  17. Insanity June 19th, 2009 at 11:43 am

    Joba starting and Hughes in the pen.

  18. sab June 19th, 2009 at 11:44 am

    plus this is an unofficial observation but i would think alot of players may stay out saturday night in south beach a bit later and are in no condition to play at 1pm on sunday….

  19. Stultus Magnus June 19th, 2009 at 11:44 am

    All but 4 games this Saturday are evening games.

  20. Steve B June 19th, 2009 at 11:44 am

    “Wave Your Hat-

    I am extrememly impressed with the research beind this well thought out post”

    Looks plagiarized to me. :)

  21. Bronx Jeers June 19th, 2009 at 11:45 am

    Sweep?

    By which team?

    West is a rookie who’s had success in his miniscule career so it is shaping up to be another cap-tipper. Obviously Andy hasn’t looked so hot.

    Josh Johnson is their ace and is having an awesome season so far.

    Sunday’s game is bay far our most favorable matchup.

    Sox are home this weekend and could easily take 2 of 3.

    Don’t call this doom & gloom. It’s late June realism. :lol:

  22. Stultus Magnus June 19th, 2009 at 11:46 am

    4 day games (including FOX 4:10 games)

    11 evening games.

    Seems weird to me.

  23. Rayvt June 19th, 2009 at 11:46 am

    What is frustrating is knowing the ceiling for some players or at least the perceived ceiling and seeing it missed if not entirely. Joba pitches poorly and has good results. Just think if he pitches well and throws pitches the hitters aren’t waiting on to hit/walk. If this were Rasner or Ponson or even Pettite, we’d be saying they held them to 3 runs. So is it fair to criticize Joba? IMO it is because we recognize the difference.

    ARod lined a shot to left and as fate would have it it was caught and he goes 0-fer! If it was a little one side or the other and it is a hit and perhaps it would lead to breaking out of his slump. As Yogi said “Baseball is 90% mental—the other half is physical.” Slumps take 90% of ones ability away. (Mental!) Once the mental is corrected, then it is 50% physical and probably 50% opportunity/luck/concentration.

    The Yanks miss Jeter, Posada, Melky and even the old ARod. This is just a glimpse of what Yankee life will be like if Pena, Cervelli, Gardner & _ that so many of you have clammored about in recent days are playing routinely while the others are missing.

    Swish is struggling right now and he is in the stage of trying to make it happen instead of letting it come to him and going with the pitches. Swinging at ball four on a 3-1 count is not his style. He is overly anxious and trying too hard. Lighten up on him and ARod too.

    Probably the best thing for the Yanks right now is a road trip. Less pressure. BTW, they are only 3 out and no Toronto is not going away. They have perhaps the best Manager in baseball IMO and they have talent.

    (late post from previous thread)

  24. Boston Dave - OPPC June 19th, 2009 at 11:47 am

    Wave Your Hat,

    you are right, especially about the part that many of those pitchers were bad, in fact MUCH worse, than Joba has been to this point.

    The idea that Joba needs to be in the minors doesnt make sense to me.

    The idea that he shouldn’t struggle at all doesn’t either.

    When his knowledge of pitching catches up with the talent in his arm, he’ll be a perennial all-star, IMO.

  25. Shanahan June 19th, 2009 at 11:47 am

    However, many of us expect Joba to be a high ceiling pitcher, to have the potential to be a once-in-a-generation type pitcher, a Cy Young winner, a possible Hall of Famer.

    ———————–

    Whoa! Set the bar high much?
    I’d be happy if he stays healthy and is able to be a two two pitcher. Hall of Fame? Once in a generation? Slow down, buddy. Let him get through a season first.

  26. Rayvt June 19th, 2009 at 11:48 am

    Nice one Wave!

  27. Shanahan June 19th, 2009 at 11:48 am

    should read: top two pitcher.

    My mistake.

  28. Wave Your Hat June 19th, 2009 at 11:48 am

    Steve B-

    Yesterday you want to banish me to RAB because I had difficulty with the curve, and today you accuse me of plagiarism! I’m hurt. :)

    All information came brom baseball reference, but I had to research and put it together myself!

  29. Steve B June 19th, 2009 at 11:49 am

    “11 evening games.

    Seems weird to me.”

    Standard fare for days when FOX has a game. 2-3 1PM starts, couple FOX games at 4:10 and the rest evening starts. Something about exclusive broadcasting rights or some such shyte.

  30. Wave Your Hat June 19th, 2009 at 11:50 am

    “Hall of Fame? Once in a generation? Slow down, buddy. Let him get through a season first.”

    I didn’t say he was there. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t hope he would be.

  31. Rayvt June 19th, 2009 at 11:51 am

    There are mainly two things beyond raw talent play out in a pitchers career to decide if they are HOF material baring major injuries.

    1. Coachability!
    2. Coaching!

    Right now Joba doesn’t appear to have either on, but maybe one of these is overshadowing the other.

  32. Fran (the original) and OPPC member June 19th, 2009 at 11:51 am

    Hope the Yankees can score a lot of runs this weekend. I think we are all tired of the “We’ve never seen this pitcher before” line.

  33. pat June 19th, 2009 at 11:51 am

    Just be thankful they don’t have to face Nolasco.

    He 1 hit the Sox last night through 5 and we all know how good they are. :wink:

  34. Erica June 19th, 2009 at 11:53 am

    Steve B-

    Such a well thought out and researched post deserves credit. You need to admire people who use actual facts to support their arguments

  35. Steve B June 19th, 2009 at 11:56 am

    Erica:

    I was only funnin’ with Wave a little.

    It was a good post.

  36. Betsy June 19th, 2009 at 11:56 am

    I agree, Shanahan – wow, now Joba’s a possible HOFer? Whew…

  37. Shanahan June 19th, 2009 at 11:57 am

    Joba’s comps should come from pitchers in the league right now who range from 22-24 years old – not guys like Guidry and Pedro.
    How does he match up against everyone in baseball right now, starting and is under 24 years old? That’s the measure of how he’s doing right now. I would imagine that he’s right up there with all of them.
    The once in a generation thing is overwashed. He doesn’t throw hard enough (as a starter) or have the breaking stuff (as a starter) to even be considered a “all time talent” just yet.
    He needs to just stay healthy, throw strikes, stop plunking guys when he’s scared to pitch to them (Youkilis), and the rest will take care of itself.

  38. Stultus Magnus June 19th, 2009 at 11:57 am

    “Standard fare for days when FOX has a game. 2-3 1PM starts, couple FOX games at 4:10 and the rest evening starts. Something about exclusive broadcasting rights or some such shyte.”

    Whatever, that’s BS. I’m trying to find out what it was 3 years ago but for some reason it’s difficult. I’m sure the ratio was different.

    Personally, I prefer night games. But there have been numerous times this season where Sat. evening starts conflict with my schedule. A 1pm start tomorrow would be perfect for me. But it looks like I’ll miss it tomorrow.

  39. Erica June 19th, 2009 at 11:59 am

    Oh. Thanks Steve B.

    I know I have established this on other threads, but its worth repeating- I am gullible to the point where people wonder what is wrong with me

  40. Erica June 19th, 2009 at 12:00 pm

    Betsy-

    Anyone is a possible HOFer at 23 :-)

  41. Patrick June 19th, 2009 at 12:02 pm

    Great post WYH.

    I don’t think Joba should be learning in the minors. He is pitching well enough to win in the majors. I expect him to pitch better than he has, but I can accept the results he’s provided.

    Joba will improve, that much I can guarantee.

  42. Rebecca-Optimist Prime June 19th, 2009 at 12:04 pm

    Hey guys, quick question–any of you know the Yankees’ record in rain delayed games this season?

  43. bodhisattva - OPPC member - Destiny Wears Pinstripes June 19th, 2009 at 12:09 pm

    PA,

    I posted on this in the last entry.

    Why is the Players Union so complacent -or complicit – regarding its membership taking unnecessary injury risk during these rain-drenched games?

    Baseball players aren’t football players – they don’t play in rough weather conditions, wear tons of protection, and have other bodies to absorb the impact from contact, and they don’t move in a more or less continous direction and tempo.

    What is the deal?

    Youkilis – not shy about voicing a complaint – was livid those NYS games between the Yanks and Sox were played at all – he got hurt during those two games, as did Jorge, and I believe, Molina.

    MLB wants the money, but what about the players protecting their own assets – their healthy selves?

    And what are the safety standards – if any – for these outfield walls? Gardner came perilously close with a serious injury colliding w/that plexi-glass – and Damon hit some sharp edge in left field in – Cleveland? can’t recall – that caused a minor injury.

    What gives?

  44. CB June 19th, 2009 at 12:10 pm

    It’s not likely the yankees will sweep. It’s not a reasonable expectation. Both johnson and volstad are good pitchers with live arms. They will not be easy to handle.

    Also that park down there is a pitchers park that isn’t conducive to home runs. So the yankee offense won’t be able to count on the long ball to score runs….

    BTW nice post by wave your hat. The idea that joba needs to be in the minors is a strange one.

    Did last night put the final nail in posadagate? Or was joba’s outing last night due to posada’s aura infusing the pitchers mound from off the bench?

  45. bodhisattva - OPPC member - Destiny Wears Pinstripes June 19th, 2009 at 12:12 pm

    Rebecca-Optimist Prime
    June 19th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
    Hey guys, quick question—any of you know the Yankees’ record in rain delayed games this season?
    =====

    Good question. I don’t know if the data supports it, but it seems to me we are less than resilient in rain-delayed games. Maybe some of that is age.

  46. Joe I June 19th, 2009 at 12:12 pm

    bod,
    The players union is too busy trying to protect steroid/hgh users to worry about rain and dangerous walls.

  47. Bob(the original) June 19th, 2009 at 12:15 pm

    The 5PM game on Sunday stinks for out of market fans.

    Extra Innings won’t show the game because it might overlap with the start of the ESPN Sunday Night game.

  48. Sweep June 19th, 2009 at 12:15 pm

    Never seen these guys before

    Marlins sweep.. no contest

  49. Stultus Magnus June 19th, 2009 at 12:16 pm

    “Did last night put the final nail in posadagate?”

    Probably not. Kepner should print a retraction. ;)

  50. Patrick June 19th, 2009 at 12:16 pm

    CB,

    I don’t think you can ever count on sweeping a team. The Yankees’ best shot at a sweep was against the Nationals and we saw how that turned out. The difference in talent between two teams in the majors is too small to ever expect a sweep. You run into a pitcher that has a good day and that’s that (like Lannan). Or your offense goes ice cold for some reason (like the past three freaking games!)

    That said, I’d like to see 2 or more wins this weekend but I refuse to use the s-word!

  51. Sandy June 19th, 2009 at 12:17 pm

    Re: Joba

    The fact is his velocity has not been the same since he got injured last year. And his velocity is what everyone was so excited about when he was in the bullpen.

    So, he is either intentionally holding back so as not to re-injure the arm or he is giving it all he’s got and low 90s is it. This is what the fans want to know and, of course, the Yanks aren’t going to them them.

    The other possibility is that he could turn it on consistently out of the pen for a couple of innings but can’t turn it on even ocassionally during the course of a start — and some of his starts haven’t been much longer than a long bullpen appearance.

  52. Bob(the original) June 19th, 2009 at 12:17 pm

    Johnson is an absolute stud. Burnett better bring his A game on Saturday.

  53. Fan Interference June 19th, 2009 at 12:18 pm

    The problem with Joba is that most phenom starters show flashes of brilliance while they struggle. Joba showed his brilliance in the pen. He is showing fatigue & regression in his starts, and his velocity is going down.

  54. Wave Your Hat June 19th, 2009 at 12:19 pm

    CB-

    Unfortunately, I’m pretty sure it won’t be the end of Pasadagate. If some people thought before last night that Posada can’t call games, they’ll think of a reason he can’t call games after last night. Just human nature, I guess.

    With respect to Joba, I’d say my point was not so much to argue against people who think Joba ought to be in the minors, but against people who may be inclined to excuse Joba’s results so far on the grounds that most pitchers his age are in the minors.

    That’s true, but “most pitchers” is not the set people should be comparing Joba to.

  55. Steve B June 19th, 2009 at 12:20 pm

    “Johnson is an absolute stud.”

    He’s a tough customer. Arguably one of the 5-8 best starting pitchers in baseball to date this season.

  56. Fan Interference June 19th, 2009 at 12:20 pm

    The bottom line is that many fans, including me, don’t want to see Joba be Mike Mussina, or
    Greg Maddux. We want to see a flame throwing strikeout pitcher. Since Joba’s been out of the pen, he’s been much less than that.

  57. bodhisattva - OPPC member - Destiny Wears Pinstripes June 19th, 2009 at 12:21 pm

    Bob(the original)
    June 19th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
    The 5PM game on Sunday stinks for out of market fans.
    Extra Innings won’t show the game because it might overlap with the start of the ESPN Sunday Night game.
    =========

    That’s just wrong.

    Being in-market, however, I’m happy to have a Sunday afternoon not high-jacked by the Yankees. They really control my life enough as it is, lol.

  58. sw June 19th, 2009 at 12:24 pm

    The Yankees will be lucky if one of Joba or Phil ends up being a solid #3 starter in the majors. Every team has young players that throw hard and show glimpses of brilliance that they think are “special.” There are only 20 or so true elite pitchers in the majors at any given time, and what they have in common is remarkable command and ability to change speeds.

  59. Patrick from CT June 19th, 2009 at 12:26 pm

    Joba did OK last night.
    6 innings 3 runs is a “quality start”
    We should hope for the same from Andy tonight.
    The Yankees need to start hitting!
    It seem like they are back to only scoring on homeruns.
    There will be no sweep in this series by either team.
    Yanks should take 2 of 3 though…

  60. Steve B June 19th, 2009 at 12:27 pm

    “There are only 20 or so true elite pitchers in the majors at any given time”

    Doubt there are that many, but you can’t entirely rule out that Joba and/or Hughes can’t hit that level.

  61. SJ44 June 19th, 2009 at 12:27 pm

    I think the problem if there is one, is the standard folks are setting Joba up to.

    He’s not an elite pitcher yet. He has the POTENTIAL to be an elite pitcher. But, lots of guys over the years have had similar potential and never reached it for various reasons.

    The standards some have for Joba, especially those in the media, are unlike almost any pitcher in baseball. Even the great one’s of today like Santana, Halladay, etc.

    If Joba pitches poorly, “he should be in the bullpen”. These folks don’t even understand that his stuff no longer translates to the bullpen.

    He is the #5 starter on this team. Due to circumstances not of his own making (the lack of consistent performances by Wang, Burnett and Pettitte) he is in effect the #2 starter in the rotation.

    Too high an expectation for him at this stage of his career.

  62. Stultus Magnus June 19th, 2009 at 12:28 pm

    “The bottom line is that many fans, including me, don’t want to see Joba be Mike Mussina, or Greg Maddux. We want to see a flame throwing strikeout pitcher. Since Joba’s been out of the pen, he’s been much less than that.”

    1) I wouldn’t mind having a Gred Maddox or Moose in his prime, and 2) his diminished velocity has more to do with a shoulder injury and some mechanics. If they put him in the pen, we’d see what we are seeing now. Walks, average to no control, average fastball…

  63. Stultus Magnus June 19th, 2009 at 12:29 pm

    “There are only 20 or so true elite pitchers in the majors at any given time”

    Almost every team has an elite pitcher??

  64. Central CT Yankee June 19th, 2009 at 12:31 pm

    Someone please explain to me why JoeG would let Wang anywhere near a national league park? Here Wang go up and don’t swing at any pitches

  65. Bob(the original) June 19th, 2009 at 12:31 pm

    It really does baffle me how people don’t realize that it takes young pitchers time to learn how to pitch in the majors.

    It’s very hard to do. Shouldn’t that be an obvious fact?

    It is a process. Maybe Joba gets to the level of premier pitcher or maybe he doesn’t. Either way you have to go through what he is going through in order to find out.

  66. Steve B June 19th, 2009 at 12:32 pm

    “Almost every team has an elite pitcher??”

    John Lannan and Jeremy Guthrie star in The Pitcher Elite.

  67. sw June 19th, 2009 at 12:33 pm

    “Almost every team has an elite pitcher??”
    In any given season I would say there are 20 or so pitchers performing at elite levels, whether that’s sustainable over the long term for each individual is a different question. There are probably 10 guys who are having a better statistical season than CC right now in the AL alone.

  68. CountryClub June 19th, 2009 at 12:34 pm

    No, Bob is correct. The Yankees wont be on the extra innings package on Sunday because they start at 5pm. It’s the same on saturdays when they have a 1pm game. Fox gets a window between 1 & 7 on Saturdays. Any game starting after 4pm on Sunday gets wiped off too.

  69. Stultus Magnus June 19th, 2009 at 12:35 pm

    “John Lannan and Jeremy Guthrie star in The Pitcher Elite.”

    Is this a reality show, a bromedy, or a film noir?

  70. CB June 19th, 2009 at 12:36 pm

    Josh johnson has been a much better pitcher this season than AJ.

    The marlins have the better shot of winning that game.

    I hope the yanks can take 2 of 3. It woildnt surprise me if they only get 1 of the game however.

  71. Wave Your Hat June 19th, 2009 at 12:37 pm

    SJ44-

    You are right that, given the way Joba is currently pitching, it is too early to expect Joba to pitch like Santana or Halladay or CC.

    However, it’s not to early to expect him to have that potential (as you point out).

    The problem comes, I think, in translating between the two sets of expectations. It’s natural for fans to want him to be that kind of pitcher NOW. But not every pitcher with that potential harnesses it right away.

    Although SOME do. That’s the source of the frustration with Joba, I think.

  72. Earl June 19th, 2009 at 12:37 pm

    We’ll be lucky if we get a game

    3 pitchers we haven’t seen…. 2 rookies, 2 guys with great arms including one of the best pitchers in the NL.

    Big ballpark that is hard to hit HRs in, slumping lineup.

    Take 1 game and get out.

  73. Rose June 19th, 2009 at 12:38 pm

    Where is Joba going to go when he reaches his innings limit if not the bullpen?

  74. Wave Your Hat June 19th, 2009 at 12:39 pm

    “We’ll be lucky if we get a game”

    Get out of here with defeatist talk like that. What kind of fan are you, that thinks we can’t beat the Marlins?

  75. Bob(the original) June 19th, 2009 at 12:41 pm

    Wave Your Hat June 19th, 2009 at 12:39 pm

    “We’ll be lucky if we get a game”

    Get out of here with defeatist talk like that. What kind of fan are you, that thinks we can’t beat the Marlins?

    ———————————-

    The kind who was probably writing off the Santana game last Sunday.

  76. Stultus Magnus June 19th, 2009 at 12:43 pm

    I’m not sure where Joba is on his innings, but if he keeps averaging 5 innings, we don’t have to worry about it.

  77. Patrick from CT June 19th, 2009 at 12:44 pm

    When is Nady coming back?
    The Yankees need some right handed pop off the bench. Having Berroa take up space makes no sence at all.
    And when is Alex going to get/take a game off?
    As soon as Jeter is back in the lineup, I think Alex needs a blow. The guy has played every game since he can off the DL.

  78. Cal June 19th, 2009 at 12:45 pm

    “Get out of here with defeatist talk like that. What kind of fan are you, that thinks we can’t beat the Marlins?”

    Let me guess… you thought we could sweep the Nationals right?

  79. Four hour June 19th, 2009 at 12:46 pm

    Wave,

    Tell us how great of a player Swisher is again.

  80. Rishi June 19th, 2009 at 12:47 pm

    new post

  81. Wave Your Hat June 19th, 2009 at 12:47 pm

    “I’m not sure where Joba is on his innings, but if he keeps averaging 5 innings, we don’t have to worry about it.”

    This is the problem I have with this alleged Joba innings cap.

    The worse he pitches, or the more pitches he throws per inning, the more games he can start.

    That can’t be right, can it?

  82. NYY Trek June 19th, 2009 at 12:47 pm

    Yeah, because the team is playing so well right now… right Wave your Hat?

  83. bodhisattva - OPPC member - Destiny Wears Pinstripes June 19th, 2009 at 12:47 pm

    Joe I
    June 19th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
    bod,
    The players union is too busy trying to protect steroid/hgh users to worry about rain and dangerous walls.
    =====

    Here’s a thought: legalize/allow it. There’s your “level” playing field.

  84. Y 27 June 19th, 2009 at 12:48 pm

    Wave Your Hat June 19th, 2009 at 12:39 pm

    “We’ll be lucky if we get a game”

    Get out of here with defeatist talk like that. What kind of fan are you, that thinks we can’t beat the Marlins?

    ————————–

    Just because he doesn’t have his head in the clouds, doesn’t mean he is less of a fan.

  85. Wave Your Hat June 19th, 2009 at 12:48 pm

    You bunch of whining losers…

  86. SJ44 June 19th, 2009 at 12:49 pm

    Wave,

    I agree. People believe the transition into being a starting pitcher in the majors, let alone an elite one, is easy. Especially if one dominates out of the pen, as Joba did when he first arrived.

    Several factors though have changed things. One, his shoulder injury.

    Believe me, just about every major league baseball player has some form of shoulder tendonitis. Its the cost of being in the job.

    Very, very few of these cases result in the dramatic loss of velocity, as well as dramatic increases in warm up time, Joba’s supposed shoulder tendonitis has caused.

    I believe he was more severely injured than publicly reported. If not, there is no logical reason why he can’t amp it up anymore. Even when he pitched his best game of the year in Cleveland, his velocity wasn’t like it was two years ago.

    I remember seeing him in an A Ball start where he was routinely hitting 98-100 on almost every fastball from the first inning to the 7th. Those were on scouts guns, which are notoroiously slower than stadium guns.

    The Cleveland start was the closest I’ve seen Joba to being the Joba of 2007 and even that start he was off a tick.

    Cash kind of let the cat out of the bag when he said a month ago Joba can’t warm up like he did as a reliever. That tells me his injury has a lasting effect, requiring him to make adjustments.

    I still believe he’s going to be a very, very good starting pitcher. He’s not there yet. Frankly, only those hopelessly into Joba and completely unknowing of what it takes to be an elite starting pitcher in MLB would expect him to be there right now. Its an unrealistic expectation.

    I’m just hoping he helps himself a little more by getting out of his own way out there. The stuff with the catchers really has to end.

    Five guys have caught Joba in his career: Posada, Molina, Moeller, Cervelli and Cash. All of them have had problems with him. One of them told me last year that Joba was the toughest guy he’s ever caught because he’s so stubborn out there. FWIW, it wasn’t Posada who told me.

    When you see that folks, it ain’t the catcher. Its the pitcher.

    He’s not a bad kid at all. Just headstrong. Sometimes, as he even admits, too headstrong for his own good.

    Hopefully, he makes that adjustment and if he does, he will be a much better pitcher in the second half of the season.

  87. REZ June 19th, 2009 at 12:50 pm

    Andy Pettitte and his 4.52 ERA against a lefty rookie we haven’t seen.

    Sounds like a great matchup!

  88. Desi Yankee June 19th, 2009 at 12:51 pm

    Against 3 unknown pitchers, Yankees have no chance and will be swept…..

  89. Nick June 19th, 2009 at 12:53 pm

    We might take the CC game… that is, if we can score against Volested.

    Anyone, like Wave your Hat, who thinks this will be an easy series is fooling themselves.

  90. Stultus Magnus June 19th, 2009 at 12:53 pm

    “The worse he pitches, or the more pitches he throws per inning, the more games he can start.”

    Correct. If he starts dominating and pitching deep into games, he’ll wave goodbye to the starting rotation in September.

    Maybe. Who knows what they’ll do. It is odd though. He can essentially throw the same amount of pitches but in one scenario he’ll be put in the pen, possibly.

  91. Stultus Magnus June 19th, 2009 at 12:56 pm

    “The players union is too busy trying to protect steroid/hgh users to worry about rain and dangerous walls.”

    That’s hilarious.

  92. Monnie D June 19th, 2009 at 1:14 pm

    Yay! More guys we’ve never seen before!

  93. YankeeRay June 19th, 2009 at 1:31 pm

    Taking 3 kids tonight to see Yanks in Miami. Will try and scalp as stub high is still too expensive and there should be plenty of tickets at stadium. Will try and get in early and catch BP.
    Saturday game is the hardest to get ticks for due to pitching matchup and latin music fest after game.
    Sunday will be the easiest as 5:00 fathers day start time is silly as most people will be home watching US Open and having fathers day dinner.

  94. Iron June 19th, 2009 at 2:13 pm

    Pete..

    What do you mean it’s to early to take advantage of the free booze?? You can’t drink all day if you don’t start at teh crack of dawn !!

  95. tim boat June 19th, 2009 at 2:20 pm

    Pettite KO’d in 5, Yankees lay down for 2 of 3 series loss. Think they had offensive problems the last few days? Wait til they get to Florida Marlins National Parkland with no DH.

  96. Sarah June 19th, 2009 at 3:15 pm

    RE JOBA: Fans, here is another take on the Joba situation from a Yankee fan who does not over-analyze or become SMUG about his position . . . . . Well said.

    Yes, there will always be the argument about where he should be but I feel as we are doing with Wang, we owe it to Joba to give him every opportunity to start.

    Tonights start wasn’t that bad, it looked bad because the offense couldn’t score. The argument will always be magnified due to the team Joba plays for.

    But if you have an ace on the rise, you need to do everything you can to develop him and the problem is Joba set such a high standard, no one could live up to that.

    I personally believe that we set him back by putting him in the pen, he was doing great as a starter in the minors, and was a great starter last year.

    Imagine the pressure he is under every start, if he gets hurt that is the end of it, if he doesn’t pitch well the debate rages on, if we just left him as a starter in 07 I bet half of the fans wouldn’t have heard of him and the others would be calling for him to replace Andy or Wang.

    It is just the way it is but again we need to focus on long term goals and not short term fixes. That is just my opinion, if it was any good I would get paid for it in all fairness. TYF,6/19/2009 2:37:12 AM

  97. AD June 19th, 2009 at 3:21 pm

    Is it me or does it seem as if that AJ always is up against the other teams #1 starter and CC gets the 2nd or 3rd. CC should be matching up with the #1 starter. I know it won’t always work out that way, but it just seems that CC hasn’t pitched against a #1 in quite some time.

  98. Rose June 19th, 2009 at 3:49 pm

    Joba needs to throw strikes. Last night he walked 2 bottom of the order guys. And that lead to runs. Joba needs to make them hit their way on base.
    And don’t blame Posada. He walks guys no matter who is catching.

  99. Sarah June 19th, 2009 at 4:03 pm

    Here are numbers on innings by Joba. FYI,

    April 12 KC 6.0
    17 Cle 4.2
    24 Bos 5.1
    29 Det 7.0
    May 05 Bos 5.2
    10 Bal 6.0
    16 Min 6.0
    21 Bal 0.2 injury
    26 Tex 4.0
    June 01 Cle 8.0
    07 TB 6.0
    12 NYM 4.0
    18 Wash 6.0 Total: 69.1 innings pitched

    Strikeouts:
    CC 100.2 innings 69
    AJ 80.2 74
    Andy 79.2 50
    Joba 69.1 64

    Not ace numbers yet – but he will get there.

  100. Sarah June 19th, 2009 at 4:36 pm

    Rose: That bases loaded inning only allowed 1 run. Yes, he may walk too many but remember he is not as experienced as the others in the rotation who also walk batters. Yesterday’s game does not exonerate Posada – maybe with Joba but not the other pitchers.

    He needs to realize he is getting older and can be replaced by someone younger. I think he realizes that fact and is trying to over-achieve. The team may have missed his potent bat while he was on DL but they did not miss him behind the plate as most people think.

  101. beedogs June 22nd, 2009 at 3:31 am

Leave a comment below

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Forgotten Password
Cancel

Sponsored by:
 

Search

    Advertisement

    Follow

    Mobile

    Read The LoHud Yankees Blog on the go by navigating to the blog on your smartphone or mobile device's browser. No apps or downloads are required.

    LoHud TV

    More Videos

Advertisement

Place an ad

Call (914) 694-3581