Road sweet road
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Jun 19, 2009 
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Those who think the skewed dimensions of the new Yankee Stadium aren’t a factor should ask Andy Pettitte what he thinks. The lefty has a 5.77 ERA at Yankee Stadium in nine starts. In six starts on the road, it’s 2.35. He has allowed nine home runs in the Bronx, two elsewhere.
“I might have given up three or four (home runs) tonight at home,” he said after holding the Marlins to one run over seven innings. “For the most part, that’s it right there. I’ve given up a few more long balls at Yankee Stadium. … I need to figure something out at home.”
The other pitchers, for the most part, feel the same way. While the new Lil’ Stadium helps the hitters, it’s causing havoc among the pitchers. They’re pitching away from contact, giving up more home runs, etc. Over the course of time, it’s detrimental to maintaining mechanics and confidence.
Pettitte helped himself tonight with an RBI double in the second inning. He then scored. Those two runs he helped produce gave him a 5-0 cushion and he cruised from there.
Pettitte has not taking much batting practice because of the lingering soreness in his lower back. But when he got a fastball from Sean West, he belted it down the left-field line.
“You don’t expect to do that. But I got in a situation where I really had a good idea he was throwing a hitter. I was guessing. I tried to slap it the other way and got a base hit,” Pettitte said.
When I covered the Mets, Tom Glavine maintained that a pitcher who fielded his position well, got bunts down and was able to come up with an occasional hit could get himself two or three extra wins a year in the National League. Pettitte, who played for the Astros from 2004-06, was proof of that tonight
“I know how important it is. I’ve had to drive in runs, score runs, bunt a guy over or do a hit-and-run,” he said. “That can become a huge spot in the game. It’s serious business. You can do things to help your team win.”
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Thanks to everybody for reading tonight.
Pettitte disappoints me with his comments and he needs to get over his fear of the homerun and just throw the damn ball.
To be fair, Pettitte was baited by Kim Jones when he talked about his home/away splits.
The guy wasn’t whining or anything like that. She flat out asked him about the huge disparity in his home/away splits and he simply answered the question.
What he said was absolutely true. That ball that Ramirez hit would have been long gone at the Stadium and the ball that Cantu hit would have been in Monument Park.
Pettitte wasn’t whining. He just answered a loaded question by Jones.
LOL, cue the complainers after one of the most cleanly played games of the season.
Agree Cash. I don’t hear CC talking about it.
Pettitte has work to do and there is nothing they can do about the new stadium right now so he needs to keep making adjustments so that he’s more effective at home.
giving up homeruns is one thing but the walks is what has to stopped…its understandable to give up a couple solo shots…but when you walk pple in front of them..
How can elite teams like Boston, Tampa and Toronto choke against the dregs of the NL? That should never happen. They just didn’t want to win, I guess. They just rolled over like dogs. They had no heart….just mailed it in.
Did I forget any clever phrases?
Anyhow, Pettitte pitched an excellent game tonight and really had his curveball working while throwing it for strikes.
“RalphieD (OPPC all day)
June 19th, 2009 at 11:15 pm
giving up homeruns is one thing but the walks is what has to stopped…its understandable to give up a couple solo shots…but when you walk pple in front of them..”
Right, some of the greatest pitchers in ML history are the leaders when it comes to giving up homers, but they were single shots because they didn’t walk many batters.
I’ll say this much, expect a lot of good performances by Yankee starters over the next nine games.
All of these games are being played in big ballparks, so let’s hope they do a better job with their situational hitting.
Glavine, Smoltz and Maddux had one other thing going for them. An extra 6 inches on each side of the plate to play with. That probably gave them more than an extra 2 or 3 wins a year. Can’t believe Ol’ Honest Tom didn’t mention that.
Well CC, AJ and Joba don’t quite have the same dramatic drop off in the home/away splits but then again those guys aren’t as long in the tooth as Andy.
But I thought the Red Sox were 35-0 this season against sub .500 teams?
Yanks better bring their A game tomorrow.
Josh Johnson is the real deal.
amen.. don’t worry abput hr’s especially if they do not walk batters.
no walks tonight for the yankee pitchers..
bruney helps a ton, if he is just decent he is an upgrade…
GreenBeret7 June 19th, 2009 at 11:15 pm
How can elite teams like Boston, Tampa and Toronto choke against the dregs of the NL? That should never happen. They just didn’t want to win, I guess. They just rolled over like dogs. They had no heart….just mailed it in.
Did I forget any clever phrases?
****************
They slept walked through the game. They threw there gloves ont he field and expected to win?
Andy, be quiet. I’m sorry, but he sounds like a whiner…..he’s got a mental block now and he’s got to get over it. He continues to perpetuate the story in the media (not that they aren’t doing a good enough job on their own) when I’ll bet that the majority of HRs hit against him were on lousy pitches.
I hope for good performances by Yankee starters because they’re all good pitchers.
jennifer
June 19th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
GreenBeret7 June 19th, 2009 at 11:15 pm
How can elite teams like Boston, Tampa and Toronto choke against the dregs of the NL? That should never happen. They just didn’t want to win, I guess. They just rolled over like dogs. They had no heart….just mailed it in.
Did I forget any clever phrases?
****************
They slept walked through the game. They threw there gloves ont he field and expected to win?
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I had forgotten the ever popular Rodriguez and Posada need to be DL’d and Cano has no business batting 5th.
No one is more accountable than Andy on this staff when he makes mistakes, he takes winning very seriously. Unlike some other people, I’ve never heard him say, “So what if I gave up three runs, the game was a blowout anyway/it was still a good start.” He’s one of the few Yankees who is relatively candid about his feelings and that’s refreshing in a clubhouse full of PC hat-tippers.
Bronx Jeers June 19th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
Well CC, AJ and Joba don’t quite have the same dramatic drop off in the home/away splits but then again those guys aren’t as long in the tooth as Andy.
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It’s not really about age.
The difference is that Sabathia, Joba, and Burnett are all strikeout pitchers.
Pettitte is not and never was even in his prime. He’s a contact pitcher. He also doesn’t get as many ground balls as he used to.
Therein lies the biggest difference between these guys.
Wouldn’t it be nice if this current stretch of games in big NL parks puts our pitchers in the habit of being aggressive, and makes our hitters stop trying to hit a HR in every AB?
Giuseppe Franco had it right. Pettitte was neither whining nor complaining, just answering a question. And it’s true that at least Hanley Ramirez’ hit would have been a HR in YS. I’m sure that wasn’t a very good pitch he threw. Point is, in a big stadium, it’s a double or an out. Same bad pitch in YS is out a there. And he said he need to work it out.
GreenBeret7
You forgot the ever popular Swisher needs to be benched. He sucks, he doesn’t know how to run the bases. punish him. LOL
Betsy June 19th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
Andy, be quiet. I’m sorry, but he sounds like a whiner…..he’s got a mental block now and he’s got to get over it. He continues to perpetuate the story in the media (not that they aren’t doing a good enough job on their own) when I’ll bet that the majority of HRs hit against him were on lousy pitches.
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You read way too much into players’ comments and you do it all the time. Chill out.
Pettitte wasn’t whining at all. He answered the question by Jones and that was it.
I think Andy needs to concentrate on making better pitches, whether it’s at YS or on the road.
I have to say that I thought Pettitte was going to get rocked today. I didn’t realize his home away splits.
“giving up homeruns is one thing but the walks is what has to stopped…its understandable to give up a couple solo shots…but when you walk pple in front of them..”
It’s not like he was painting corners at home, he left them flat in the middle of the plate at home, I don’t care where you pitch, you leave a pitch down the middle it goes a long way, so this home/road thing isn’t true w/ Andy.
OT: How the hell the Nats win 3 out of 4 vs the AL East ?
Nick Swisher: We asked him how he spent the rain delay. For a long time he worked on the collage in his locker. (Yes, he said we may photograph it and show it to you — but not until it is a finished product.) Then he ate. (The YES booth was a food orgy. Disgusting.) Then he watched some TV. Then he slept — in uniform in case the rain suddenly ceased. It was a long day.
From Kim Jones blog.
I thought Joba also had pretty bad numbers at home. I’m pretty sure his ERA is around 5.00, and both his losses came at Yankee Stadium.
Burnett has also given up a lot more homeruns this year compared to last year.
The problem isn’t so much the homeruns, but the fact that these guys are afraid to be aggressive, which leads to more nibbling and high pitch counts. That’s what needs to change. The Nats pitchers showed that you can still be aggressive in the strike zone without giving up the long ball.
jennifer
June 19th, 2009 at 11:27 pm
GreenBeret7
You forgot the ever popular Swisher needs to be benched. He sucks, he doesn’t know how to run the bases. punish him. LOL
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This is bringing back fond memories of Just trade or get rid of Swisher. Why is Berroa still on this team? The Yankees would be a better team with Ranson and Pena at third instead of Rodriguez.
How I missed those pitch by pitch and nightly updates on how long it’s been since Rodriguez has had a hit. A nightly staple.
Hey, GF – I’m reading the comments and that’s how I’m interpreting them. We all have our opinions. I don’t like any pitcher (and I hated it when AJ did it) barking about the new stadium – deal with it. Why does it matter that he was just responding to a question? People wanted to kill AJ for making his “I don’t know if it’s the catcher” comment……and that was in reaction to a question. What’s the difference?
You guys also forgot the people who wish for GIDPs just so they can say “I told you so”
“It’s not like he was painting corners at home, he left them flat in the middle of the plate at home, I don’t care where you pitch, you leave a pitch down the middle it goes a long way, so this home/road thing isn’t true w/ Andy.”
true to some degree but there is no doubt that yankee stadium is less forgiving than most…andy would of given up atleast 1 more homerun tonight if it was at the stadium..maybe more
Repost:
YankeeRay
June 19th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
Just got home from game. Took my 3 kids and bought tickets at 5:30 at the window and lucked out as 4 tickets became available 14 rows behind home plate for 58 each. Can’t beat that.
My daughter got a BP ball from Joba and if I wasn’t watching Aaaron Boone boot a groundball in game 1 of the 03 series on the big screen I would have caught a Damon BP homer that landed 2 seats away from me lol.
Of all the games for Arod to sit out, my first Yankee game since 03 series and I miss seeing him play as a yankee for the first time.
Oh well, great night for the family.
And the people who wait for the second the line up goes up to complain that they could put together a better one than the manager.
YankeeRay that’s awesome. I am so glad you had a great time with your family.
The amazing Fox shorts channel is now reporting “Girardi’s benching of Rodriguez”.
RS, what do AJ and Andy have in common? They’ve both publicly expressed concerns about the new YS. Interestingly, CC isn’t bothered by it at all – he believes in his stuff. AJ gives up a ton of HRs and walks and he’s not getting his usual amount of ground balls (CB posted an interesting analysis a couple of days ago). I wonder if his velocity is down as well (and not on purpose) because he’s not struck out his usual complement of hitters….or so it seems. I just thought he’d be more overpowering than this……not all the time given how inconsistent he is, but even just occasionally. That really hasn’t been the case. It would be nice if he could pitch well tomorrow.
What a difference a day makes. I can understand why the pitchers hate the stadium, but who would’ve guessed the hitters didn’t like it either?
I wonder if the Marlins were expecting a different team. This surely wasn’t the team they scouted!
amazing Fox shorts channel
That’s right…”shorts channel”. They aren’t even good enough to be a ***sports channel***
Oh yes Jenn- thats a good one too.
I am pretty sure they would find ways to blame the bullpen catcher (and demand he be fired!!!) for losses too if they knew his name
Betsy -
Are you reading the exact quotes or someone else’s interpretation of them, though? ‘Cause I think that would make a difference.
If you heard his voice and if you heard the question, you might find he was just trying to give her an honest thoughtful answer.
I’m sure AJ was trying to do the same thing, but it involved another player, so…
Anyway, Andy did say he needed to work it out, so he probably knows what he should do, but has to execute.
Andy’s never been a whiner. Is one of the most approachable and accountable of the Yankees.
Anyway – good come back win for the Yankees. See, ya gotta play the games on field! Is it AJ tomorrow? Back to back good games? Maybe the Florida heat and humidity agrees with these guys as a change from this gloomy NY/NJ gray dampness.
“true to some degree but there is no doubt that yankee stadium is less forgiving than most…andy would of given up atleast 1 more homerun tonight if it was at the stadium..maybe more”
Besides Petco, CitiField and Safeco that ball wuld have been gone anywhere.
GreenBeret7
Channel 7 said the same thing.
“Joe BENCHES ALEX” You hear an audible gasp from the rest of the anchors. Said what. He said YEAH. The Yankees are saying “fatigue” blah blah blah.
Um Alex said he has been tired, he needed the rest. The Yankees aren’t benching Alex.
It will be interesting to see what the back pages of the paper say.
Oh and I forgot to add it was about 75% Yankee fans as we rocked with all the usual chants. Only thing missing was the role call.
Many great Yankee shirts with Munson, Gehrig, Mantle, Dimaggio, Berra as the oldies and Jeter dominated as expected with about 3-1 to Arod shirts. There were many Mantle shirts.
pettitte answered the question exactly how he feels.
how does antbody know how he feels?
he might be right.
does he know better than us?
“The amazing Fox shorts channel is now reporting “Girardi’s benching of Rodriguez”.”
LOL
Erica – newly OPPC
June 19th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
Oh yes Jenn- thats a good one too.
I am pretty sure they would find ways to blame the bullpen catcher (and demand he be fired!!!) for losses too if they knew his name
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Fire that guy that drives the golf cart. It took him too long to get on and off of the field last night. Gardner could have been dead for all he knew.
Betsy June 19th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
Hey, GF – I’m reading the comments and that’s how I’m interpreting them. We all have our opinions. I don’t like any pitcher (and I hated it when AJ did it) barking about the new stadium – deal with it. Why does it matter that he was just responding to a question? People wanted to kill AJ for making his “I don’t know if it’s the catcher” comment……and that was in reaction to a question. What’s the difference?
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Betsy, you do that all of the time.
You’ve done it with Pettitte, Burnett, A-Rod, and even Teixeira when he was trying to say something nice about the Angels and his time there.
You take a few off the cuff barbs and make it sound a lot worse than they really are.
You had a big problem with Melancon because he had a rough outing or two in Scranton. It happens. That doesn’t mean the guy will be unable to get major league hitters out this season.
Not everything these guys say or do is contrived or has an agenda behind them. This isn’t politics.
All I’m saying is chill out. No reason to panic or rip these guys to shreds because it’s a long season and crap happens.
Regarding all the whining abou the stadium, the opposing team is also playing in the same stadium. The winning team has to give up a run less than the opposing team. Enough of this whining (not specifically directed at Andy).
If Berroa gets another hit tomorrow, on Sunday there will be people complaining that Alex is in the lineup instead because how dare Joe G. not ride the hot hand?!!
According to Yahoo.com – It was a benching.
Saying A-Rod was benched gets a lot more readers than “fatigue”
jennifer
June 19th, 2009 at 11:40 pm
GreenBeret7
Channel 7 said the same thing.
“Joe BENCHES ALEX” You hear an audible gasp from the rest of the anchors. Said what. He said YEAH. The Yankees are saying “fatigue” blah blah blah.
Um Alex said he has been tired, he needed the rest. The Yankees aren’t benching Alex.
It will be interesting to see what the back pages of the paper say.
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I’m trying to figure out which one of the NY beat writers is moonlighting as their headline writer.
GB7-
While we are at it, it has to be the grounds crew too. They mail it in when they do the YMCA
I just checked the numbers on Joba. At home he’s 0-2 with a 5.18 ERA and on the road, he’s 3-0 with a 2.72 ERA.
Burnett has a much better ERA at home, but of course his road stats are inflated by those two horrendous starts at Fenway Park.
CC has a lower ERA on the road, but his stats aren’t bad at home.
Pettitte is the only pitcher that has given up way more homeruns at home than on the road. The homeruns are very even for the rest of the staff.
Never mind that A-Rod himself asked out of the lineup that originally had him in his customary cleanup spot.
Erica – newly OPPC
June 19th, 2009 at 11:45 pm
GB7-
While we are at it, it has to be the grounds crew too. They mail it in when they do the YMCA
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Now, as far as that goes, I have no problem with the ground crew mailing that in. It’s a lot easier to toss the mail in the trash than watching that.
If it’s such a hitters Paradise,would somebody please,tell my home team.
Andy, AJ, Joba, have all made comments about the ballpark, as have the relievers… including Mariano.
When Mariano and Pettitte speak… everyone shuts up and listens. They have more currency than AJ Burnett.
absolutely insane that some sites are turning needing rest into a benching.
GF, I don’t have a problem with Melancon, but I’m also not ready to put him in the HOF. I’m not ready to give him the 8th inning slot like so many are and I’m not ready to think he’s going to be a big help for us this year. How is that unfair? Because I want him to prove himself? He’s not pitching well in AAA right now and I don’t think he deserves to come up until he does. That’s not what I call having a problem with someone.
Just so you know, I’m not upset with you and I didn’t think you were scolding me – we just have different opinions. Which comment of AJ’s are you referring to? The one during the Phillies series when he said the stadium was in his head? I think that’s ridiculous.
people don’t worry what the media says on arod. they like to stir interest.
arod will be back sunday, hopefully he will get things going….
yanks 2 games out, bullpen looking much better then 30 days ago…that is good news. maybe nady back in a week and ransom can replace berroa soon!!!!!!!!!Ransom has a week or more on his 60 day DL, another panic move by management like calling wang back when Joba got hit by the liner…..
It’s not really about age.
The difference is that Sabathia, Joba, and Burnett are all strikeout pitchers.
Pettitte is not and never was even in his prime. He’s a contact pitcher. He also doesn’t get as many ground balls as he used to.
Therein lies the biggest difference between these guys.
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All true but what I’m trying to say is that his age accounts for his diminishing skills. He tops out at around 89-90 where in his prime he was probably 4 MPH faster. He used to be all cutter, tonight he didn’t have it. The other guys still have their skill set.
So at home these deficiencies get amplified. He’s forced to nibble more – give up more walks. Then he’s forced to throw it over the plate. Tonight he could attack the more and got a couple of long outs that would have possibly been homers at home.
Does this make any sense to these morons. why would the yankees bench a player for 2 days?
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/s.....r-two-days
I believe Mark Feinsand’s blog also calls Alex’ removal from the lineup a “benching”. Too bad – he was one of the few decent sportswriters out there.
here’s my question – I know that the team can’t make any changes to the stadium during this season, but realistically are they going to be able to fix some of these issues? maybe moving the right field wall back a few rows?! Just wondering how realistic it is that they might fix this.
Pettitte’s also the only one that can’t go to a strikeout pitch very often. What he really hasn’t had, and the same for Rivera, is that hard, biting cutter, this year. That’s what’s hurt them both. That has nothing to do with the park.
Because AJ’s comments about the catcher was just dumb and unprovoked. When they asked him “what the difference was today”, the last thing he should have thought of to answer is something regarding the catcher.
Andy’s comments were honest and provoked
Big difference
GB7-
You are wrong. When I raise my arms in the shape of a “Y” I want to see SPIRIT
Burnett vs. Lowe next Thursday in ATL
Should be fun.
From Jon Heyman’s twitter -
some yankee higherups think team “went thru motions” in losing series to nationals
about 3 hours ago from mobile web
Gee Heyman, ya think?
“Regarding all the whining abou the stadium, the opposing team is also playing in the same stadium. The winning team has to give up a run less than the opposing team. Enough of this whining (not specifically directed at Andy).”
stupid comments like this continue to miss the point. our pitchers play half their games at the new bandbox in the Bronx – thus it’s going to affect them, their performance, mechanics, and mentality a lot more than some guy who plays their a once or a few times a year. the continuous short outings from Yankee starters at this launching pad puts an extra wear on the pen which takes a cumulative toll.
With Rodriguez benched for the first time this season with what he and the team called “fatigue,” the Yankees regrouped after two losses at home to the woeful Washington Nationals. Derek Jeter(notes) had two hits after being out of the starting lineup the last two games with a sore left ankle, and Melky Cabrera(notes) homered for New York.
If the team is calling it fatigue, why do the writers decide it is a benching!
Wow, it’s hard to find this much manure in a single column but this chick pulls it off very well.
http://www.miamiherald.com/spo.....05988.html
One of the conspiracy theories behind A-Rod missing these two games is that Girardi is still mad at the Marlins and hopes to screw them over on ticket sales by keeping him out of the lineup.
Oh yeah, that makes sense. Girardi cares more about screwing the Marlins’ ticket sales than doing what he thinks is best for A-Rod and his team and winning games this weekend.
Nothing can be done inseason to change the field dimensions, including walls. They could try closing off the open panels behind the seating sections. Another possibility will be answered when the shell of the old stadium comes down. Nobody has any idea what, if any, effect that will have.
Well if that’s the case, Steve, I wonder why we should even root for them? All I ask is that a team give it’s best effort – the fact that they may have just mailed it in speaks volumes (if it’s indeed true) about their character. Ugh…….
Shoot, the blog is going to blow up next Thursday. If AJ pitches badly and Lowe pitches well, oh boy – we’re going to hear a lot of recriminations towards the Yankees for signing the wrong pitcher.
From Jon Heyman’s twitter –
some yankee higherups think team “went thru motions” in losing series to nationals
about 3 hours ago from mobile web
Gee Heyman, ya think?
******
Are they blog readers?
Andy has lost little velocity off his fastball in the last five years, but the velocity of his cutter has gone down noticeably, per fangraphs.
http://www.fangraphs.com/stats.....#pitchtype
Since he’s trying to get by without the hard cutter now, maybe he’s going to the changeup more. They talked about his getting a strikeout on a change on the YES broadcast tonight.
And some of the long fly balls tonight likely would have been HRs at the stadium, that’s simply stating a fact based on approximation of distance.
Oddly, everybody is listening to pitchers complaining about the Park, but, nobody is listening to the pitchers who haven’t even pitched here that are saying the baseballs are harder and slicker and the seams are lower.
If that is Andy’s attitude than Girardi should only pitch him on the road. Use Hughes to replace him at home.
Okay- I am really going to bed now.
Good night all. Happy Yankee dreams
Scor
June 19th, 2009 at 11:51 pm
Because AJ’s comments about the catcher was just dumb and unprovoked. When they asked him “what the difference was today”, the last thing he should have thought of to answer is something regarding the catcher.
Andy’s comments were honest and provoked
Big difference
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There is no difference Kim Jones asked AJ why his ERA with Posada was more than doubled his ERA with the other catchers. I guess Burnett was provoked too.
Giuseppe Franco
I am trying to register to comment. I can’t let a stupid article like that go without saying something.
So now GI Joe benching Al because he’s trying to stick it to the Marlin’s attendance
OH LORD 
I wonder how long till my comment disappears.
Brandon the author is a moron. The tickets are already sold. And why would he risk his team losing games to stick it to someone?
Betsy June 19th, 2009 at 11:58 pm
Well if that’s the case, Steve, I wonder why we should even root for them? All I ask is that a team give it’s best effort – the fact that they may have just mailed it in speaks volumes (if it’s indeed true) about their character. Ugh…….
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This is a prime example what I’m talking about. I’d say this team’s 22 comeback wins say a lot more about their character than a series against the Nationals when they just didn’t play good baseball.
It’s a 162 game season. It’s a long 8 month daily grind that tests everyone’s physical and mental game every single day.
We can’t possibly know what that’s like for us to judge that a bad couple of nights is a bad mark against their character or a sign that they aren’t trying.
That’s what you did with Melancon as well. A bad couple of outings was a mark against his character because he was blowing away hitters early in the year and had a setback. Hey, it happens to everyone.
And Melancon’s makeup is off the charts according to everyone who knows him.
It’s not easy to do what these guys do. That’s why they get paid millions of dollars to do it.
I know nothing can be done about the walls until the season’s over. Maybe warmer weather might help. It’s been unusually colder this Spring – quite nice actually.
But changing those walls doesn’t look like an easy fix. I’m no contractor but it would seem to be a costly and time-consuming job. Probably 10′s of millions of dollars and the loss of a couple of 100 of seats that sell for 100$ a pop.
Nevermind the 10 egg omelet on the face of Trost/Levine and the fact that the city is done backing up the Brinks truck to River ave.
How about some giant fans pointed towards home plate?
Or they could clone Wang. Not the new Wang but the one from early last season.
Wait Pete…
So it’s all those HR’s hit in the new Stadium that led to the Yanks losing 2 of 3 to the Nats?
That Cervelli….uh Cash…uh Molina called a great game tonite didn’t he?
jennifer June 20th, 2009 at 12:05 am
Giuseppe Franco
I am trying to register to comment. I can’t let a stupid article like that go without saying something.
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That’s one of the stupidest conspiracy theories I’ve heard this year.
It’s right up there with Carton on WFAN suggesting that Joba was taken out of the Orioles game in the 1st inning – not because he was hit by a line drive – but because Joba was mentally shot over the manufactured story about Aubrey Huff’s fist pumps and the anticipated rematch that night.
Of course that’s what happened!
Girardi LOVES taking his starters out of scoreless games in the 1st inning so they can get a mental break and the pen has to burn 8.1 IP the rest of the night.
It was all by design and Carton figured out Girardi’s master plan! Genius!
Clearly, Alex was benched becaue Angel somehow found another thing to blackmail Joe about.
Pete, you ever think about shutting this blog down? Because there are just some stupid people posting. This use to be a Great blog…
sar515 June 20th, 2009 at 12:19 am
That Cervelli….uh Cash…uh Molina called a great game tonite didn’t he?
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Good point. Posada doesn’t know how to call a game!!!!!!!
A medical opinion on the Alex’s “time out”.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06.....notes.html
I wasn’t paying attention to the game thread but did anyone else see pete’s twitter about arod and steroids? Gee pete I think maybe arod was fatigued because he hasn’t had a day off since coming back from a major injury. Something he’s never experienced before in his career. Also the hip isn’t completely fixed he still needs surgery after the season is over. He won’t be 100% for the rest of the year I think a day off every now and then is warranted and has nothing to do with steroids and hgh.
if anyone saw Pettite’s comments on t.v., he wasn’t whining, just got reeled in and was honest, he’s a battler, worry about that headcase AJ being more consistent, not Pettitte
Pete, you ever think about shutting this blog down? Because there are just some stupid people posting. This use to be a Great blog…
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And you’re so smart that you actually proved your own point.
Not bad!
OT but DeAngelo Mack made his SI debut tonight (that’s all)
Michael Dunn in 2 IP 5 K’s 1 BB K/9 of 12.41 (AAA HIM)
Eduardo Nunez continues to mash in AA and Kevin Russo continues to hit in AAA at a disgusting clip of .355 he can’t slug but hit he hits.
Correction to my last post, A-rod might not need another surgery. My point still stands though, even his doc agrees. Being fatigued isn’t that shocking considering he came off pretty major surgery. Not everything centers on steroids as Pete alluded to.
For the record, I didn’t understand what the problem was with AJ’s comments either. How dare he try to answer a reporter’s question?!!
Funny quote from Pettitte in the Yankees beat mlb.com story:
“I wasn’t feeling real happy about it after I got on the bases and was running around out there,” Pettitte said. “It was extremely hot. I mean it was hot. The next time I came up, I told the guys I wasn’t even going to swing. I was going to try to rest, because if I happened to get another hit, I don’t know if I would have been able to pitch another inning.”
Can someone copy & paste Peet’s tweet about A-rod/steroids? Thnx.
The Yankees won so I’ve decided to be amused by this.
“It’s a great lineup,” West said. “The best money can buy.”
So many conspiracy theories coming out of Miami.
Here’s another:
Maybe he didn’t want to suck in front of 100 people he invited to the game.
It’s been obvious that he’s had nothing in the tank for a while. I said it early yesterday that if they ended up playing in the slop that it would be silly to have him in the lineup.
m
“Is “fatigue” code for “no longer on steroids and/or HGH?” Only eight more years of this.”
about 7 hours ago from web
“Can someone copy & paste Peet’s tweet about A-rod/steroids? Thnx.”
Sure,
*PeteAbe – Is “fatigue” code for “no longer on steroids and/or HGH?” Only eight more years of this.*
pat
June 20th, 2009 at 12:43 am
The Yankees won so I’ve decided to be amused by this.
“It’s a great lineup,” West said. “The best money can buy.”
Perhaps if West had been able to get out the million dollar Cabrera, the 400,000 dollar Berroa and the explovive bat of the 5 mil pitcher, Pettitte, he would have had a better chance at winning.
The Yankees won so I’ve decided to be amused by this.
“It’s a great lineup,” West said. “The best money can buy.”
—————————————————————
I guess in a perfect world one of us would have been there to counter “So who gave you more trouble tonight? Pettitte or Berroa? “
“pat
June 20th, 2009 at 12:51 am
m
“Is “fatigue” code for “no longer on steroids and/or HGH?” Only eight more years of this.”
about 7 hours ago from web
”
sigh……I don’t know if Texas was really the last time he used but he did have a major surgery and was rushed back b/c Giradi and Cash were desperate that the team was slipping away in the standings and w/ the new ballpark they needed more star appeal ASAP ……let’s have this conversation in September to see if AROD silenced the conspiracy theorists
I figured that since Rodriguez no longer colored the tips of his hair, didn’t use tanning booths are stopped hanging around Central Park without his shirt on when his family is present, PA might like him. Those are certainly reasons to not like a player or consider them as phonies. The NY media and clowns like Roberts have made plenty of money trashing him for ratings.
talk about a poor choice of words(think Miami Vice) ha:
Rodriguez, who missed the first 28 games of the season while recovering from hip surgery, is mired in a 13-of-74 slump and is batting just .212 with nine homers and 26 RBI.
“We just feel that he’s fatigued and that he could use a little blow,” Girardi said
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sp.....1923.story
tampayank
June 20th, 2009 at 1:02 am
talk about a poor choice of words(think Miami Vice) ha:
Rodriguez, who missed the first 28 games of the season while recovering from hip surgery, is mired in a 13-of-74 slump and is batting just .212 with nine homers and 26 RBI.
“We just feel that he’s fatigued and that he could use a little blow,’’ Girardi said
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sp.....1923.story
————————————————————
Nobody was very concerned about Teixeira when he had worse numbers than that in the same number of at bats. He was “just off to a slow start, which is normal for him”.
A Twitter scandal
Yankee partisans cry foul
Arod takes a rest
I do think think it is suspicious that A-Rod has been talking for weeks about his homecoming to Miami… and all the SO FLA papers were talking about excited the city was to welcome him back…. and he chooses to rest these next 2 days?
Why not in Atlanta? Why didn’t he ask Joe to rest him vs. Washington?
He wanted to rest during his homecoming? I don’t think it is some conspiracy by Girardi, but a curious decision by A-Rod.
Nice haiku nick
Thanks, guys.
Pete, serial? That was pretty weak. Couldn’t fatigue be non-stop play after a whirlwind paced rehab? Couldn’t it be mental fatigue from struggling at the plate?
His mind and body could simply need some rest. Too bad they didn’t do it before the trip to Miami, but I’m sure you can insert a joke about how no one would notice.
(that’s a winky emoticon for your serious browser).
Well it does look kind of suspicious when the guy is penciled in the original lineup, when A-Rod allegedly told him he wanted a day off today, then the GM sits down with the both of them
Either a lack of communication or something. If Girardi deprived him of a chance to play in front of his friends and family, then it is not going to sit well in the clubhouse.
If Andy wants to complain about the ballpark (if you even call being provoked by Kim, “complaining”), he has every right
He is a true Yankee who has won over 200 games and has 4 rings. Mariano has talked about how you can’t allow flyballs either.
It’s not like these comments are coming from only nobodies like Burnett and Phil Coke, they are coming from the old guard as well. That should give it some credence.
This blog represents the extent of my technology based “social networking”. Actually it’s probably as social as I get with OR without computers.
I don’t get Twitter. I think random personal thoughts should remain in one’s head.
I’m sure Pete would say that his Twit (or whatever you call it) is an honest question that many people outside of the Yankee fan base wonder about. Sure, I’ll give him that.
And I really like Pete. I think he’s funny as hell. And insightful. And passionate about covering this team we all follow. I wish he was a columnist for one of the big papers here in the city. I’d read him every day.
But I think it’s sad that journalists now have to expand their influence into these kind of petty mediums like Twitter. To me they seem like just another rung on the ladder down to the bottom.
“Steve
June 20th, 2009 at 1:13 am
I do think think it is suspicious that A-Rod has been talking for weeks about his homecoming to Miami… and all the SO FLA papers were talking about excited the city was to welcome him back…. and he chooses to rest these next 2 days?
Why not in Atlanta? Why didn’t he ask Joe to rest him vs. Washington?
He wanted to rest during his homecoming? I don’t think it is some conspiracy by Girardi, but a curious decision by A-Rod.
”
yeah sounded weird to me also, sort of similar to AROD really excited to play for the Dominican in the WBC then realizing he needs hip surgery which should have been detected earlier…let’s just say it’s been a rough year for AROD, don’t even what to know that goes through his head..hopefully he gets going soon for his sake
Personally, I thought Pete’s comment was hilarious.
C’mon… hasn’t the thought “He needs to go back on the juice” entered your thoughts as well?
Yeah, it’s really suspicious that a major league ball player could time exhaustion better. What a dog.
That is just what we call “A-Rod being A-Rod”.
He talked forever about how he couldn’t wait to play in Miami and how he had 100s of friends and family and how the reception would be the best he has ever recieved and the City of Miami was excited as well….. and what does he do? He decides he is too fatigued to play in a series that he and his hometown followers have anticipated for months.
Isn’t that just typical A-Rod? He couldn’t tough it out for 2 more days and take the entire ATL series off or something?
The players must love all the night games, even Sunday’s game starts at 5 PM… lots of time on South Beach, plus an off-day on Monday.
***couldn’t*** time exhaustion
I’m sure if Rodriguez went out and played all 3 games and got hurt people would be calling him selfish.
“Distd
June 20th, 2009 at 1:28 am
The players must love all the night games, even Sunday’s game starts at 5 PM… lots of time on South Beach, plus an off-day on Monday.
”
yeah I thought about that, maybe Pete is partying also since he hasn’t had a ‘wrap it up’ post ha, I was going to go down there for 2 of the games but it fell through, would have been a fun weekend…hopefully the players stay hydrated though b/c the jump in temperature in humidity will have it’s affect especially on older players like Damon
All-Star
June 20th, 2009 at 1:26 am
That is just what we call “A-Rod being A-Rod”.
————————————————————
Who is “we”? Trolls and idiots?
What kind of name is “LandShark Stadium”?
It’s named after a beer.
Honestly, nobody wonders whether he is off whatever he was on? There are many undetectable PEDs out there. You have to be pretty naive not to consider the idea.
Is it being naive or is not having an agenda?
“Isn’t that just typical A-Rod? He couldn’t tough it out for 2 more days and take the entire ATL series off or something?”
—————————————————————
OK first off if it was a “benching”, that’s messed up. The guy rushes back from injury and plays everyday and you decide to bench him when he finally gets to play in front of his hometown?
But let’s assume it was voluntary.
The team was playing like crap. He was like the crap leader. I’ll give him credit for sitting it out at the most inopportune point in the season for him. It’s remarkably unselfish.
Pete – I do think it is hard to believe he is off it. If he took it once, why wouldn’t he continue taking it? He could easily find an undetectable substance.
One thing we do know… his body is not going to age well at all from the steroid use. We could be looking at Giambi 2.0 for the next 9 years, at $30 million per.
idiots is “we” GB
To think Alex would make something up like this would take one huge idiot, I mean he called his mom prior to the game, this is on the Yankees they didn’t use the DH spot well enough and Al off surgery is not 100 % so they didn’t even monitor it correctly. To think Alex would buy 100 or more tickets for a 3 game series homecoming and not want to play in it b/c he wants to be in the spotlight would take one huge idiot, infact I’m betting GI Joe had to threaten him just to get him to sit these 2 games, hell he prbly wanted him to sit the whole series but agreed to let him play a few innings in the last game of this series.
Well if he is still taking them now, I suggest he find a new chemist.
But I don’t think you can ever assume he is off it either.
He seemed to be laughing and joking with the players on the bench an awful lot to be too upset over a “benching”.
Honestly, nobody wonders whether he is off whatever he was on? There are many undetectable PEDs out there. You have to be pretty naive not to consider the idea.
————-
No, steroids didn’t cross my mind at all.
It doesn’t cross my mind when Andy Pettitte has a rough outing either.
But you personally don’t like A-Rod so you use this forum to take a lot of cheap shots at his expense.
Everybody knows your game and yet you get defensive when people call you out on it.
I know he was laughing but GB he couldn’t have been happy missing these games. I think he may have been pissed off earlier and cooled off by game time. I know I wouldn’t be happy not playing infront of my family and friends.
The facts just don’t add up though
ARod was anticipating this series for months
ARod asks Girardi to give him a day off after yesterday’s game.
Girardi puts him in the lineup today
Cashman meets with him immediately and they then decide to sit him for 2 days. So he goes from starting today to sitting for 2 days?
So ARod asked for a day off during his homecoming?
And Girardi didn’t listen to him and put him in the lineup anyway?
Somebody isin’t telling the truth.
Why are people attacking Andy? He was asked a question, and he answered it. Theres nothing wrong with that. I didn’t feel like he was complaining at all. He was being honest. Andy is one of the most respectable guys.
Twitter is a hoot
communication frontier
it’s loosey-goosey
So if A-Rod really benefits from these games off and starts raking next week then the next Pete Abe conspiracy theory is that A-Rod must be back on the juice?
Does that sound about right?
Brandon 5 Cena ZEEEEEEROOOO “Because I’m AWESOME !”
June 20th, 2009 at 1:49 am
I know he was laughing but GB he couldn’t have been happy missing these games. I think he may have been pissed off earlier and cooled off by game time. I know I wouldn’t be happy not playing infront of my family and friends.
————————————————————
I’m sure that he knew that if he was exhausted/worn down that he also wasn’t crazy about going out there and not playing well in front of his family.
What it is, is the same normal crap. Writers have nothing interesting to write, so it’s time to invent something.
Joe put him in the original lineup.
This two-day “rest” only came after Cashman met with A-Rod and Joe.
So something changed obviously.
Pete,
It crosses my mind all the time, but I think he’s just worn out from coming back so soon. Even if he were given a day off per week, he’d still fatigue. Unless he’s back to his “epic” workouts.
I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt this time because he deserves it.
I’m just surprised that you 1)connected those dots 2)broadcast it when there’s not a shred of proof. The rules of journalism being tested by technology?
Some people will say he’s off the Roids, some will say it’s because of the surgery, but nobody knows anything. However to keep saying lets have patience with Tex and Wang and Joba and every other player that makes the Lohud Blog thumbs up list and then throw roids out there after 150 PAs is just stirring up controversy.
I’m already expecting the low blows once Rodriguez gets out of his slump.
“Guess he used those days off to go see his cousin”
yada yada yada
Pete
It’s possible he’s successfully used an undetectable PED. The question is why stop now if it’s undetectable or if he’s currently using it, why isn’t it working?
A-Rod went into Girardi’s office yesterday and asked for a day off according to Pete, so he couldn’t be too upset about the “benching”.
For the record, the Yanks are 11-6 on the season against starting pitchers they’ve never seen before.
And three of those losses were this past week when the offense was scuffling to score against everybody not named Santana.
Talk about an overblown story.
Rodriguez, who is mired in a June swoon with a .145 batting average and only two home runs this month, and manager Joe Girardi said the decision was mutual. But there were rumors that the two spoke sharply to each other behind closed clubhouse doors a few hours before game time.
In fact, there were all sorts of rumors and conspiracy theories floating around LandShark Stadium. It seemed inexplicable that Rodriguez would miss the homecoming opportunity he said he has been anticipating for ”five to seven years,” especially when he planned to have about 100 friends and relatives in the stands, including his mother, daughter and coaches from the Boys’ Club and Westminster Christian High School.
http://www.miamiherald.com/spo.....05988.html
AZ Dan
June 20th, 2009 at 1:54 am
Joe put him in the original lineup.
This two-day “rest” only came after Cashman met with A-Rod and Joe.
So something changed obviously.
————————————————————
and? What’s your point? He puts every regular’s name in the starting lineup every day. Some things are changed at the last. A long flight after a 5 hour delay and a night game. He crammed a 8-10 week rehab and spring training into six weeks. That’s a lot of work and little to no recuperation time. My guess is that not a damned person on this board could do one day of that, let alone, do it every day. It’s for certain that no writer could do it. One look will tell you that. An exhausted Rodriguez doesn’t sell. A benched Rodriguez sells. The PED BS is just that. Writers can’t whine about the Stadium for two weeks, so, what else sells…”Is Rodriguez Using Again”?
The biggest BS remark made on here is that Rodriguez can afford any new, undetectable PED there is because of his money. Tell me just how many ballplayers can’t afford them. Hell, they get more in meal money and expense money every day on the road than a lot of people make in two days.
So someone’s not telling the truth?
Either Alex needs rest or he doesn’t. And it was of enough concern that it had to happen in Alex’s hometown.
My question is why two days?
From A-Rod’s standpoint… his legacy is already tarnished. He is going to be considered a cheater regardless of what he does from here on out.
What incentive is there for him to stop using them? He gets caught again, who cares? It’s not like he can make anymore enemies or damage his reputation more than it has been.
From his standpoint, continuing to take roids has 0 downside. Especially undetectable ones that a rich guy like him can find in a minute.
Oh this joint is jumpin.
I’d love to see Pete duke it out in some sort of A-Rod cage match of death.
And Nick doing play by play with the haikus?
Classic late-night Lo-Hud.
I do see Pete’s point though. A-Rod did make his own bed.
On the other hand he does have a valid excuse for playing poorly. The clock is ticking though.
I’m all wishy-washy. It’s too late for strong opinion.
Yeh Dave, I’m not buy he walks into GI Joe’s office saying “I need a day off” not w/ all that. I’m betting it was the other way around, there was a big arguement behind closed doors in the end Cashman had the upper hand and GI Joe made him think the season being more important and how this season is more about the team, Al, agreed and it was the end after that. It was handled, he is fatigued and he needs rest.
Kudos to the Yankees if that’s how it happened b/c Al can be hard headed and to pull him off the field is not easy.
Loner,
He’s already got his big contract. If he gets busted, he loses some of said money.
I don’t think he stopped using in ’04. But he might be scared straight now.
The only thing this guy cares about his what he looks like. And he sure looked the fool in the spring. I don’t think he’s using now.
m
June 20th, 2009 at 2:08 am
So someone’s not telling the truth?
Either Alex needs rest or he doesn’t. And it was of enough concern that it had to happen in Alex’s hometown.
My question is why two days?
————————————————————
One regular off day hasn’t helped. two days might. Here’s the difference, though. He was shut down completely, today. No warmups, stretching, batting or fielding practice, none of his daily rehab exercises. Complete shutdown. That came from Girardi. Tomorrow may be the same or he might do portions of it.
What’s annoying is people passing off opinions as facts.
There is also a day off monday so Alex gets three days off in a span of 4 days, that is a pretty good rest.
Brandon,
Why would Pete make up that part about A-Rod asking Joe for a day off yesterday?
And if Girardi wanted to rest him, why was he in the original lineup before Cashman stepped in?
I understand Cashman isin’t the most sympathetic person in the world these days, but you have to figure that if A-Rod wanted to play in this series, he would let him. Especially with an off-day on Monday.
Again… someone’s story doesn’t add up.
Well, if “Al” is sitting against his wishes because he wants to play in front of his fans, then he sure is putting on a brave front. Kudos to him for playing along.
But it’s the least he could do. Because even though they rode him like a rented mule since he’s been back, Joe G’s been very supportive of Alex since the stuff hit the fan.
Who saids what they told Pete is the truth Mark D ?
He gets caught again, who cares? It’s not like he can make anymore enemies or damage his reputation more than it has been.
—————-
A-Rod gets suspended for 50 games and loses a ton of dough if he gets caught.
Yeah, we know he won’t starve losing that much money.
But I don’t think he wants to flush millions of dollars down the toilet for the hell of it and miss another 50 games and flushing the entire Yankee season down the toilet.
Green Beret,
Thanks for that. The info you just gave disproves any theory of this being a benching. If you’re struggling you got to get your work in.
AGGGGGHHHH!!!
Don’t talk about Alex and flushing $$$ down the toilet!!!!
(that’s for you, pat!)
If you heard the audio/quotes from A-Rod… he said that rain delay yesterday is what wore him out. He seemed very calm.
The question is why Girardi put him in the original lineup if that were the case? Especially since Girardi later admitted the fatigue is why he was given the 2 days.
Girardi had him in the lineup today so obviously the 2-days rest wasn’t planned and it didn’t worsen between 3:30 and 4 PM. The real head scratcher is A-Rod asking for a day off apparently, and Joe putting him in the lineup anyway. Then Cashman came out of nowhere.
Very poorly handled/planned.
m
June 20th, 2009 at 2:20 am
Green Beret,
Thanks for that. The info you just gave disproves any theory of this being a benching. If you’re struggling you got to get your work in.
————————————————————
I don’t know who started the ball rolling on him sitting. It may have been his doctors, Cashman, Girardi, Rodriguez…it could have been a writer in need of a story and convinced Girardi that his (writer) family was starving and he needed a big story to feed the kiddies.
So A-rod asks for a day off.
Girardi said, “No, I want you to play in your hometown”
Alex calls Cash.
Cash intervenes?
This A-Rod thing is totally not a big deal, but it is very suspicious because it makes either Girardi, A-Rod, or Cashman look bad.
Girardi if he did not listen to A-Rod when he asked for a day off.
A-Rod if he wanted to take a day off during the most anticipated series of his life.
Cashman if he forced this benching on Girardi and/or A-Rod
Steroids work wonders
A-Rod hurt or not doping?
Only time will tell
A.J. vs J.J.
Hope Posada gets the nod
The truth is out there
Goodnight all.
Arod is a goof
hard to dissect his choices
goodnight LoHudders
I seriously doubt that Rodriguez called Cashman. I don’t think he’s going to run to “mommy because daddy said he had to”. Sounds like Cashman was in Miami. It’s a 45 minute flight from Tampa. It’s really no different than Girardi writing Jeter or another regular in every day and then scratching him late.
Pettite’s comments are total BS. I have watched his poor starts at home recently and most of this start this evening. At home his location and command have been horrible, most of the homeruns that he is basically calling cheap, even if they possibly wouldn’t be homeruns in other fields they’d be doubles. Tonight, his location was much better and where were those deep fly balls that would have been homers at Yankee Stadium? I didn’t catch the whole game but he had 7 K’s and gave up 3 hits. Bottom line, he is pitching scared at home, getting in bad counts and then grooving pitches which are getting crushed. All you can do on ANY field is just pitch like you know how to and hope for the best results. He has to trust his stuff no matter what freakin field he is playing on. Give me a break…
$29.99 for Micheal’s silver dog collar.
$92 for a new dog bed for “him” to sleep in.
Micheal sleeping on my face towel next to the $92 empty bed.
Priceless.
yeah PETER arod is going to risk any reputation he has left and about $9 mill or more because he cannot play without PED”S.
give it a rest.. the only people who constantly talk about PED’s are the media know it all’s and the HOF voters who know less then me…
Yea Arod is nothing without roids……………..Bull………………………
Tonight, his location was much better and where were those deep fly balls that would have been homers at Yankee Stadium?
—————
The rocket double off the wall by Ramirez would have been long gone at the Stadium. Ditto with the long fly ball to CF hit by Cantu.
Pettitte is right on both accounts.
Anyone who doesn’t believe that NYS plays small is either not watching or thinking too much about tight balls.
Sounds like Brandon Webb might be shut down for the year. More soreness in the shoulder after throwing yesterday. Gotta hate it when players go down with injuries, and especially serious ones like this….regardless of the quality of the player.
That park took two homers away from the yanks, too. On Jeter and Teixeira’s foul drive down the left field line would have been fair, given the shorter line.
Yeah, isn’t Land Shark Stadium as big as a FOOTBALL field?
m
June 20th, 2009 at 2:51 am
Anyone who doesn’t believe that NYS plays small is either not watching or thinking too much about tight balls.
————————————————————
The Stadium has little to do with the way balls are flying in other parks.
It doesn’t explain Bartlett, Mauer and Zobrist. and, that’s just three of many that have more than 5 years and have already set career highs in homers. It’s also the high doubles totals of these players and others.
Ha! I knew you’d bite, GB7. That joke was just for you.
But the NYS is playing small.
m
Everytime the $21 million gets you down, the mantra is “Igawa, Pavano, Igawa, Pavano……” not to mention how much it’s going to cost to turn the bandbox into something Andy is comfortable pitching in.
Alex asked for the day off. Girardi was already planning on giving him Saturday off. So he gets 2 days off. He’s going to play Sunday so his Mom and daughters can cheer him, Marlins fans can boo him and everyone is happy. I figured all that out without the assistance of Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys.
Bigger concern to me is K. Long saying he is “reaching” for pitches. Not sure how 2 days off cures that. Seems like cage work would be necessary more than rest.
I’m finally off to bed. Just spent the last 4 hours making massive quantities of baked ziti and 4 dozen cupcakes. 35 kids coming tomorrow for a pool party/ BBQ. Say a prayer for me that it doesn’t rain.
m
June 20th, 2009 at 3:03 am
Ha! I knew you’d bite, GB7. That joke was just for you.
But the NYS is playing small.
————————————————————
I didn’t say it wasn’t “playing smaller”. It’s just not playing 20% smaller.
I’m surprised by Pete’s stance on this one. Smaller, sure. Tougher on the ERA, sure. But c’mon…if it’s SO hard to pitch there and messes with these veterans’ minds, maybe we should pay the rookie pitchers from the Nationals and Mets to come over and counsel our pitchers on how they were able to overcome such an apparently huge mental obstacle like pitching in teeny-weeny park.
Or…how about this…just throw good pitches for strikes. Nobody is going to get upset if a guy hits a well-thrown pitch out of the park. Is the better alternative to walk 2 guys, get in a 3-1 count, and give up a 3 run HR once you finally HAVE to throw a strike and they’re sitting on it?
If we can’t fault pitchers for not wanting to throw strikes, quick…call Edwar Ramirez, Abaladejo, and Veras…we have jobs for them again…and a excuse people seem to be ok with…”It’s the stadium…it’s SOOOO scary!”
Ortiz- 207
A Rod- 212
???
Nothing can be done about the Stadium dimensions until after the season is over, so right now splits are almost pointless.
After the season is over, the Old Stadium will be down (Possibly a cause), and they can move the fences back a few feet.
They should also make the moat look like part of the Stadium, instead of a fenced in playpen for wealthy ticketholders.
“The Yankees do not have a traditional advance scout, relying heavily on video tailored specifically for Kevin Long, the hitting coach. Long studies the video and consults with Yankees scouts who have seen the pitchers in person, passing on tips to the players.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06.....ref=sports
No advance scouting?? Is this normal for an MLB team? seems atypical.
Arod. When Arod came back all we heard about was how he makes the Yankees better. That the teams record improved while he was back. I think it was pure coincidence that the team starting playing better when Arod returned. Arod always has great numbers but with him in the 4 spot the last 10 or so games and having unproductive ab`s especially with runners in scoring position has contributed to the team not playing well. The main culprit the last 10 games has been the offense. Swisher batting 2nd was a problem too. As long as Girardi writes Arod in the 4th spot when he is struggling it will impact the team. When he is going bad he should move down, just like the sox did to Papi. The object is to win games, not worry about egos. Swisher? Should put as much work into his hitting fielding and running that he puts into entertaining. If it wasnt for his walks he`d be a real negative in the lineup.
Reading through this, really have to laugh at the characterization of Andy Pettitte as “whiny.”
I find that word derogatory to a fault, and objectionable to begin with, and it’s mightily abused on this site.
But here, it has zero context.
Andy is NOT “whiny.” Andy has never been “whiny.” There’s just no way to sell a “whiny” Andy to anyone who has followed his career.
Andy is thoughtful in his responses, and honest. He is not looking for martyrdom or sympathy – for crying out loud, here’s a guy who went on record as saying he was “sick to my stomach” years after losing Game 6 of 2003 World Series – one of the reasons he wanted to come back.
Really – work on your lexicon and choose your words more thoughtfully.
Andy is just telling it like he sees it – if you don’t like what you’re hearing, that’s another matter.
bodhisattva,
I absolutely agree with your take on Andy, as well as the absurd posts regarding Andy being “whiny.” Obviously, those people know nothing about Andy.
Right, Wang. He’s the diametric opposite of “whiny.”
More like “warrior.”
Arod sucks.
Swisher sucks too.
Alex has been “flying open” with his front hip and that can be a sign that a player is tired and feels he can’t get around on a pitch normally. A day or two off might very well help in that regard…. not as much as a commitment to hit outside pitches the other way, but it could help.
Comparing Alex and Ortiz is just stupid. Alex went through major surgery and probably should have taken another month before coming back. Despite that he has nine HR in 165 plate appearances (1 per 18.3) compared with Ortiz’ five HR in 260 (1 per 52).
Who the hell is comparing Alex with Ortiz?
Pete you are awesome! I love reading your blog