A few things …
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- June
- 27
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A few items on a nice Saturday before heading over to the ballpark:
• Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe reports via Twitter that Mike Lowell might get an injection in his hip. Like A-Rod, he’s still having problems. That Lowell’s surgery was in October should be a warning to the Yankees that resting Alex — whether they like it or not — is mandatory.
• RHP/LHP Pat Venditte got promoted to Single-A Tampa. He dominated the South Atlantic League and this will be a tougher test. Nobody in the organization seems to think he’s actually a prospect. But he keeps getting people out.
• The Yankees have scored 20 runs in the last two games — and left 28 runners on base. There have been a ridiculous 36 at-bats with runners in scoring position the last two nights. Their run differential is now +48, which is the fifth-best in baseball.
But check out the leaders:
Dodgers +90
Rays +83
Red Sox +70
Jays +52
Yankees + 48
As usual, the AL East is a bear. And as usual Joe Torre seems to know what he is doing. No Manny, no problem.
Back around 3:30 with the lineups and other notes. Go outside, it’s a nice day.
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on Saturday, June 27th, 2009 at 1:25 pm by Peter Abraham.
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Chad Jennings
Sam Borden
Josh Thomson
So what? Who cares about Joe Torre? No Manny, no problem – the NL West sucks.
I was surprised, but not shocked, at how well the Dodgers did-I thought they’d falter w/no ManRam.
Torre is 6-3 against the Angels (who are tied for us in the WC) and Rangers.
The Dodgers are a very good ballclub, regardless of division. Young power pitching, young athletic lineup with Manny coming back, and a very good bullpen.
The NL West really isn’t as bad as some people are making it out to be.
Torre is doing a fantastic job, as usual.
are the yanks looking at sergio mitre. he is doing pretty well in AAA right now. not too many innings but he has 20 so and only 2 walks
Judging by how Bruney looked in ATL, I don’t think you can trust him in a 4-1 game.
Because if he puts a couple in, you’re going to Coke for the 3rd straight day after throwing 2 innings yesterday or Robertson again or someone.
If the game had been 4-1, CC coming out for the 8th was the only logical choice.
Torre is doing a great job.
The Dodgers are fielding a terrific team, though. It’s not like they’re the Reds or Nationals.
The NL west is that bad, torre’s first year record vs that of grady little the year before tells you all you need to know, the players on the field account for 95% of the big picture outcome
Brandon, from the prior thread…….and Phil will have major innings limitations next year if they keep him in the pen all year. That bothers me, but I’m not sure it bothers me as much as the fact that he can’t have any sort of defined role as long as he’s attached to Wang’s hip.
Torre makes the playoff every year with the Yankees, first year he is gone they miss the playoffs. He has had the last laugh, good for him.
If we were in that division we’d own the NL.
The fact is, the Yankees allowed the Rays and the Jays back into it and the rest of the season is going to be nip and tuck. I said from the beginning the Jays weren’t going away, and they’re not. It doesn’t matter if they don’t have any big names besides Halladay – they are producing and are a very dangerous team. The playoffs are no guarantee this year – the AL is quite competitive.
Good ballclub but, let’s see how his bullpen holds up all year.
Those guys are on heavy, heavy use schedules. Typical Torre in that regard.
He’s in an easy division. It will be interesting to see if he eases up on some of those guys workloads or its going to catch up on them in October.
The AL East is just brutal. Tampa and Toronto have been red hot. The Angels have tied us for the WC too and Texas is starting to pick it up again.
I never thought Toronto would hang around like this, especially after losing 9 in a row last month then losing Halladay to the DL. They deserve a lot of credit.
Its a long season, Betsy. When all is said and done, Hughes will be closer to 130 innings than he will be 100. As will Joba.
To me, all this innings limit stuff is much ado about nothing.
The kid is pitching and last I checked, guys that pitch great get work.
Phil will be fine. It beats the heck out of being in Scranton.
The Blue Jays don’t scare me at all. I don’t care how good they are, they just are not as good as us.
The Yankees are really being short-sighted by not resting A-Rod more regularly. That needs to change, and Girardi and Cashman should have no input. The decision should be made exclusively by the medical personnel.
SJ44 is spot on about the way Torre is putting the pedal to the medal with his relievers.
Betsy,
Saw your post. Glad we cleared that up!
They’re not going to let Phil pitch 4 innings per week for the rest of the season.
They’re going to do something. Either have him take over for Wang or Pettitte or expand his role in the pen.
Last season, I suggested that Joba go 5 and Phil follow him with 4. On his throwing days, maybe Phil works out of the pen?
I don’t know where Cone got his info from, but he said that Phil’s IP limit is “probably” close to 175. Right now he’s at 45 + 19 in Scranton. About 64 innings.
Weak division or not… Torre is a lock to go to the playoffs and have the best record in the NL by a mile. The hardest step has already been conquered. Once you get there, anything can happen. Last year, they won 84 games and swept the 97 win Cubs.
Toronto is a very good team. If they don’t suffer anymore injuries, they are going to be in the race all year.
That’s what makes all of this fun. Basically, you have 4 teams fighting for 2 spots. That’s fun baseball.
Waiting for the “Mike Lowell is done” story by Buster Olney because “unnamed baseball people think he used PED’s”.
Only fair since he went that route with Arod.
Couldn’t be because hip surgery, whether its the intermediate hip surgery or the full blown one, is pretty serious stuff.
Terry Francona, as managers are wont to do with good players, overplayed Mike because he was playing well.
That’s what managers do. They play their best players as much as possible. Its why forcing rest on good players is so difficult.
Its not just a “Yankee problem” as the crybabies on here like to opine.
Oops, by expand his role means take him off of Wang’s tether and actually pitch him in consecutive games or AS NEEDED.
A major reason for Torre’s Dodgers running roughshod over the NL West is because he’s got the only team in the Division with both a solid offense and pitching staff. There’s not really an NL team that can say that. Of course, he had that last year, too. It’s just a matter of what team gets hot last.
Yes he did. Then, as his recent post-season struggles as a manager, misused his bullpen and blew the series to the Phillies.
If LA was a more aggressive media market, he would have gotten killed for the way he managed in that series.
Works both ways. He’s a great manager who rides bullpen guys very, very hard. Often, at least since 2000, to the teams overall detriment.
The Dodgers are fun to watch, their young players sparkle, and they do just as well against AL teams as against NL teams.
And strangely enough the NL West is also improved — those who write it off probably haven’t kept up and are recycling their old established opinions.
I still think the Yanks are better than Tampa Bay, LA and Toronto. The Sox, probably not-but who knows? Once our offense gets back to being an offense and not a collection of automatic outs holding sticks (hopefully the bats are heating up now), w/our apparently improved bullpen it’s possible we can make a run at the Sox.
About time for Venditte!
Late to the party, but I love the new stadium, and I think it’s a great place to watch a game. The seats and walkways are so much bigger and more comfortable. I love the photos ($5 million worth) that surround the place and display the team’s history.
And, my experience this year is that tickets have been easier to get AND cheaper than in recent years. And yes, I lost my Saturday package too, but I just get tix, often for under face value, on stubhub.
Rockies are hot, hot, hot.
A month ago the NL Central was the worst division. Now, the NL East might give them a run.
Not really concerned about Torre’s Dodgers. I’m more concerned about how the Yankees do.
Torre can do whatever he wants in the regular season.
He needs to take his team to the promsied land before he is crowned again. We have seen it here numerous times since 2001.
I’ve noticed how the NL West has been doing. No team in that division really scares me, includingthe Dodgers.
The team that wins the WS will be the hottest team inthe playoffs, which is what generally happens. That’s why I have no issue w/us winning wild card instead of the division, despie some people who whine about how we’re “too good” to “settle” for a wild card.
SJ44
June 27th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Phil will be fine. It beats the heck out of being in Scranton
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When it’s a choice between NYY in the majors or Scranton in the minors, as WC Fields tombstone so eloquently states: “On the whole, I’d rather be in Philadelphia”.
despie is despite.
SJ, I was very gratified to read that fans flooded Buster’s e-mail…..My guess is he was probably very surprised that so many people would try to be objective about Alex. At this point, 99% of the stories on Alex are just out there to cater to the Alex-haters. I’m even more gratified by the fact that Selena Roberts’ book made zero impression on anyone…
SJ, are you saying you wouldn’t want to be in Scranton? I used to watch the Office – it looks like a lovely town, lol. Well, Phil has the right attitude about it – he’s got the spitting sunflower seeds in the pen during the game act down pat. Seriously, he really does have the right attitude and he’s enjoying his temporary roll, so…….I should too.
M, me too! IThey were raving about Phil last night – talking specifically about how confident he is. That’s something you can’t teach – he was getting that back as a starter, but if being in the pen has helped him in that regard, then I can’t complain. You’re right, I’m sure the Yankees have a plan. The fact that they are being careful with him with regards to his use makes me feel better.
Here’s a small article about Phil today:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/06.....176407.htm
The only thing that bothered me about the new stadium was that they didn’t have a picture of Francisco Cervelli on the jumbotron nonstop.
Tell you what though: My favorite pitcher in the whole league right now not on the Yanks is Tim Linececum. I love watching that dude pitch.
Arizona is a mess. The Giants will come down to earth soon, as will the Rockies.
Believe me, if the Yankees were in that division, life would be very, very good for them!
3 teams don’t won’t hold up all year and the Dodgers.
One thing about Joe. He knows how to pick teams to manage! lol
“The team that wins the WS will be the hottest team inthe playoffs, which is what generally happens.”
Absolutely and uneqivocally correct.
And since I don’t have the ability to worry about tomorrow until tomorrow, I think I will go out and enjoy the day. In fact, since I don’t have the ability to worry about tomorrow, I think I’ll enjoy tomorrow today!
The faith of a mustard seed can move mountains – that and faith in the Yankee organization.
GO YANKEES!
Shameless plug for Pete.
Teams often look hot because they are good. A lot of playoff success is largely the result of getting the right bounces at the right time.
Out of context, the Dodgers are a good young team, but the NL West is a cakewalk.
Last time I looked, the Giants, who occupy 2nd place, still had Bengie Molina in the cleanup spot.
“Waiting for the “Mike Lowell is done” story by Buster Olney because “unnamed baseball people think he used PED’s”.
Only fair since he went that route with Arod.”
You can’t be willing to forget about ARod admitting he used PEDs. Do you not see the difference between talking about a player and his PED use when it is KNOWN that he used and writing about a player using PEDs when there is NO proof he used?
Richie-Teams often look good because they’re hot.
Werth hit a fifth decker in Toronto.
I see the same unsubstantiated leaps for more players than just the ones who admitted using steroids.
How about the stories about all of these “new” type of injuries? We see those from sportswriters all over the country.
That implies these injuries, such as hip labrum injuries, come from PED use. No evidence of that however, its been written by more than one sportswriter this season.
Can’t have it both ways with PED use. If its a “miracle drug” then you can’t say it causes injuries AND better performance.
My point is, just about everybody who writes on this subject has no idea what they are talking about. They make assumptions that, if you just did a minimal amount of research on the subject would take you in a different direction than they want to go on this issue.
I love that… “RHP/LHP.” Why are they not considering this guy? Is it because his gimmick will only really get out 18-year old minor leaguers? Does either arm throw good stuff? Is he likely to end up just sticking to and developing one arm instead? Or are both arms sub-par for a prospect and hes just there using his special glove, switching arms and messing with guys who swing at everything? But then wouldn’t all pitcher at that level rock socks and rack up strikeouts? Please explain why this unique guy is not being considered anything. They had to make a new baseball rule up for this guy! From what I gather he has 85-90s stuff with command… on both arms…are there not many relievers who make a living in the majors with similar stuff?
Peter R-Apparently his stuff is bad.
Still, I find it amazing how long the Yankees have avoided moving him up because he’s “not a real prospect”. Isn’t baseball the hardest sport to figure out who will and will not be sucessful in the majors? If someone is pitching that dominantly they deserve a chance, no?
I have to crack up at you people when it comes to A-Rod. Tyler Kepner asks a few questions about A-Rod and his ped usage, and you people read what I thought was not a mean spirited blogpost. Olney writes something about A-Rod and you people get all emotional. What power does A-Rod have over you people? I’m glad he’s helping the team win, but you people go to nutty lengths to make him out as a victim. Which he isn’t.
The Dodgers were my starter team (my family lived on the West Coast when I was young) and although the Yankees have been my team since 1973 I still like to keep up with the Dodgers a bit. I don’t feel any real conflict about occasionally watching and rooting for them since their fate almost never intersects with that of the Yankees. I’ve enjoyed their recent resurgence and thought Torre became available at just the right time to take that bunch of youngsters in hand and turn them into the kind of core that a bunch of young Yankees became for us, which was not about to happen under Grady Little.
And I agree with SJ that Joe knows where to land!
Bold prediction w/no proof to back it up: A-Rod hits 2 HR’s today.
Remember this post!
Venditte has looked good since he signed last July, until his last Charleston game when he gave up two runs in the 9th inning of a game they were already losing 3-0.
Part of the issue is that none of his pitches are exceptional, though they are pretty good. His pitching from the left side is pretty much what tom Glavine was about 2 years ago…..low 80s fastball, good curve and a very good change up. On the right, he has the same pitches plus a slider and a low 90s fastball. He also keeps the ball low and has exceptional control. In other words, he doesn’t light up the guns. He just gets outs….right now. Hopefully he’ll do better with his promotion than Jonathan Ortiz did. Ortiz and the right handed version of Venditte are very similar.
He doesn’t have a “hold” on anybody.
Some of us just don’t hate the guy as you do and think a lot of the coverage of him is unfair in comparison with others guys who have come out and said they used PED’s.
It ain’t that hard to figure out.
Hold on-I don’t know anybody’s histroy, but NumberOnePositivePoster did not say he hated ARod.
NumberOnePositivePoster – OPPC Alumni and Founder
June 27th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
I have to crack up at you people when it comes to A-Rod. Tyler Kepner asks a few questions about A-Rod and his ped usage, and you people read what I thought was not a mean spirited blogpost. Olney writes something about A-Rod and you people get all emotional. What power does A-Rod have over you people? I’m glad he’s helping the team win, but you people go to nutty lengths to make him out as a victim. Which he isn’t.
————————————————————
I doubt that many really care what your feelings are.
histroy is history.
Oh yeah because the Yanks are just killing it against the NL this season. What are we at against NL teams? A little over 500? Yeah it’s not Torre at all. It’s the division we’re in. That excuse didn’t work for Torre in the end even though he led us to 12 straight playoffs but for some reason it works now. Why can’t you just give the guy his due?
You weren’t in the game thread the other night when he whined how much Arod has “never” helped this team win anything and has never done anything in his entire career. It was quite funny. Especially since he has been MIA since Arod stated hitting again.
Don’t take a 10-12 game sample size and extrapolate it over a full season.
Put the Dodgers in the AL East and the Yankees in the AL West and the two teams success would probably flip.
The AL in general, especially the AL East, is a beast. Sorry but, the NL is not.
Amandla-You realize that before he came to the Yanks he was managing a horrible team (I forget which team it was).
Torre is a good manager but that’s a patty cake division. He’s been saddled with a lot of great ballclubs.
SJ44-All right. I’ll take your word for it.
Gosh, I had no idea Joe Torre in addition to managing took up all 9 batting spots. How amazing!
Nick-You should have seen him pitch the other day.
What a slider that man has.
“Torre is a good manager but that’s a patty cake division. He’s been saddled with a lot of great ballclubs.”
This years Yankee team is a great team so what’s Girardi’s excuse?
Next people will discredit bats against poor pitchers.
Yeah that Joe Torre, he’s having one hell of a season, hitting .387 with 35 HRs and 94 Rbi’s so far…while pitching to a 2.15 ERA with 190 K’s in 120IPs… he’s one hell of a pla.. wait, he doesnt play.
No he doesn’t play but he certainly got blamed for it when he was here.
That’s the difference between the A-Rod kool-aid drinkers and more rational Yankee fans, we simply hold A-Rod accountable for all his actions. I don’t hate him, but I don’t think he’s as great as a great many of you think he is. He’s a man with many flaws, to cover those up and act like it’s some media creation is just stupid. He puts himself out there, he kisses mirrors, he wakes up earlier than anyone else to work out, but somehow those were media creations. He wants that out there, he said and did those things, that’s his cross to bear. Bottom line.
If I hated him then I won’t cheer when helps my team win. Between the lines I root for him, get him out of the baseball field and he has very few qualities I admire. It’s funny, a kid in mu family was reading Jeter’s book, I thought it was interesting when I opened up the book and there’s a pic of A-Rod saying how he considers A-Rod one of his close friends but a few years later A-Rod in an esquire piece has to knock his “friend”.
Yes, Mike Lowell had the same surgery has A-Rod but he’s also almost 2 years older and let’s face it Lowell was and never will be a millionth of the athlete that A-Rod is. You can’t compare their recoveries that much.