Game 77: Mariners at Yankees (updated with Hinske audio)
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YANKEES (44-32)
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Cabrera CF
Ransom 3B
Pitching: LHP Andy Pettitte (7-3, 4.38).
MARINERS (39-37)
Suzuki RF
Branyan 1B
Lopez 2B
Griffey DH
Gutiuerrez CF
Balentien LF
Woodward 3B
Johnson CF
Cedeno SS
Pitching: LHP Jarrod Washburn (4-5, 3.22).
TIME/TV: 7:05, YES.
STATE OF THE ‘STRIPES: The Yankees have won six straight and trail Boston by 2.5 games in the American League East. They are 12 games over .500, their high-water mark of the season.
BACK IN TUNE: Alex Rodriguez is 8 of 19 with three homers and 11 RBI during the winning streak. He also has drawn 10 walks.
SLEEPLESS IN THE BRONX: The Mariners have lost nine straight games in the Boogie Down.
CLUTCHY CABRERA: Melky Cabrera has 31 RBI, 12 that have either tied the game or given the Yankees the lead in the seventh inning or beyond.
DAMON DYNAMITE: Johnny Damon is 9 of his last 21 with six RBI and four extra-base hits.
TEIXEIRA’S TUMBLE: Mark Teixeira is 13 of his last 59 with no homers and six RBI. He has done 60 at-bats without a homer.
COKE IS IT: Phil Coke’s last 14 appearances: 12.1 innings, 5 hits, 1 earned run, 3 walks, 14 strikeouts.
BUT HE’S STILL THE SECOND-BEST PHIL IN THE PEN: Phil Hughes in relief: 8 games, 13 innings, 5 hits, 2 earned runs, 3 walks, 16 strikeouts.
MO THE MAGNIFICENT: Mariano Rivera’s last 8 outings: 8.1 innings, 2 hits, 1 earned runs, 1 walk, 12 strikeouts.
HE’S A GENIUS: The Yankees have scored 45 runs over 49 runs since Joe Girardi got ejected in Atlanta last Wednesday. They had scored 18 runs in the 67 innings prior to that.
IT’S ALL ABOUT PITCHING: The Yankees have a 2.56 ERA in their last 14 games and opponents are hitting .207.
ON THE iPOD RIGHT NOW: The ‘59 Sound by The Gaslight Anthem.
Back with much, much more later.
UPDATE, 3:42 p.m.: Ramiro Pena optioned to AAA.
UPDATE, 4:40 p.m.: Pena will get some time in CF in Scranton. The Yankees want to increase his versatility.
UPDATE, 5:15 p.m.: Here is Eric Hinske’s first interview as a Yankee:
UPDATE, 6:09 p.m.: For some reason it’s not raining and the game may start on time. I didn’t realize that was allowed. Back later on for first pitch.
UPDATE, 7:19 p.m. We are underway under a nice blue sky. It was 72 degrees at first pitch.
UPDATE, 7:25 p.m.: Jose Molina on his way to Pawtucket, the Paris of Rhode Island. He’ll play for Scranton tomorrow and Friday.
UPDATE, 7:34 p.m.: Nice work by Andy there getting out of trouble.
UPDATE, 7:57 p.m.: Hey, Johnny Damon hit a home run to right field in Yankee Stadium. You don’t see that very often. … 15 homers this season, 11 at home. He’s at 198 for his career.
UPDATE, 8:06 p.m.: If Tex fields that cleanly, it’s a double play. Instead it’s 1-1. But Pettitte is pitching well.
UPDATE, 8:18 p.m.: Pettitte strong d through 5 innings: 4 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 3 Ks.
UPDATE, 8:23 p.m.: The umpires will review the tape. But that was a HR based on the replay I saw.
UPDATE, 8:24 p.m.: Yep, gone. 2-1 Yankees.
UPDATE, 8:35 p.m.: Andy will be happy about that, another Yankee Stadium cheapie. 2-2.
Griffey knows what he is doing. He spent most of BP drilling balls that way.
UPDATE, 8:45 p.m.: Rest? He don’t need to stinkin rest.
A-Rod at it again with his second homer in as many nights. That’s 13 RBI in the last seven games.
UPDATE, 9:03 p.m.: Girardi spent the last two days saying Bruney was his 8th inning guy. So here we are in the 8th inning and it’s … Alfredo Aceves? Curious.
Maybe Mo is not available. We shall see.
Not Bruney or Hughes.
UPDATE, 9:12 p.m.: Hughes warming up. Mo must not be available. Wow, save situation for the Franchise. Who would have guessed this in March?
UPDATE, 9:19 p.m.: Why did Hughes even warm up? Mo is in. Very strange.
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, July 1st, 2009 at 3:35 pm by Peter Abraham.
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Chad Jennings
Sam Borden
Josh Thomson
Joba to the pen. Joba to the pen. Joba to the pen.
excellent, excellent CD… gaslight is phenomenal. Sink or Swim is good too.
Alex’s HR was estimated as an excuse me 420′ shot.
IT’S ALL ABOUT PITCHING: The Yankees have a 2.56 ERA in their last 14 games and opponents are hitting .207.
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I would argue that it’s all about Arod.
“Joba to the pen. Joba to the pen. Joba to the pen.”
Shut the hell up. Shut the hell up. Shut the hell up.
Oh my….Posada behind Arod.
Fantastic music selection, Pete. The Gaslight Anthem is one of the best bands to come around in a long time. Check out youtube for some awesome videos of frontman Brian Fallon doing some acoustic renditions of their songs (along with some really great covers.)
Got to take advantage of this gift the Orioles gave us. They are close to actually winning a series against Boston….that never happens.
Just got my tix for the game tonight off my new favorite website StubHub.
Scored another sweet deal paying about half price for Main Dugout Section 217. Probably could have gotten even cheaper if I wanted to wait. Check it out if you can go tonight, the prices are low and getting lower by the minute.
I’m on my way now… going to try and catch Hughes, Joba, Ace at the gates. Then off to the Hard Rock to meet friends and have some drinks.
I’ll post a few things from the Stadium when I get there.
Joba to the pen? Makes no sense. Makes no sense. Makes no sense.
A guy throwing 92 who can’t find the plate to the bullpen?
They had somebody like that. His name was Jose Veras.
Try again.
THE 59 SOUND! GASLIGHT ANTHEM!
Oh my god Pete! I just found this band last month and I listed to that album non-stop for 2 weeks straight. NON-STOP!
Whoever is suggesting music to you is a real smart dude! Woah! You’re automatically hip now Pete!
Miggs,
Question about Stubhub since I’ve never used them.
What’s the best strategy? Get the tickets the day of the game or earlier?
I’ve always wondered how to go about it. Thanks.
Do your thing in AAA tonight El Nino. Ransom don’t mess this up.
Don’t get too excited about Posada hitting 5th and Cano 6th.
Its most likely because Washburn, a tough lefty, is going for the M’s.
Lets spread this swisher debate over 3 threads.
Ah, the Gaslight Anthem, good choice Pete. I saw you had the Drive By Truckers the other day too; if you like them, you should check out My Morning Jacket. Really, really good band.
UPDATE, 3:42 p.m.: Ramiro Pena optioned to AAA.
I just don’t get the Hinske trade, and I just don’t get sending Pena Down. As a whole the Yanks just got slower, older and clumsier on defense. Super
Are there seriously people out there that think Michael Kay is dating Kim Jones? lol Kay talking about this now
Youk homers, hold everything. 5-3 Boton, game is not over. No outs.
Joba in the pen. Hughes in the rotation. Joba in the pen. Hughes in the rotation.
boston is coming back
Pete — any report on what number Hinske is going to wear?
so I’m guessing Girardi will have Hinske pinch hitting for Ransom if needed?
“Pete — any report on what number Hinske is going to wear?”
14.
its 5-3 Baltimore in the ninth
ED-Why not just pinch hit ARod?
“I just don’t get the Hinske trade, and I just don’t get sending Pena Down. As a whole the Yanks just got slower, older and clumsier on defense. Super”
They want to turn him into the next Chone Figgins before September.
Gaslight Anthem… nice Pete!!
I was surprised to see them in the Rolling Stone top 100 of 2008 issue…but very glad.
the lead singer used to head a band called Cincinatti Rail Tie that I have two songs from…maybe 10 years ago. I always wondered what happened to them. When I heard Gaslight on the web about a year ago, I knew it was the same guy.
Great stuff!
SJ: If you are using stubhub get your tickets the day of the game.
SJ,
If you are calling Joba Jose Veras, does that mean you would give Veras the ball to start? Would you want Jose Veras pitching in the rotation like Joba is? If Joba is Jose Veras then he should be sent down to AAA and not be on the mound with Jose Veras-type stuff. No?
im so tired of hearing about joba’s shortcomings…hes 23…doesnt have a full year as a starter in the majors….he’ll be fine
Bay K’s. One out. Big popup up.
Hinske is a better bat than Peña and Peña needs to play every day
Rebecca-Agreed.
Springsteen is the one that turned Pete on to The Gaslight Anthem. Bruce played with them at a couple of festivals recently. And Fallon came out and sang with Bruce and the Band at the end. Good cross promotion for both.
Ah, the wonderful Baltimore bullpen. Johnson faces two batters, walk, homrun. No lead is safe.
Yes, let’s weaken the team by changing the two.
Makes no sense.
The Yankees are 10-5 in Joba’s starts this year. That’s in the #5 starter slot.
More foolishness everytime Joba has a bad outing.
Bret the Hitman
July 1st, 2009 at 3:47 pm
Joba in the pen. Hughes in the rotation. Joba in the pen. Hughes in the rotation.
=============
I’d send Joba to the minors before I put him in the pen. Diminished velocity and struggling with control…
Bay’s the K-man today.
*homerun.
We face lefties the next 3 days— Washburn, Vargas, and Tallet.
“They want to turn him into the next Chone Figgins before September.”
or Omar Infante.
Big popup K’s. 2 outs.
SJ I thought you had season tickets?
To answer your question the longer you can wait the cheaper the prices get as long as its not a premier game (Sox, Mets, good weekend matchups like TB, Angels, etc.) Premier games just get more expensive as they get closer to gametime because people buy up the tickets.(This happened to me for the Phillies series, I waited too long and ended up paying through the nose.)
For today’s game when I bought my tix there were about 2200 available. StubHub pulls the event I think an hour or two before first pitch. So if you don’t mind waiting or don’t care to get there early, you’ll get the best deal at around 5 Pm for a 7 PM start.
Today, I bought $125 seats ($150 on the day of the game) for $60 each at around 2:45 PM. It was basically 2 for 1. And I target the Main Dugout section because I’ve sat there many times this year and love the view from there.
Hope this helps.
Pete’s hip?
Only if you compare him to our 82 year-old ex-sniper friend, GB7.
Elssbury singles. Tying run up.
not ramirooooooooo
Stub Hub is the best. The tickets come through e-mail so you SHOULD wait until the day of the game to buy them. You dont have to worry about the mail. The longer you can wait, the cheaper they’ll be. A lot of them are on computer programs and they get cheaper by the hour.
Come on O’s.
btw Gaslight Anthem is awesome pete.
i’m a little disappointed to see no gardner in there. i thought joe said he had earned regular playing time again? wouldn’t hurt to give swisher a day or two off.
Magnus,
I would send Joba to AAA if not the pen.
Pena is never going to hit enough to play the OF anyway… I don’t see the point in trying to make him a jack of all trades guy.
“If you are calling Joba Jose Veras, does that mean you would give Veras the ball to start? Would you want Jose Veras pitching in the rotation like Joba is? If Joba is Jose Veras then he should be sent down to AAA and not be on the mound with Jose Veras-type stuff. No?”
Did “The Superkick” Shawn Micheals gave you mess w/ your brain that much ?
cmon Sherrill u got this
1 strike, 2 balls on Bailey.
Bailey walks.
Sherrill’s allowing a 2 our rally. Come on.
serenity now George Sherrill
I didn’t even realize the Sox and Rays were playing during the day today
Brandon,
are you SJ’s his sock puppet?
“Pena is never going to hit enough to play the OF anyway… I don’t see the point in trying to make him a jack of all trades guy.”
Because he improves the defense in the infield and hopefully OF, or late in the season w/ a lead you’d rather have Damon galloping in the gaps for a LD ?
No Bret, what I’m saying is the same people spout the same nonsense everytime Joba has a bad start.
He is throwing 92 MPH and his fastball is straight as can be. That’s not bullpen material.
He hasn’t been in good shape all year, limiting the power he gets on his fastball.
He isn’t the same pitcher as 2007, pre shoulder injury. Why is that so hard to understand?
He is learning how to be a starting pitcher. When you do, you take your lumps. It happens to everybody who tries it.
If you are going to cry about putting him in the bullpen everytime he has a bad outing, what happens if he goes to the bullpen and stinks it up? Where do you put him then?
Will you post, DFA, DFA, DFA?
If you can’t take the kid learning how to be a starter, come back when he’s a finished product.
He’s a 23 year old #5 starter, with an ERA in the AL under 4, whose team is 10-5 in his starts.
There are guys pitching a LOT worse than he is around baseball who aren’t starting for their first full season in the bigs.
Ball 1. This is not good.
its jeff friggin bailey….jesus
3 balls, no strikes.
Sherril has lost the plate…
“Pena is never going to hit enough to play the OF anyway… I don’t see the point in trying to make him a jack of all trades guy.”
that just doesnt make any sense at all…there are not doing this so he can be a starter in the outfield…they just want him to be able to play a serviceable outfield incase thats needed off the bench…if you can play every position and not be an automatic out…you got something going for yourself
I friggin hate the Orioles.
Rivera gets an RBI when the Yankees can’t hit all night. It just goes to show you, Suzyn, that YOU CAN’T EXPLAIN BASEBALL. If there’s anyone out there that can explain baseball, give them my number.
nerve-wracking
SJ,
So you are ok with the Joba/Veras comparison but totally willing to let Joba continue to start games.
3-2 to Varitek…2 outs..tying runs on…
Drama…
Ball four. Tying runs in scoring position, winning runs on base.
Oy. Come on O’s.
If Nick Green gets a go-ahead hit here, I’m going to break something.
hope rocco ks
How do you strike out Ortiz and Bay, then walk two mediocre hitters? YOU CAN’T FIGURE BASEBALL.
Yikes. Single, walk, walk to load the bases. Nicky Green Hero? Zero?
“Brandon,
are you SJ’s his sock puppet?”
I was gonna ask if you were in Bill Madden’s or Fatcessa’s, what sense does sending down a SP who in his 15 starts has resulted in 10 wins from the # 5 SP slot make ? Again it’s not gonna happen overnight.
ORIOLES FAIL
tied game
ugh 5-5
piece of chit
ugh
Game tied. What a blowup.
The Orioles come crashing down to earth. Blow a 4 run 9th inning lead.
They are in last place for a reason. One fluke result does not a season make.
Wow, I hate the Orioles.
Sherrill is garbage.
As I’ve said before, throw out the numbers. There are only a handful of great closers in the league.
Rivera, Papelbon, Nathan, followed by K-Rod and Soria.
Everyone else is a gas can in waiting.
GEORGE USE TO BE AWESOME !!
they fought well yesterday..not today
Hinske’s Bat is Not better than Pena’s, Im sorry, 5 years ago yes, but not now, not by a long shot.
And I think we all know that the Yankees would roll over and die down four in the ninth…unless someone drops a pop up. The Red Sox bounce back from a devastating loss last night. Figures.
What was trisha saying about the game being over?
No offense trisha.
Just worry about winning guys.
“the Sox are gamahs, they have clutch hittahs”- Francessa
John Sterling-Hey idiot you can’t call games. Unless you forgot in 07′ they did this very thing.
Guy has clearly lost his rocker. Gonna walk Drew to get to PEDroia with the bases JUICED?
serenity now S.A.
Serenity now.
Must not curse at Sherrill out loud while at work
GEORGE SHERILL USE TO BE AWESOME !!
atrocious
basesloaded again
un ****ing believable.
Say what you will, but this is why (IMO) he gets the edge over Gardner any time. The kid is CLUTCH!
“CLUTCHY CABRERA: Melky Cabrera has 31 RBI, 12 that have either tied the game or given the Yankees the lead in the seventh inning or beyond.”
Of course the Sox just tied it. Revenge for last night. Stupid O’s.
Freaking Red Sux. Came back from 5-1 in the top of the 9th. God damn Orioles.
Why would you walk Drew to get to Pedroia?
Is he mad?
Chokerioles at it again.
There is no way Joba in the pen makes sense anymore….people still talk about this?
As far as pitching is concerned, one major adjustment that I would make would be this:
6-7th inning guys: Coke/Bruney
8th inning guy: Hughes (we are seeing the Hughes that was promised for many years)
9th: Um, Tomko? lol…The Sandman seals the deal
Danny Baez…. NOOO
Lauren-Gardy’s rookie year he had two walk offs, including one vs. the Sox.
Guess we should be grateful Baltimore even won one game.
Sometimes I swear they take payoffs to bend over for Boston.
I hope the O’s fans boo Sherrill’s behind off the field.
Geez, take Sherrill out, he’s walking everybody.
Oh wait, they are. Baez.
I’m more than willing to take a kid with Joba’s skillset and make him a starting pitcher because that’s what you do with an arm like his.
Give me a list of guys with 3 plus pitches who are pitching 8th innings?
He’s 23 years old and he is already performing above the league average for his slot in the rotation as a #5 starter.
What more do you want?
You don’t ditch the plan 15 starts into the season because he isn’t in Cy Young contention.
You continue to work with him and he will improve because young guys with his talent do improve.
Ball 1.
Can Pedroia just grand slam and end the slow torture now?
O’s can still win in a walkoff if they can hold it here.
finally!
Hobbit makes an out. Walkoff possibility still in effect.
Walk Drew to get to Pedroia. Brilliant strategy.
Out. O’s turn at bat.
If I had to guess I’d say Sox win this one. Gee I wonder why.
vb03 , these are the O’s that win was a solar eclipse last night.
WHOAAAAAAAAAAAA Suzyn. This game is never going to end…..and we are coming to you liiiiiive from the Lowe’s Broadcast Booth. Lowe’s: Let’s Build Something TO-GETH-AHHHHH.
Will Mr. Intimidation pitch here for Boston? Pitched the last 2 nights.
Pena’s bat is now better than Hinske’s? Geez, what are you smoking.
Hinske hit 20 HR’s for Tampa last year. He’s a veteran utility guy. Pena is a kid still learning how to play and needs to play everyday to realize his potential.
He’s not a better hitter than Eric Hinske. At least not now.
It would be cool if the Orioles had a nice walk-off win right here. Boston gets dominated all game, are given a glimmer of hope in the 9th only to be smashed again.
Sterling, I’m sorry. I think you need a hug. I was angry and snapped at you.
Pelfry balks Fielder to 2B, wow. Nothing to say there.
Pelfrey Balks again LOL
Anyone else surprised that Andy is going for his 8th win tonight?
I was. His ERA isn’t great but he’s winning games.
If he puts up 15-16+ wins this season he was a steal at the price Cashman paid for him.
I felt Varitek’s whiff all the way is Boston
Nice call umps
Need Scott to crush one.
Why is Gardner not in the lineup, but that bum Swisher (Nick Whiffer) playing once again????????????????
Hey, I can get over it. I’m JAWN Sterling! Thanks for the hug, though. Suzyn, who was your favorite Yankee. “Why, it was Wade BAWGS, JAWN.”
Boy, Boston’s going to own them in the 10th.
John Sterling your posts are hilarious, keep it up.
No way Baltimore wins this game.
“What was trisha saying about the game being over?
No offense trisha.”
No offense taken since I didn’t say anything about the game being over.
Corey Hart can’t bunt.
What the heck was Fielder trying to do stealing third?
Oh yeah, you said it was too early in the fourth at a 5-1 defecit.
My bad. Sorry.
“Hey, I can get over it. I’m JAWN Sterling! Thanks for the hug, though. Suzyn, who was your favorite Yankee. “Why, it was Wade BAWGS, JAWN.””
Actwally Jawn, Roger Clemens is my favorite Yankee, but that’s okay.
OH MY GOD, ROGER CLEMENS!!! *faints*
AHahahahaah Prince fielder sucks and so does Corey Hart
cmon Ty
Fielder just made one of the dumber baserunning mistakes I’ve seen.
“Anyone else surprised that Andy is going for his 8th win tonight?”
He’s amongst the leaders in run support. The yanks have scored a ton of runs for him.
That’s why the wins. More the offense than how he’s pitched.
Boston wins it here. That’s my prediction.
I hate these “Dewey beats Truman” moments.
we have extra innings
However, I think I will predict an Orioles win based on nothing more at this point than that’s what I want!
George Sherrill….Reminds me of Stump Merrill!!!
No CB you don’t understand. Pettitte has 8 wins because he’s a wily veteran with sneaky stuff. He grits out the win no matter what it takes!
Should that have been “guts” out the win? Not sure. Either way, Andy Pettitte knows how to win, he’s a champion after all.
what the bloody heck is with this weather? Just got da-ark over the Bronx
its sad how many more boston fans there are than O’s fans.
I really don’t care how Pettite wins. If he gets a ton of run support, good for him. As long as we win when he pitches.
If Petitte has a 17-20 win season, is the pressure on to keep him and have Hughes wait another year? Or, does Hughes slot in to WANG’s slot of we trade him in the offseason?
Decisions decisions.
Trisha I hope you’re right on that prediction…
Suzyn, this blog reminds me of an old show tune I used to sing ….and the tension is mounting down in Baltimore….speaking of mounting…
Okay Pete, I’m giving The Gaslight Anthem a listen. You should give a listen to the new Wilco album for tomorrow’s game.
Youk flies out.
I really hope my prediction is wrong.
Actually, Pettitte ha 8 wins because he continually pitches against other teams 4th or 5th starters. Whats his run support?
Bay’s gonna homer here.
Of Andy’s 7 wins, in 6 of them the other team scored 3 runs or less.
At home Andy hasn’t pitched well, but you can’t say the offense bailed him out in his wins.
Ortiz is gonna homer here.
Bay K’s.
“what the bloody heck is with this weather? Just got da-ark over the Bronx”
David Ortiz just turned around.
Andy is not having a good season. He is a control pitcher who is walking to many batters. He has a 1.54 whip. The only reason he is winning is because the offense is scoring him a ton of runs.
5 k’s for bay…has a nice ring to it
Big sloppy about to live up to his name and hit a Big Pop-up.
Or a ground-out.
He’s our number five starter. His job is to give us a chance to win. If he’s winning with run support, so be it.
Go to a Yankee game in Baltimore. Its the same thing.
Its been 75/25 Pro-Yankee at Camden Yards for years.
Great choice with the Gaslight Anthem…They are fantastic!!
Big popup grounds out. New nickname?
Zaun’s gonna K here.
Whew, I was wrong! Yeah!
Let’s see what the O’s are made of!
“The only reason he is winning is because the offense is scoring him a ton of runs.”
False.
Andy’s been fine. He’s pitching like a back of the rotation AL East pitcher pitches. It would be nice to get more length from him. But as long as CC, AJ and Wang (big if) perform to expectations Andy is fine for now.
And what would Michael Kay say?
“Jason Bay’s line on my scorecard looks like my family reunion.”
Bob-Good strategy.
Offense bailed him out the last game when he blew a 7-1 lead on the road.
Hopefully, he starts picking it up. I don’t care where he pitches, he has to pitch better.
A few performances like he had against the Marlins would be nice leading up to the ASB.
SJ44-He didn’t get a win that game though.
“Jason Bay’s line on my scorecard looks like my family reunion.”
more like his date book.
It’s fun to go to a Yankee game at Camden Yards. A lot of fun.
Wish we could’ve gone this year. It seems to work out for us on alternating years.
I think the only time there were more Orioles fans than Yankees fans was opening day this year. And they did some kind of thing where if you got opening day tickets you had to buy other tickets, right, to try and get more Baltimore people there (and to other games). It would have been pretty embarrassing to have more Yankees fans at the Orioles home opener, I’d think.
ADam
July 1st, 2009 at 3:46 pm
UPDATE, 3:42 p.m.: Ramiro Pena optioned to AAA.
I just don’t get the Hinske trade, and I just don’t get sending Pena Down. As a whole the Yanks just got slower, older and clumsier on defense. Super
—————————————————
Yeah what a bad move the yankees were getting more younger and better defensively. Who exactly is Hinske going to pinch hit for in the lineup? He is a butcher in the field he is another DH type and the yankees already have too many of them.
I started noticing a trend on my fantasy team, whenever I’d put a Yankee in my lineup, it usually would bring on the onset of a terrible slump (Tex, Cano, Jete).
I have since moved them out (Yankees have gone on a six game winning streak) and moved Bay, Youkilis in.
Seems that Bay has caught my fantasy curse today
I’m still leading my league, believe it or not!
Zaun grounds out.
Pena needs to play full time.
2 outs.
2 quick outs…lets see what roberts can do
Gaslight Anthem – nice!
Pettitte has a 4.38 era in the AL East. I’ll take that with 15+ wins every season.
This game sucks.
21 in a row have been shut down by red sox pitching.
This Bailey kid is gonna win it with a homerun.
Then Peter Gammons can bust a vein in his head tonight drooling over him.
Nice homework WYH, that’s what happens when you assume.
I’ve been a little worried about his health. He’s got innings incentives and his back was barking not even a month ago. He’s really looking like he is laboring out there lately.
I don’t mind the ERA w/Andy if he can turn into a late career Jack Morris type who gives up runs but not enough to lose the game.
I mean, the fact that he could get his 8th tonight with this bullpen in shambles for most of the season impresses me.
But yes, he does get run support.
Sadly, I think asking him to go more than 6 innings is too much to ask.
The Bailey kid looks like he’s 48 yrs old!!
Orioles suck.
take away the 8 head to head matchups:
redsox are 39-30
yankees are 44-24
If everyone predicts a homerun eventually somebody is going to be right.
Gotta take it to the car.
GO O’S!!!
jacoby leadoff double…this ones over.
I’m going to miss El Nino. bummer
That ball was foul…
He’s going to throw 200 innings this year. Not sure what most of you want form the #4 starter. Even if you say he’s their #3 because of Wang, his numbers will be fine for that slot. I know it’s not always pretty, but he gets results.
Did we know Catalanotto was on the Brewers now?
You can’t spell Orioles without the letters L O S E R
lugo won’t do anything
at least Cano was moved down the lineup! Come on Orioles! way to blow a save
I don’t think Girardi likes Matsui…
Unfortunately, you can’t take away the 8 head to head.
Look, the Red Sox have a very good team. Last night was a fluke that happens to every team over the course of a game in the season.
They are tough and you have to really pitch them tough.
The Orioles don’t have much pitching. In a lot of ways, the O’s overachieved in this series over the last couple of days.
They don’t matchup well with Boston.
Lots of chatter from Ben Badler on Twitter about some Yankee international signings he has talked about SS Damian Arredondo from D.R and Dominican RHP Christopher Cabrera.Anyone here know anything about either??
sox win
James from Manhattan’s team sucks what else is new.
What makes you think Girardi doesn’t like Matsui?
thanks for the jinx Bill
Bridge Jumper, how many teams are in your league if you got tex, cano, jete, youkilis, and bay?
GO YANKS!!!!!!
dammit
And there you go, Boston wins.
I don’t know if Andy is going to hit 200 innings. He’s averaging 6 innings per start so far this year.
I’ll take 180 innings if they are quality. He doesn’t need to hit 200 innings to get the job done at this stage of his career.
“They don’t matchup well with Boston.”
When you consistently blow 4 run leads, you don’t match up well with anybody.
take away the 8 head to head matchups:
redsox are 39-30
yankees are 44-24
————————————————————–
Ahhhh. How refreshing.
If only that meant something beyond the fact that the Yanks are pretty good except when they play the 1 team they need to pass in the standings.
RHP and Manuel picks a LHP to pitch to JJ Hardy who has 2 on.
Did they win or did the just go ahead?
That’s why the Orioles are the Orioles.
Red Sox win, oh well. Way to go O’s.
they went ahead
game isn’t over as they are in fact playing in camden
eh look at the bright side…boston was supposed to win yesterday.
Just seems like he skips him in favor of giving someone else time in the DH slot instead of the full day off – A-Rod, Damon, Posada, even Jeter – an awful lot (obviously not counting the 9 games in interleague). One game back in AL competition, and he’s already back to pinch-hitting duty.
Doreen July 1st, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Did they win or did the just go ahead?
————————————-
6-5 top 11th.
Draw your own conclusions, but I’m putting it down as a Baltimore loss.
Papelbon hasn’t exactly been Ace of Cakes
Wait isn’t Baltimore at home?! Are we not doing the thing where the home team still gets to hit?
The Gaslight Anthem are fantastic! I remember seeing them a bunch of years ago around Jersey when they were still called This Charming Man. I think they changed one member but its still the same band. They put out an EP a few years back that sounds just like The Gaslight Anthem. See if you can find that if you like what youre hearing from TGA.
The OPPC should extend to watching OTHER teams too.
Red Sox winning today I would guess has more to do with the law of averages than anything else.
Thanks.
It’s not over till it’s over. Maybe the O’s have one or two runs left in them. Ya never know.
I just remembered why I don’t follow the blog when the Yankee game is on.
Gayle,
Did he say the Yankees signed both kids? Arredando is probably the best SS available for the July 2 signing period.
Don’t know much about Cabrera except a bunch of teams were in on him.
Jerkface it’s not like the O’s a super comebackers either.
Markakis and Huff due up in the 11th with Luke Scott due 4th in the inning, this is not like the bottom of the O’s lineup we are talking about. Papelbone will not have a cakewalk for a save.
Interesting lineup. Cano got moved down (finally), and hinske is not get the start at third. If el nino can learn the outfield positions, hes gonna be a force off the bench next year, and in september.
Why didn’t the Orioles argue that Ellsbury hit. It was a bad call and they had to have known that was going to make the Red Sox’s inning
SJ, I admire for desire to show the light, but in reality all you’re doing once again is pissing in the wind…..
one really has to wonder if Joba might be a tad injured.
Last season before he went down, he was throwing nothing but gas. Since that outing in Texas…..he has not been the same.
What are Matsui’s #’s against Washburn? I bet they aren’t good.
He usually does a nice job against the lefties in the lineup when he faces the Yankees.
Hoping for Papelbon to blow two saves in a row is asking a little much. That game is over.
Shdw -
They never reverse calls. Never.
Rebecca -
IF the Sox hold on and win, it has more to do with the Orioles being a generally stinky team.
Hey, did you participate in the Gate 2 stuff yesterday?
I’ll disagree about Pettitte coughing up a 7-1 lead against Atlanta. The pop fly to Jeter, Damon and Gardner that all three took turns watching drop and Gardner fanninng on the pop fly to center is what coughed up that lead.
SJ this is what he said:
Sounds like #Yankees are gonna sign that speedy shortstop Damian Arredondo from D.R. No relation to Jose
Hearing Dominican RHP Christopher Cabrera to the Yankees for $400K
It’s really kind of odd that the Mets do an interview with the pitcher before the game is over.
Jarrod Washburn vs Yankee hitters:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....yerId=3834
my point about posting the head to head records is to show that there clearly is a mental hill the yanks have to climb to beat the sox BUT it’s not essential if we don’t face them in the postseason.
yanks get to the playoffs and if no boston, we should clearly have the advantage in the ALCS.
btw, props to SNY. as soon as the starter is taken out of the game, they have their roving reporter (kevin burkhardt) talk to the pitcher before he goes back to the locker room. nice.
Doreen: Not much, but I did have lunch with some of the RAB guys.
Nice. The Yankees trying to develop a super-sub! (Pena)
Here we go 1-0 Btm. of the 9th
THE BEST CLOSER IN THE PLANET K-Rod vs The Brew Crew
should be interesting w/ the meat of the order up.
I agree that if Pettitte gets to 180 innings he did his job. But he’s pitched 90 thus far and he should get 17 more starts. If he averages 6 a start that would put him at 192 innings. So I was a little high and you were a little low. Anywhere between 180 – 200 would be good.
Pettitte allows too many baserunners. Period. He’s far too hittable.
Sure, the defense may have let him down a time or two, but he makes his own luck by putting too many people on base.
He’s fortunate that the offense has bailed him out so often.
Here you go SJ, you are correct about Mastsui
Eleven of Washburn’s 12 outings against the Yankees have been quality starts, and despite a 2.56 ERA against New York he has a 5-5 record. Melky Cabrera, who delivered the go-ahead double Tuesday, is 0 for 13 against Washburn, while Robinson Cano and Hideki Matsui are both 2 for 14 (.143).
Cano too…thus the drop in the order
“Are there seriously people out there that think Michael Kay is dating Kim Jones? lol Kay talking about this now”
Sometimes they way she talks about him on her blog, I can see why people might suspect that
Rebecca -
Did they say what might be going on? I really hope they’re able to accomplish their goals. I just think it’s such a great idea an I”m sure they could raise the money necessary. I’d rather contribute to saving Gate 2 than buy a brick from the old stadium.
Well I guess I missed Hughes, Joba, and Ace. They’re nowhere to be found.
I really love this Stadium, just walking around and seeing everything. I’m going to head into the Hard Rock for a little pregame of my own.
Just reading some of the posts…..I think Matsui is sitting because of the tough lefty, which is the same reason I think Girardi flip-flopped Po and Cano. Don’t fret, it’ll be ok.
“I’m going to miss El Nino. bummer”
Didn’t Girardi call Peña enchilada at one time?
Doreen: I’m sure they did, but we were in the back and they were in the front, so I know little.
What I do know is that they have not yet contacted the Yankees because they don’t feel their plan is yet strong enough.
I am getting a little worried that they don’t have enough time.
Braun just caused his team RISP
Rebecca -
Yeah, the “shroud” doesn’t bode well, does it?
Wow. Mets just won 1-0.
Orioles fail.
baltimore, i am disappoint.
Sox win.
That sucked.
Everything we were saying earlier about how the Sox lose to these teams too-apparently we were wrong.
Its good to see Peña is going to get some more playing time & develop. It will be more beneficial for him in the long run. He has been great, and was fun to watch. Ransom better step up now.
The Gaslight Anthem! Nice, got into them when Sink Or Swim came out played that sucker to death. This charming man is tight too. So many great bands in the punk “scene” today. Good ear Pete.
The Sox don’t 2/3 to mediocre teams, see? lol
Pena will be a important bench player for our future…just needs consistent at bats…smart move
Shucks about the O’s.
It was too much to ask for 2 day in a row, I guess.
I told you.
No the Sox still do lose to “those teams”, regardless of today. Not exactly a great series, and their offense can look forward to facing King Felix on Friday night. Hopefully the Yankees can keep this streak going and make up another game on the Sox this holiday weekend.
They are trying to turn Pena into Figgins. Love it!
That will give that kid a spot on the roster next year and (hopefully) a successful big league career.
Great way to develop his skillset, IMO.
lots of teams, not sure of the total.
Doreen July 1st, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Shucks about the O’s.
It was too much to ask for 2 day in a row, I guess.
——————————-
Yep. It’s pretty much as rare as a solar eclipse for them to win one game against Boston.
SJ44 -
That’s what I was thinking – a Figgins of our own.
Andrew-Of course they lose to mediocre teams too. We’re all just really PO’ed at the O’s.
Boston does get Felix and Bedard this weekend.
well i guess its safe to cross out george sherrill from our relief pitcher wish list…maybe danys baez too (if he was even on it) –
the only way i’d take sherrill is if he comes over with that markakis guy…
Boston has now won 7 straight series. They are a tough team.
Not unbeatable but, a tough team.
Tell you what-Boston’s on a roll, but they haven’t been playing well. They’ll be off a roll soon.
I like the idea of them trying to get Pena to play CF.
Having a utility guy who can play IF and LF is a real plus.
But if when you get a guy who can play both SS, 2b and CF that is a tremendously valuable asset. Hard to do. But you’ve got one guy who can literally play all of the hardest positions on the field outside of catcher.
Pena’s got a good arm. If he can play CF he probably could play RF as well and of course LF.
Let’s hope he can pull it off.
Was Ron Darling on vacation, is it too much makeup, or what???? Very weird color he is right now.
Long time reader…first time comment!
My City in Ruins – Great Springsteen reference!! This whole Joba debate is crazy. We would do God knows what to have him in Cleveland as a STARTER, and the joke is he’d be our #1 starter – so Yankee fans, just relax and let him develop! And Andy Pettitte is awful, not Yankee caliber, that’s for sure! You never know which Andy is going to show up ~ hopefully a decent one tonight. Good guy – no longer consistent…
Yeah bummer they blew the 5-1 lead, but I will say it was pretty awesome last night to be at the Stadium and seeing the score of Boston/Baltimore keep changing on the much-maligned out of town scoreboard. As Mo got the last out Baltimore had cut it to 10-9 with Markakis due up, and once I got on the 4 train a group of people burst out about how Baltimore won 11-10. It was nice to experience the meltdown simultaneous to a Yankees victory.
I’m gonna miss Pena. Nice to see that he’ll probably be playing the entire outfield ad infield by next year.
Bob Bedard is only going to be cleared to throw 60 pitches in his start though, which against Boston probably means 3 innings.
And Shelly Duncan should have brought up….Hinske signing was a bad move!
A team that wins 7 straight series is playing well. You don’t win 7 straight series if you aren’t playing well.
Its pretty impressive to come back from 4 runs down in the 9th to win after blowing last nights game.
Boston’s not going to lose the division. The yankees will need to win it. They are going to go out there and take it.
It’s falling into place because the pitching has gone from league worst to start the season to now outstanding.
They need Wang to keep making progress. Wang falters then they have to take hughes out of the pen and the pen is weakened a great deal. Wang giving them quality length will also allow them to deal with Joba and Andy going short in their starts.
SJ44-Totally disagree. This last series they did not play well at all. They were facing an awful bullpen, which is why they won.
It just hits me how big that move down to AAA will be if El Nino learns it quick, a super UTY 22 or 23 yr. old bat. How many of those are in the majors ?
The rest of the season is rehab for Wang – can’t rely on him either to be consistent! He should not be considered in the quest for the division other than a nice surprise if he continues to improve (which I hope so)
What a disappointment for the Yankees, I mean, for the young starting pitcher who lost the W.
Just keep winning games. We can’t expect to make it all up in a week.
And last I checked, we still had the WC.
I just hope the Yanks play Boston in the playoffs. (First off, it’ll mean the Yanks made the playoffs, and secondly, that they won the first round.) I’ll even root for Boston in the first round, so the Yanks can play them. That’s how badly I want to play them. That 0-8 record is simply setting them up to be overconfident. At least that’s how I’m spinning it in my mind. Also — in the playoffs, you really only need 2 red hot pitchers to win. CC and AJ?
A Yankee win would totally wipe away this Sox win from my mind.
You are wrong. You don’t win 7 straight series not playing well.
You get too emotional trying to find flaws with the Sox. They are very, very good.
On the other hand, the Yankees are showing signs of putting some things together that could take them up a notch.
If Wang and Pettitte can pick it up a little bit, and CC and AJ keep doing their thing, that’s an awfully good starting five they roll out there.
The bullpen, especially if they put Hughes in the 8th inning role soon (I think after the ASB), has the makings of being a real asset the second half of the year.
Alex is the key though. He gets on one of his rolls, along with the improved pitching, and they could be beasts the rest of the way.
Gonna be fun to watch and see if they can put it all together.
Albert-No way! I hope Boston loses in the first round!
Wang is still good looking though.
Tribegirl- have you seen Duncan against major league pitching? we tried that experiment already. He has NO position to play.
SJ44, I have said all the time that I expect the Sox to win the division. I also said I’m not giving up on the division and it’s far from over. But they did not play well. They didn’t. They blew a nine run lead and then were shut down by a rookie pitcher untilthe O’s pen blew up. They are no longer playing well. Maybe before this series, but not now.
When you look at the Mariners, it’s quite clear that it is NOT “all about pitching.” Their staff ERA is best in the AL (3rd in MLB) yet they are only two games above .500.
SJ: I am a little worried about an offense that seems entirely dependent on A-Rod’s production.
If someone in the five or six spot (I’m looking at you, Jorge and Robbie) could get hot I’d feel a lot better.
Hinske # 14.
Uniform # 14 has been sort of a black hole.
Berroa just surrendered it. Before that was Betemit and everybody’s favorite philosopher-pitcher Matt De Salvo had it before that.
Irabu wore it as well.
The best player to wear it was probably Moose Skowron, the only All-Star it ever produced.
Most people associate it with Lou Piniella who had it for 14 years as a player and manager.
Pat Kelly wore it in the early 90’s.
Fan favorite Andy Phillips wore it briefly and Luis Sojo was wearing it when he hit the game winning seeing-eye single off Al Leiter in game 5 of the 2000 World Series.
Cano wore it when he first came up.
Other notables were Enrique Wilson and Ron Swaboda
Interestingly, Bobby Cox wore it during his brief tenure with the Yanks in the late 60’s.
Brandon,
I know you weren’t real happy with Pena getting sent down but you weren’t appreciating what was happenning.
What they’re doing with him is a pretty big deal. Let’s put it this way. In order for Pena to get time in CF they are going to have to take time in CF away from Jackson. He’s the club’s #1 prospect. In general, everything a club does in the minors is oriented around promoting the development of the best players. Now Jackson is spending some time in the corners to learn anyway but it’s not a trivial issue.
The club would only do this if they both feel that Pena is in it’s future and that Pena is a very gifted athlete. He’s already shown he can be a plus defensive SS. Making him a jack of all trades doesn’t really increase his trade value over how he’d be valued as a SS.
This is a great opportunity for Pena. They’ve been looking for this kind of athletic, multidimensional bench player for a long time. Look at how they’ve tried to push Justin Synder. If Pena can do it he’s almost guaranteed a long career in the bigs.
And if they make the playoffs Pena will be on the roster.
Irish – I have….but its been awhile and he’s excelling in the minors – try him again or trade him. What’s the point of having him there if we’re not going to use him when needed?
NYY needs to be moving all of their middle infielders around to get them used to playing middle infield and the three outfield spots, including the two Nunez shortstops, Snyder, Angelini and Lassiter, who is playing third base in Charleston.
————————————————————
Charleston lost an ugly game today. Brackman had 3.2 innings and allowed 0 hits in a 10-5 loss.
The bad news was he allowed 5 runs after 8 walks and 1 WP. Three of the runs came when Kapala gave up a slam. Braboy allowed 4 runs in 1 inning.
The bright spots were Edwin Walker with a perfect inning (picked up from the independent leagues). Pirela was 2-4 with an RBI and no errors. Joseph was 2-4 with a 2 run homer. Lassiter was 2-3 with an RBI double.
More bad news was Mesa being 0-4 with 3 strikeouts.
Probably the players don’t look at it this way, but I see baseball as a sort of epic saga — and I’m old enough to have seen Mantle play. The Yanks, at least in my personal saga, have to avenge the 2004 debacle. The only way to do that — again, in my mind — is to beat Boston in the playoffs. Which is why, if things line up (and I know I’m getting way ahead of myself here) I really want Boston to win the first round.
Bronx Jeers: Thanks for that history! You can only really do that sort of thing with the Yankees…
CB: As always you put it very well. Though I have to ask–has this anything to do with Jackson, or is it all Peña?
Pena is still young and sexy. He’ll be back up soon no worries. it wasn’t like he was getting good playing time anyway.
Albert-I know what you mean, but I want to win the WS more than beat Boston.
I think. Yeah, I do.
I just saw Jeet make that play. I still can’t believe he did that.
Hello fans, so I’m all for the idea of Joba being a starter…. but I’m not all for Joba being a starter. Sure I liked the idea of seeing 94-96 and a nasty slider for 6-7 innings rather than 98-100 for 1 or 2. But I’m seeing 90-92 with no control for 5-6 innings. CMW can give us that at 92-94 lately. I guess I liked thinking about Joba as a started throwing gas and being dominant but seeing him as a started makes me think he is better in the pen as a dominating 2 inning man. I vote two more mediocre Joba starts and its to the pen with him and to the rotation with Hughes. People used to fear Joba’s speed and adrenaline, now he just looks bored.
Hey Albert – I still want Cleveland to avenge Boston for 2007’s debacle, but I think I’ll be waiting a very long time, so I’ll settle for the Yankees taking care of it. (Yes, I know…that was the same year of the “Bugs in Cleveland” Yankee tragedy – lol)
Rebecca,
It’s all Pena. They must be very impressed with his athleticism, defense and specifically his ability to play balls in the air to try this.
Let’s put it this way – he’s only 23 and has never played in AAA. Rather than concentrating his time at SS they’re willing to challenge him to learn an entirely new position and the third hardest position on the diamond.
And 23 while not old isn’t exactly young to try to pick up a new position like that.
It’s very hard to do. But if he can do it they’ve got a great bench player for the future.
Gammons showing Youuuuuuuse(and Daniel Bard) lotsa love.
“Youuuse in his new role makes the Yankees so much better”
Make Sure you go vote for Tex
CB: mind if I use that quote in my blog?
CB -
They must also have liked what the saw from him offensively. He wasn’t overwhelmed by ML pitching. He got some nice hits, is a good bunter, good runner.
It’s kind of exciting they are doing this.
Rebecca,
That’s so thoughtful of you. Thanks. Whil I’m not sure which quote you’re referring by all means feel free to use anything I wrote in the above posts.
CB:
http://www.puristbleedspinstri.....n-aaa.html
Your quote puts it much better than I could have.
Rebecca, it’s more to do with getting Jackson and Pena time at all outfield spots. It’s not likely that NYY is handing over center field to a rookie, so being comfortable at all outfield spots makes sense with Jackson. He’ll settle into the center field job by the end of next year or sooner, though.
Rebecca,
It’s all Pena. They must be very impressed with his athleticism, defense and specifically his ability to play balls in the air to try this.
Let’s put it this way – he’s only 23 and has never played in AAA. Rather than concentrating his time at SS they’re willing to challenge him to learn an entirely new position and the third hardest position on the diamond.
And 23 while not old isn’t exactly young to try to pick up a new position like that.
It’s very hard to do. But if he can do it they’ve got a great bench player for the future.
————————————————————
& remember when they put him at 3rd? I believe I read that he didn’t have much experience there, and he ended up doing great for himself.
Rebecca-just posted on your blog as Wait till they Come.
“Youuuse in his new role makes the Yankees so much better”
SA, I heard him, he said scouts said before the Yankees had a hole in the late innings, now adding Phil Yusssse to the BP makes them sooooo much better than they were before. He also credits the FO in picking up Hinske saying this team’s starting to move from the 96′ and 99′ guard adding positive character guys. (something close to that)
CB nicely put, it took me prbly a few hours after my rant yesterday to figure out it actually makes us all around better if he learns this before Sept. since he’s supposively that much of a glove.
Michael Kay sounds totally convinced that the Yanks would win this game.
Doreen,
It is exciting. For along time we’ve been discussing how the organization just hasn’t produced enough of it’s own young players.
Then that started to change with the pitching staff. But it really appeared that position players were still a ways away, with the good ones in the low minors.
That’s been one of the main reasons why the team’s been perceived to have no depth and a bad bench. The only decent MLB experienced guy who’ll take a bench job is a player with liabilities.
But out of the blue we’ve seen Pena, Cervelli, and Gardner contribute with Melky having a strong come back given where he was as a player last year. 4 players is 15% of the roster. It’s the majority of a bench.
I never thought Pena could do what he did with the bat this year. Not as surprised by this defense (though I was by his athleticism…).
But the jump from AA to the majors is huge. Justin Upton is arguably the most talented young player in the majors right now. He has historically great tools. He tried to jump from AA to the majors and struggled. Now Upton was only 20 when he did that but he was also enormously gifted.
For Pena and Cervelli to go from AA to the majors and hit over .250 without being consistently overwhelmed bodes very well for the future.
TribeGirl- What position would you have him play? The current big league roster has far too many DH types who play mediocre field positions. He showed as a pinch hitter, he had little value.
When Duncan was last called up, he was destroying the minors. He is what he is, a AAAA player.
If Ramiro Pena develops into a Chone Figgins type of player, he’s certainly athletic enough to do so, he has a 10 + year career in the big leagues ahead of him.
Given present day contracts, he would make over 40 million dollars in the game. That’s how important it is for him personally to develop this kind of skillset.
The Yankees would then have a player under their control for 4+ years who can do a variety of things. That is huge for roster construction.
I also wonder if the improved play of Cabrera and Gardner has them re-thinking what they do with Jackson next year.
Another year in AAA or a spot in one of the OF corners?
Why would anybody want to take Hughes out of the bullpen for Joba right now? It makes no sense.
Hughes is a weapon in the bullpen right now.
Do some of you believe Joba is going to find 98 again coming out of the bullpen? He isn’t.
Hughes IS Joba of 2007 right now. There is no need to change it.
Go look up the numbers for #5 starters (Joba’s spot in the rotation) in the AL so far this year.
Then, look up Joba’s numbers. He is outperforming his slot in the rotation by a fair amount.
Add to it, the team is 10-5 in his starts.
Stop trying to make panic moves. He’s going to be in the rotation for the remainder of the season.
Its the only way he’s going to learn how to be an effective starter.
Pena was passible at third base, but, hardly great. It still helps that he got the experience at 3rd and 2nd bases, though. It’s a mistake that NYY has made for years…..not making their players more versatile. They have some players, like Duncan and even Ransom, among others that should have been given some time behind the plate, just for emergencies.
Be fair to Tex… he hit a gazillion foot double at Citi field. It would’ve been well out in any other ball park.
Also, Peter, admit it.. you’re just listening to the ‘59 Sound cause the Boss jammed with the GA during that song in Europe.
Sorry if this is old news:
I just saw where Kontos is most likely having Tommy John surgery. That is ashame as he was having a good year! Hopefully he will do ok and come out throwing with the velocity he had in college again or more. Wish him the best of luck!
Thanks guys.
Wait Till They Come: I responded.
SJ: Great point about Hughes/Joba. I’ve said this to some elsewhere, but between Hughes and Joba right now I take Hughes in the pen. He was doing better as a starter, but he’s turned into a complete beast out of the pen.
I’d even take him over the 2007 Joba, because 2007 Joba struggled if he had to pitch more than one inning and did have some control issues.
Hughes out of the pen? Not so.
Long term, Hughes is certainly a starter. But this is miraculously fun to watch. If only Girardi would stop taking him out in favor of Bruney…
“& remember when they put him at 3rd? I believe I read that he didn’t have much experience there, and he ended up doing great for himself.”
Pena had never played 3b of any significance prior to spring training.
I believe he’d never really played 2b either. Picking up the pivot at 2b on the fly isn’t easy.
I’d have to think they way he absorbed those two very different positions leads them to think he can pick up CF.
I’m not worried about Joba as a starter, but I am convinced that he could find 98 again in the bullpen and be that effective lights out kind of guy. He is only 1/2 years removed from that and adrenaline plays a big part. I would really like to see him go back to the pen and be the next Yankee closer. Mo is probably top 3 most important players on the Yankees since 1996 having another great closer to step in behind him soon will be far greater value than having a #3/#4 starter.
“If Ramiro Pena develops into a Chone Figgins type of player, he’s certainly athletic enough to do so, he has a 10 + year career in the big leagues ahead of him.”
Yep, if Pena does excel in the experiment, the Yanks don’t have to sign Figgins this offseason.
post updated with audio of Hinske…
R
Joba will go in the pen when his innings limit is reached by the end of the year. Hopefully he can find his fastballand translate it into starting.
“I’m not worried about Joba as a starter, but I am convinced that he could find 98 again in the bullpen and be that effective lights out kind of guy. ”
You’re ignoring the shoulder injury. Joba starts throwing 98 again, I will get worried. Not sure you want that sort of strain on his shoulder so soon removed from the injury.
Irish – DH him and also platoon with Swisher in RF when Swisher is slumping or needs a rest…I’m not a big Matsui fan. Too old, too hurt…
Dan-The thing is he can be a # 2 or # 1. He has that potential to be a real Ace.
I disagree Rebecca. If he starts throwing 98 again it means his shoulder is fine.
“Be fair to Tex… he hit a gazillion foot double at Citi field. It would’ve been well out in any other ball park.”
According to Sterling, he hit a HR…LOL!!!
By being willing to bring up Cervelli and Pena (and to some extent Gardner and Melky, too), Cashman has saved the organization money, but also was able to find out more about these players than he ever could had he been gun-shy and just gave in and traded for or bought players from outside.
This would be ideal. If you can develop players from within who are simply super-utility guys or role players, but good ones, then you can save your resources for the Teixeiras and Sabathias of the baseball world. You won’t be bringing in the Angel Berroas and the Morgan Ensbergs. And I like that perhaps a core of the team might always be home-grown. It’s good for the entire system.
I also like if they are “cross-training” so to speak as many of their minor leaguer as are viable candidates for it.
Certainly, in the future, one would hope the Yankees would never be in a position where there are too many guys who should be DH-ing.
Rebecca,
Thanks for the quote. Glad you found my post worthwhile enough to post it on your own blog, which is already terrific in and of itself.
Hinske is happy to be Yankees. But then again they all say that.
In case no one posted:
rbizzler (DC)
Any thoughts on Jesus Montero being promoted to AA and continuing to mash? In your opinion, what should be the Yanks timetable for a position switch as the bat is light years ahead of the D?
Jim Callis (2:33 PM)
He’s one of the very best hitters in the entire minors. Though I don’t think he’s going to catch in the big leagues, and he’s not going to displace Mark Teixeira as a first baseman. I guess they could try him in left field, but for now, I’d still be trying to see if I could make him a catcher.
Hinske sounds happy to be with Yanks
Your conviction is unfounded because he can’t generate the same consistent velocity he had since his injured his shoulder.
He also needs to get his legs in better shape which will help him find more velocity. That won’t be able to happen until the off-season.
Getting in better shape will help him immensely.
Also, forget about finding the next closer. Mariano is playing at least 2 more years. If he keeps throwing like he is, maybe longer.
They aren’t wasting an arm like Chamberlain’s to wait 3-4 years to replace Mariano as a closer.
He’s not going to be the “next great closer” of the team.
In fact, if I were Joba, Hughes or anybody else on the team, the LAST thing I would want for my career is to be the guy replacing Mariano Rivera.
Talk about pressure!
He may have the potential to be an ace, but I don’t see any qualities right now that would lead me to believe he will become an ace. He seems to lack any type of drive right now I just don’t like what I see from “Joba the starter.” I’m not worried yet, but 3 more boring starts and they should reconsider things a bit.
“Rebecca,
Thanks for the quote. Glad you found my post worthwhile enough to post it on your own blog, which is already terrific in and of itself.”
CB: Given the caliber of your posts here and on RAB, that is indeed high praise. Thank you.
“I’m not worried about Joba as a starter, but I am convinced that he could find 98 again in the bullpen and be that effective lights out kind of guy. ”
It’s not like he can just turn it on. You think he’s not trying to throw hard from the rotation ? he’s not just going to go into the BP and find it like that. He’s Hughes last season. Remember he’s recovering from an injury and hadn’t thrown for awhile from the rotation, offseason excercise and stamina training w/ fine tuning mechanics will help him return to form.
Dan-If you’re not worried yet there’s nothing to discuss.
Neither of them may want to fill in Mo’s shoes, but someone has to. I give Mo 1 more year. He’s throwing the ball great but he’s declining for sure.
Joba doesn’t need to throw 98 as a starter. If he consistenly hits 93-95 with his 3 other pitches he will become a great front end starter. With Wang struggling and Pettitte being very inconsistent you cant afford taking Joba out of the starting rotation. Especially now with Hughes pitching so well from the bullpen.
The good thing about Hinske is he’s known as one of those “good guys” of baseball like Swisher or Casey of the RedSox – is he still on the Red Sox??? Anyway, he’ll add to the overall excellent clubhouse chemistry the team has going this year.
I think there is something to throwing harder in the pen. Hughsie throws harder.
I checked the Red Sox game in the 7th inning and was satisfied to see the score still 5-1. And now the Red Sox won 6-5? UGH! %&^%^*!!!
Didn’t care for The 59 Sound… I had high hopes for the Gaslight Anthem due to constant plaudits, but the post-millenial spurt of Springsteen-punk is over for me. And boy, these guys lay it on thick… yeah yeah, dead end towns, back seats of cars, dreams gone sour, etc… tunes are catchy enough tho.
Doreen,
You are exactly right. Cashman not only saved the organization potentially millions of dollars in unwanted players, he is developing a solid core of role players.
For a team like the Yankees with a lot of stars, if your bench is filled with athletic players, it makes you a more dangerous team.
Pena, Cabrera, Cano, Gardner, Cervelli, Jackson, Montero soon, all are young guys who can really play and are at different levels of experience in the game.
We know about the young pitching on the way. To add these position players is only going to make this team better in the years to come.
Well to tell you the truth I don’t think he is trying to get that gitty up on the fastball that he would for 1 inning. Being a started is a COMPLETELY different mind set. I believe he is in the take it easy and go for a while mindset that is just what it looks like from my perspective. I’m not trying to argue with anyone everyone has their own opinion I’m just voicing it. There are a lot of arguments on this site, aren’t fans suppose to talk for the love of the game and discuss rather than bash.
“If you can develop players from within who are simply super-utility guys or role players, but good ones, then you can save your resources for the Teixeiras and Sabathias of the baseball world.”
I think this is the plan. Put together a significant core and then complement it via free agent signing and selective trades that are oriented around absorbing salary in order to minimize the talent you give up.
Look at the team. They spend enormous sums on CC, Tex and AJ.
But rather than try to create a “veteran team” to win now they took a flier on pairing those high ticket free agents/ aging core with a bunch of kids.
The pen is the same way. It’s Mo and Bruney and a internally developed players + a journeyman spot (tomko).
Pena doing well makes you feel better about Eduardo Nunez being for real (though really needing to work on his defense…).
And Jackson and Montero are not all that far off.
Rob Deere Jr. of Oakland has hit his 11th homer off of Verlander (2 run shot). Verlander gave up 4 runs in 6 innings.
Mo is declining? lol. Ok, whatever you say.
If you don’t see the potential of Joba as a top of the rotation starter, you either don’t know what to look for or aren’t looking at all.
Its not about being “boring”. He’s not there to entertain you. He’s there to learn his craft and try to get better.
I’m betting that in three years Hughes is our #3 Joba #4.
“Neither of them may want to fill in Mo’s shoes, but someone has to. I give Mo 1 more year. He’s throwing the ball great but he’s declining for sure.”
Mo in decline is still better than 99% of the other relievers out there.
CB: AJax is close, but I can see the Yanks keeping Montero at AA a while yet, till they can really get him a position. His value will increase exponentially if he can catch or, I’ve heard, play LF (since there’s a bit of a logjam at first) and he’s still so young–the youngest active player in AA–there’s no reason not to try.
SJ-I think he’s right about that one. Mo is 39. He can’t go forever. His fastball has dropped by a couple miles each year. What do you expect?
If Cabrera is so clutch why don’t we use him as a pinch hitter? That way we can put him in late in the right situation and we can avoid him striking out/popping up/not running out grounders for his first 3-4 ABs.
Well if declining isn’t going from 92-94 to 90-92 then I guess I have idea. I said he is throwing the ball great but everyone that doesn’t take steroids ages and once you start to age, it goes pretty quickly. Mo’s velocity is starting to show that he is aging which wont go away.
I’m really having a hard time understanding why people are still clamoring for Joba to go to the bullpen. He’s only had about 27 career starts…The jury is still out on him as far as being an effective starter. I happen to think he will end up being a good starting pitcher, but, it won’t come easy, as we’re seeing. Patience is a virtue. Players who are in the hall of fame struggled A LOT more than the inconsistencies Joba has endured thus far.
Dan-I disagree. Joba is better than Hughes. Both aree better than 3 and 4 starters.
aree is are.
You don’t just “find” velocity. Joba can still throw 95. He has in his starts.
The problem is, he doesn’t have the stamina or consistent mechanics to sustain it right now.
Going to the bullpen isn’t going to change that. Plus, they weaken the rotation. No reason to weaken two spots on the roster to put Joba in the pen.
Haha atleast I have some fan that sees what I mean in here Our House.
Seems as though The Yanks are trying to turn Pena into a modern version of Hector Lopez of the Yankee’s in the 60’s…Hector could hit off the bench, glove wise he took lot’s of abuse…..Pena plays short, he’ll become at least an average of…SS’s are usully the best athelte on the field…I’m biased….
BTW don’t know if this was posted but Mike Ashmore had this earlier – the Eastern League AA All Stars were announced and 5 yankee prospects were selected.
Zach McCallister (leads the Eastern league in ERA), Eduardo Nunez (nice year with the bat), Jorge Vazquez (signed out of mexico like Aceves), Reegie Corona, and Josh Smith all made it.
The first three guys are real prospects and are having nice very nice seasons, especially McCallister.
The all start game will be played in Trenton. It’ll be a great game to go see. In addition to the yankee prospects, Madison Bumgarner a pitching prospect for the giants will be in the game and he may wind up being the top non-Strasberg pitching prospect in the game heading into next season.
Our house
You think in three years Joba or Hughes will be higher than CC and AJ?
I found a good article from the Charleston, SC Post and Courier (Brett Gardner’s local newspaper), written by Travis Haney, that talks about Brett Gardner and his year.
It includes an interview with him, as he talked about many different things, including how he changed his swing during the offseason.
Here is the link: http://www.postandcourier.com/.....dner87757/
The Sox are a very good team – and that’s really all I need to know. I refuse to kill the O’s today – they showed a ton of guts coming back last night. They lost today because they just don’t have the pitching – but they didn’t quit. I don’t count on the Sox losing – all I want is the Yankees to play well and give themselves a chance. Forget that they are 0-8 against the Sox – the next time they play the Sox, it won’t matter because it’s a new day and a new game. I don’t believe the Sox are in the Yankees’ heads, but they have lost in so many different ways…I just wonder if the Yankees believe they can beat the Sox.
I wish I had more faith in Wang, but I don’t. I think he’s in the rotation permanently unless he blows up like he did earlier this year, so I don’t think Phil is real option. The problem is, the Yankees need more than mediocrity from him and I just don’t know if he’s capable of doing it.
Rishi
July 1st, 2009 at 5:39 pm
In case no one posted:
rbizzler (DC)
Any thoughts on Jesus Montero being promoted to AA and continuing to mash? In your opinion, what should be the Yanks timetable for a position switch as the bat is light years ahead of the D?
Jim Callis (2:33 PM)
He’s one of the very best hitters in the entire minors. Though I don’t think he’s going to catch in the big leagues, and he’s not going to displace Mark Teixeira as a first baseman. I guess they could try him in left field, but for now, I’d still be trying to see if I could make him a catcher.
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Montero’s no ice wagon horse, but, he also doesn’t have the foot speed to play left field in YS. Maybe at Fenway or Baltimore on occassion, but, no large outfields. Romine, on the other hand could convert pretty easily to a corner outfield or, as PAT M said, to third base. They both have good to very good arms.
You don’t judge Mo by velocity. You judge him by the movement of his cutter. The cutter is still nasty and he’s just rounding into shape, post-shoulder surgery.
“Declining” and “Mo” are always used in the same sentence. Unfortunately, the results, especially in save situations, don’t support it.
Joba used to throw 98 and hit 100.
Why has Hughesie’s velocity gone up in the pen?
I’m all for Joba the starter but there is definitely something to the idea that his velocity dropped as a starter.
Girardi himself pointed it out. ML pitchers and catchers agreew/the idea.
I happen to think Joba will be a number 1 one day but I’m not going to pretend his velocity hasn’t clearly dropped. It has.
SJ
I’d have to say from playing the game you can find some velocity from starter to pen. Throwing from the pen really gets you excited and just wanting to fire it in there and show something. I’ll bet Joba would be back around 97 that is my opinion look at Hughes.
Well I love Mo but if he’s closing for the Yankees at age 42 I will eat my hat.
SJ44-Idon’t get what you mean. He’s been awful in nonsave situations. His velocity drops are definitely important. Now if he misses with the cutter it is hammered. He used to be able to get away with it.
If your opinion is that Mo can pitch forever and ever fine, but he’s going to lose it one day and we need to be prepared when he does.
Dan-Yes, I think they’ll be better than A.J. definitely. CC quite possibly.
One day Joba miiiiight be a #1 but I don’t know that he will ever be until CC is going downhill. By that time who knows who will be around.
Tribe: as I am not the biggest fan of Matsui either, there is very little chance the yankees would just sit Matsui in favor of Duncan. The Dh spot will be, Matsui, Posada, Damon, A-rod. I highly doubt they would use Duncan in favor of those players.
I would love to see Duncan Succeed, but I don’t think he has a spot right now.
Our house – But in 3 years? CC is darn good and AJ is something as well when he’s on.
“Mo in decline is still better than 99% of the other relievers out there.” Ummm……yes!!!!!!!!
Again, I say relax and let Joba get some serious quality time starting. He hasn’t even had a full year of starting and this debate continues on. He’s so talented but has some tweaking that needs to be done as a starter at the major league level. You are lucky to have him – don’t ruin it by putting him in back in the bullpen. Look what’s happened to Wang and his mismanagement during and after his recovery. It’s now going to take the rest of the season for him to fully get back on his feet as far as his pitching and confidence! Hughes needs to develop like Joba did. He and Kennedy were thrust into the limelight as Yankee saviors last year – big mistake. Mix it up for him this year, like Joba last year, and then make him a full fledged starter next year. He, like Joba, has Ace potential, if worked and managed properly.
I do think the Yankees need a closer-caliber 8th inning guy, if not this season, then next, because I think you want to minimize multiple inning appearances by Mo going forward. That’s a tall order though, because closer-caliber relief pitchers want to be closers.
I have a Joba rookie card that I’m keeping in mint condition. I’m really banking the worth of that card that he’s something special.
What is the weather in bronx?
Let’s get 7 tonight
Hughes velocity is 1 or 2 mph faster since he joined the pen. This idea that he is suddenly something he wasn’t before is a falacy. He was sitting 93-94 hitting 95 now and then in his starts and now he is sitting 94-95 touching 96.
Joba’s fall from 98 to 90 isn’t simply because of when he’s pitching. Maybe it’s mechanical, maybe he is just getting worn down I don’t know but what I do know is that before Nardi got his hands on him Joba wasn’t throwing triple digits. Maybe he should have a chat with Mr. Contreras about keeping his mechanics consistent start to start and inning to inning.
He hasn’t been “awful” in non-save situations. He isn’t going to be perfect all the time and all of you expect perfection out of him.
ALL closers struggle in non save situations because the adreneline rush isn’t the same. Mo’s “stuggles” and real struggles are usually two different things.
You don’t find 5 MPH of velocity by going to the bullpen.
Hughes went from 93 to 95.
Joba isn’t going from 92-94 to 98-100 out of the pen, post-shoulder injury, again.
Hughes is also two years removing from blowing up his hamstring. He got his legs back and he’s added a couple of MPH to his fastball. Not the 6-8 MPH all of you think Joba is going to add by going back to the bullpen.
It doesn’t happen like that except in the movies.
“AJax is close, but I can see the Yanks keeping Montero at AA a while yet, till they can really get him a position.”
Rebecca,
To be honest it wouldn’t surprise me if Montero is closer to being ready for the majors than Jackson is just based on his bat alone.
I would not count on Jackson starting in the bigs to begin next season. I’d plan on him being in AAA for most of 2010.
I think Montero’s bat may be good enough by the middle of next year. I agree that they need to try to do everything to make sure he can catch but pretty soon his performance is going to make his arrival inevitable. He’s been on fire since winter ball.
He’s progressing faster than Miguel Cabrera did. That’s just amazing because Cabrera just tore through the minors and was a no doubt star in the making by the time he was in AA.
Pat M.
July 1st, 2009 at 5:53 pm
Seems as though The Yanks are trying to turn Pena into a modern version of Hector Lopez of the Yankee’s in the 60’s…Hector could hit off the bench, glove wise he took lot’s of abuse…..Pena plays short, he’ll become at least an average of…SS’s are usully the best athelte on the field…I’m biased….
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LMAO. Hector was not a pretty sight playing 3rd base, but, Lord, could he hit a fastball. The Yanks could have really used his bat in 1957 against the Braves.
Oh, thanks Uncle~~!!
Our house – Haha well I hope it happens what’s good for the Yankees is good for the fans. You should really work to get that signed.
SJ44-I believe his ERA in onsave situations over 5. Awful.
Hughsie’s fastball went up from 93 to 96.
The shoulder injury was clearly more of an issue than it should be. Tendinitis shouldn’t cut down his fastball so much. Probably a combination of his shoulder injury and his move to starter.
Hughsie’s fastball hits 96 now. It used to top at 93, maybe 94 once a game.
SJ – We don’t expect perfection out of Mo, but you do seem to expect him never to age? Heck he may never die.
Good grief. People need to stop overanalyzing this Joba stuff.
Hughes was throwing harder this season before he was switched to the pen. He has since picked up a couple more ticks because he’s able to let it fly and empty the tank.
You can’t do that as a starter.
Hughes was throwing 90-92 MPH last year and he upped the ante and was throwing 93-94 MPH in the rotation this season.
Hughes trusts his stuff a lot more and has been “proud of his fastball” most of the season as Flaherty likes to say.
Joba’s not just going to magically gain 7 MPH on his fastball by going to the pen. You’re living in the Land of Oz if you think that’s the answer.
So why did the RS trade him?
onsave is nonsave.
Yes I completely believe you can get 4 mph more out of the bullpen. So say Joba throws 92 now with this recovering shoulder, which would have to be OK or the trainers wouldn’t have him starting. So Joba could quite possibly throw 96-98 out of the pen.
I am not advocating Joba move to the pen. Far, far from it. I’m just saying that there is definitely something to the idea that Joba being moved from the pen has something todo with the velocity drop. That and the shoulder injury.
I love talking about the youngsters – it’s been a long times since we could talk about them with real optimism. I love Pena – if he could be like a Randy Velarde type, I’d be thrilled. His absence may hurt the big team a little, but the future awaits and he needs to play – that’s the only way he will improve. Folks on NYYFans (where I post a lot) were truly up in arms last night – they freaked out because they see Pena as having already reached his ceiling and they don’t think there is any point in him becoming a supersub when he definitely won’t hit enough. I couldn’t believe what I was reading, lol. Cervelli has been terrific – I don’t care if he ends up being a .230 hitter, the kid has a nice future in the bigs because he’s a heck of a catcher. He’s enthusiastic, he’s not afraid to get in a vets face (and how amazing is it that the vets love him already?) and he’s a tank – remember how he stood his ground at home plate in ST last year when he broke his wrist? The kid didn’t budge – he’s not afraid at all.
Gardner has been a very pleasant surprise. I still don’t think he’s an everyday player, but he and Melky have done so much more together (give them credit for being competitive and prideful enough to raise their games) than I ever would have thought. Melky’s clutch hitting has been remarkable.
What’s left to say about Phil? As others have said, he’s got his moxie back and he walks around like he owns the ballpark – boy do I love that. With he and Joba, our future is pretty bright, lol
“Rebecca,
To be honest it wouldn’t surprise me if Montero is closer to being ready for the majors than Jackson is just based on his bat alone.
I would not count on Jackson starting in the bigs to begin next season. I’d plan on him being in AAA for most of 2010.
I think Montero’s bat may be good enough by the middle of next year. I agree that they need to try to do everything to make sure he can catch but pretty soon his performance is going to make his arrival inevitable. He’s been on fire since winter ball.
He’s progressing faster than Miguel Cabrera did. That’s just amazing because Cabrera just tore through the minors and was a no doubt star in the making by the time he was in AA.”
Dayum.
That says quite a bit.
I guess then the question to be answered becomes: how do you balance the already evident value of Montero’s bat with the potential increase in his over all value if you can find him a position in the field?
What would you guys do?
GB, Old # 11 Hector Lopez…..He was alright if the ball wasn’t scortched right at him at 3rd…But he played there , ss, & 2nd but mostly in the OF…..But look at all the guys just the Yanks brought up as SS’s who went on to be very good CF’s…..Mantle, Tresh, Murcer..My point is and always has been, if you can play short, you can play anywhere on the field…..Extract positions # 1 & 2….
Thanks for the interview Pete. I loved hearing the music in the background, especially Aaron Hall’s “I Miss You”.
Who was playing that?
I’m not yet for Joba to the pen, but OK I’ll give him 5 starts that is almost a month and I’d atleast like to see something more.
UPDATE, 6:09 p.m.: For some reason it’s not raining and the game may start on time. I didn’t realize that was allowed. Back later on for first pitch.
So when Phil goes back to the rotation and sits at 93-94, will people question his velocity drop ? I’m hardly an expert, so for those who know: Phil’s stuff is obviously very, very good. Is that dependent on velocity? I wouldn’t think so. The word on Phil from the beginning was that he had tremendous late life on his FB, so when he threw 94 it would look to the hitter like it was 96/97. What part does velocity play in “stuff”?
I also LOVE Phil’s new, harder curve (thanks, AJ) – it’s a real weapon.
Gardner sparks the team in a good way,he’s contagious.
Velocity plays a pretty good part in “stuff” but the biggest part of any pitch is movement. Hughes lacks movement, but he has great control and gitty up. Also, who could complain about that curve.. nasty.
Hughes was throwing 90-92 MPH out of the rotation last year.
He came into this season healthy and much stronger and he was throwing his fastball closer to 93-94 MPH.
Now he’s moved to the pen and he’s emptying the tank because he’s only throwing one or two innings and reaching 95 and 96 MPH.
SJ is right. There’s a combination of reasons why Joba doesn’t have that velocity consistently.
His legs aren’t as strong (like in the case of Wang) and his mechanics aren’t consistent.
Check out the GameDay stats and look how hard Joba was throwing against Cleveland in early June.
The guy was hitting 98 MPH in the 7th inning and 97 MPH in the 8th inning after 100 + pitches. Look it up. The old Joba velocity was there.
It’s just not something he can do consistently yet. He needs to get stronger over the offseason and needs to get his mechanics down.
Betsy-That’s not to say velocity isn’t important. Velocity alows you to make mistakes and get away with it.
If Phil sits at 93-94 that’s fine. But Joba sat at 97-98 and would occasionally hit 100. Now he avg.’s 93.
Hard to believe that Jeter will be #3 in games played by late this year or early next year. He’ll be #2 by the end of next year.
Franco-I’m ready to believe that a combination of things led to the velocity drop. That’s believable. But it is a problem and I think at least part of the reason was the move from the bullpen.
Irish – I hear ya….but if they wanted someone else on the roster to replace Nady, they can use Duncan the same way they use plan on using Hinske, minus 3rd base. And seriously, if they ever actually put Hinske at third base, it will be a sight to see – oh geez!!! I agree with you on the other DH’s ahead of either of them – but if your not going to bring up your AAAA player (LOL by the way), then trade him and get something in return instead of letting him waste away in your own minor leagues… Like I put in one of my other posts, at least Hinske is one of those good guys that will add to clubhouse chemistry, but then again so is Duncan.
Do you know yankee has interested in korean college lefty? his name is Na… he’s 20 years old and his velo sits on 90~91, topped 92… late ining 92
He’s valued 2million… like pettite or bliech.. as a korean top prospect~!!
He is on intenatinal drafty this year… the signing may be in september
I’m korean…. yankee diehard fan… Do you think that?
DO you think that??
If Montero’s hitting becomes too good to keep him in the minors, I’d make him the backup catcher and use him as DH on the days he isn’t catching. Hopefully, when he catches, his big bat would compensate for his lesser fielding ability. Also, I would see that Montero got daily coaching from Tony Pena or some other expert in catching.
With Veras and Berroa DFA’d and gone, there’s little tinkering to be done by Cashman except for a good bullpen arm which would cost some young talent at the 7/31 trading deadline.
I hope those new doctors that the Yankees hired for Arod’s rehab can develop a lower half strengthening program for our pitchers to follow this upcoming offseason. Pitchers generate their power from their trunks not their arms. I think most of the Yankee pitchers have not done enough work for their legs.
Pat M.
July 1st, 2009 at 6:08 pm
GB, Old # 11 Hector Lopez…..He was alright if the ball wasn’t scortched right at him at 3rd…But he played there , ss, & 2nd but mostly in the OF…..But look at all the guys just the Yanks brought up as SS’s who went on to be very good CF’s…..Mantle, Tresh, Murcer..My point is and always has been, if you can play short, you can play anywhere on the field…..Extract positions # 1 & 2….
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Hector was a ball player with a big bat. Not afraid to play anywhere. Some of the best Yankee center fielders were guys that weren’t thought of as center fielders…Roger Maris and Joe Pepitone. Probably the best defensive Yankee center fielder that i saw was Elliott Maddox. Really a pity, because losing him might have cost NYY a couple of division titles, between his glove, legs and bat.
“What would you guys do?”
It’s a tough problem. I don’t know. This is all wild speculation on my part. He’ll most likely spend the entire year in AAA next year.
But what he’s done so far in AA (and yes it’s a very small sample…) just doesn’t happen. What he did as a 19 year old in high A rarely happens.
To put this in perspective, Mike Stanton an OF for the Marlins is considered to be one of the elite prospects in the game. He’s a lock top 10 prospect. He hit 39 HR in A ball last year as an 18 year old.
Stanton like Montero started the year in high A and then went up to AA around the same time.
What you see from Stanton is what you’re not surprised by from an elite prospect being pushed to AA – .214/302/.369/.671.
Montero is at: .304/.377/.478/.855 – and that is in the Eastern league where offense is depressed and in a home ball park that is very tough to hit in. And he’s been getting better over his first 80 at bats.
If push comes to shove they might bring him up as a DH/ Catcher and have him work with tony pena on his hitting while assuming the role of 3rd catcher getting game experience in controlled settings.
I don’t know how they’ll handle it. It’s both a difficult and promising problem to have.
Wait till they come to OUR house AGAIN July 1st, 2009 at 6:15 pm
Franco-I’m ready to believe that a combination of things led to the velocity drop. That’s believable. But it is a problem and I think at least part of the reason was the move from the bullpen.
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He was throwing 97 MPH in the 6th and 7th innings last year when he was in the rotation. Look it up.
He was throwing 97-98 MPH in the 6th and 7th innings when he pitched out of the rotation in the minors in 2007.
So he did have that velocity in the rotation. He was just able to hit 99-100 MPH when he was pitching out of the pen in 2007 because all he did was empty the tank every time he was handed the ball.
One other outstanding center fielder when Mantle would get hurt was Tony Kubek.
GB7, question…Who was better defensively, Mantle or Dimmaggio?
Franco-There is a reason his velocity dramatically dropped. It’s probably a combination of the shoulder injury and the move from the bullpen, along w/maybe being out of shape.
Montero seems destined for some combination of catcher/DH. I have not seen him in person but some have suggested LF is not out of the question.
I think Hughes has had pretty good movement lately. He may end up the closer in 2011, who knows?
guys keep writing about a veteran reliever, but who is realistically available that might be an improvement? The best I’ve come up with is Michael Wuertz and he’s nothing special through he’s improved a lot this year due to better control.
If you go to the Scranton Yankees website they have Peña’s position listed as 3rd base?
bloomberg news has an article on the yanks meeting there ballpark bonds.
man the yanks are flush with money, even with the ticket sales being down, they are loaded.. trost may be a a hole and not consumer friendly but the yanks have a tremendous balance sheet…………..they make money at attendance at 3 mill. they make a ton of money at that level and they will probably draw 3.6 mill this year, do the math………………
Wait till they come to OUR house AGAIN July 1st, 2009 at 6:24 pm
Franco-There is a reason his velocity dramatically dropped. It’s probably a combination of the shoulder injury and the move from the bullpen, along w/maybe being out of shape.
—————-
So what’s the point in advocating his move back to the pen if he’s not going to be the same pitcher?
It doesn’t make any sense at all.
Franco-I NEVER advocated his move back to the pen. Ever. Ever. Ever.
I’m just not buying that the move from the pen didn’t affect his velocity.
GB, Elliot Maddox was an outstanding CF who hit .300 and did it all…..He was part of the building blocks that Gabe Paul sort when he took over..He stole Maddox from Baltimore…Destroyed his knee at Shea….But then Gabe turns around and dumps Bonds and gets Rivers and Figerero…..Forgot about Tony Kubek, played a real good of, as did Ellie Howard……I fully expect some heat on this, but I still say Hughes will be the better pitcher when it’s all said and done…..He just has better mechanics than Joba….We’ll see in about 5-7 years
Brandon…Joba = Rick “The Vild Thing” Vaughn according to some here LOL
July 1st, 2009 at 3:43 pm
“Joba to the pen. Joba to the pen. Joba to the pen.”
Shut the hell up. Shut the hell up. Shut the hell up.
=====
You can write it out 800 times, or hire the Goodyear blimp and fly that exhortation over Yankee Stadium.
It remains the dumbest idea going. He’ll only end up there as a result of innings limits, and then you’ll never see him there again with any regularity.
Wait till they come to OUR house AGAIN
July 1st, 2009 at 6:22 pm
GB7, question…Who was better defensively, Mantle or Dimmaggio?
————————————————————
I couldn’t say because I never saw DiMaggio play except in a few old hi-lites and games on tape. Mantle made mistakes, but, like Bernie williams, only more so, had the speed to outrun any mistakes he made. Going by what Berra, Ford, Martin and other old team mates of both said, DiMaggio was as good as there was. DiMaggio is another that the Yanks signed as a shortstop.
Wait till they come to OUR house AGAIN July 1st, 2009 at 6:29 pm
Franco-I NEVER advocated his move back to the pen. Ever. Ever. Ever.
I’m just not buying that the move from the pen didn’t affect his velocity.
—————–
It does affect his velocity by a couple of ticks. Maybe 1-2 MPH. But not 5-7 MPH as some people seem to think.
GB7-Signed as a SS? Didn’t know that. Thanks for the nugget.
AJ tried throwing as hard as he could, as a starter…. and it ended up causing him numerous injuries.
The 5-7 MPH drop came from somewhere. Probably a combination of moving from the pen, being out of shape, and the shoulder injury.
Condo-He still throws harder than Joba right now.
Pat M.
July 1st, 2009 at 6:29 pm
GB, Elliot Maddox was an outstanding CF who hit .300 and did it all…..He was part of the building blocks that Gabe Paul sort when he took over..He stole Maddox from Baltimore…Destroyed his knee at Shea….But then Gabe turns around and dumps Bonds and gets Rivers and Figerero…..Forgot about Tony Kubek, played a real good of, as did Ellie Howard……I fully expect some heat on this, but I still say Hughes will be the better pitcher when it’s all said and done…..He just has better mechanics than Joba….We’ll see in about 5-7 years
————————————————————
Yeah, Ellie never got credit for being able to play in that big left field as well as he did. Could have been a great in baseball if…..
Maddox reminded me a lot of Garry Maddux and especially Paul Blair.
Didn’t the Mick have something like 67 errors his first pro season? Hellooooo outfield!
Aww Pena seems sweet. Best of luck to him.
CB: Goodness, that is a crazy good problem to have =)
Wow, Montero doesn’t even turn 20 until November and he’s hitting .300 in AA with 11 RBI in 19 games.
He is learning how to be a starting pitcher. When you do, you take your lumps. It happens to everybody who tries it.
====
Once and for all:
If you do not see the wisdom of Joba Chamberlain as a starter, you are not interested in the Yankees building a pitching-centric powerhouse from within.
If you are not interested in this, and don’t have the patience to endure Joba and other talented, but less worthy system arms fall down and skin their knee en route to potential greatness, well then you are not interested in the team’s long-term success.
You are not interested in the Yankees regaining their status as a dynasty.
There is no lasting success possible without building your foundation from within – particularly pitching and, I daresay, up-the-middle position players.
Joba to the Bullpen is the clarion cry of people who
A). couldn’t care less about the long-term, competitive health of the franchise
and
B). who have the attention span of talk radio jockeys…..Oh, wait…
…Make that intellectually challenged talk radio jockeys…
…which, may be redundant…
Wait till they come to OUR house AGAIN
July 1st, 2009 at 6:31 pm
GB7-Signed as a SS? Didn’t know that. Thanks for the nugget.
————————————————————
He played shortstop for the San Francisco Seals because his brother Vince was their center fielder.
86w183
July 1st, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Didn’t the Mick have something like 67 errors his first pro season? Hellooooo outfield!
Jeter made 56
Who is the main person who sends the player down or calls up a player from scranton? Is it Girardi, Cashman or somebody else?
Iheard Vince was the best fielder but worst hitter. One of the great ironies of baseball is that Joe Dimggio, the Boston Red Sock, set the record for longest hitting streak in Sox history (somewhere in the 30’s). His final out the day it was broken was caught by brother Joe in CF.
Iheard=I heard.
Hughes as the closer? Never happening………So Phil has a straight FB but it’s very effective because of the late life/giddyup?
86w183
July 1st, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Didn’t the Mick have something like 67 errors his first pro season? Hellooooo outfield!
————————————————————
I believe it was something like 55 errors at shortstop. Jeter had 56 in his 2nd year in the minors, I believe.
GB. Maddox came on in 73, when the Yanks were actually in 1st place at the ALL-Star break, but faded in August…In 74 they were there again and Maddox was hitting in the .330’s, but Balitomre went on a great run run in late August and early September and the Yanks just didn’t have the horses on the mound and Elliot tore up his knee….Paul Blair is the best comparison to Elliot’s game, only Maddox had a better stick…He ended up in Texas but was never the same…He did sue the City and was awarded money but his career was lost……Shame is we never had the chance to see him realize his potential…..He and Billy had issues, but Munson, Nettles, Chambliss, Pinella all loved him on the team….
hinske has more pop than pena & cervelli.
he is a bench player & can pinch hit.
pena & cervelli are nice players but don’t have the power hinske has.
instead of pena,cervelli & ransom we have ransom,molina & hinske.
a little more power.i wouldn’t get upset over it.
we should be excited that we are playing well,2 games back in the loss column with boston,the rays lost today,our pitching is rolling including the pen.
it would have been nice if the rs lost today.almost.
Hey guys I mentioned a Joba rookie card earlier…how much would a mint condition Derek Jeter rookie card be worth?
Wait till they come to OUR house AGAIN
July 1st, 2009 at 6:43 pm
Iheard Vince was the best fielder but worst hitter. One of the great ironies of baseball is that Joe Dimggio, the Boston Red Sock, set the record for longest hitting streak in Sox history (somewhere in the 30’s). His final out the day it was broken was caught by brother Joe in CF.
————————————————————
Yeah, Dom played for Boston and set the team record that ended with Joe’s catch. Vince was a pretty decent power hitter, but, struck out a lot. Played a solid center field for a few teams.
HInske will be ARODs caddy? YIKES!
LOL just looked at my Jeter rookie card on Ebay. $15.00.
Pat M.
July 1st, 2009 at 6:46 pm
GB. Maddox came on in 73, when the Yanks were actually in 1st place at the ALL-Star break, but faded in August…In 74 they were there again and Maddox was hitting in the .330’s, but Balitomre went on a great run run in late August and early September and the Yanks just didn’t have the horses on the mound and Elliot tore up his knee….Paul Blair is the best comparison to Elliot’s game, only Maddox had a better stick…He ended up in Texas but was never the same…He did sue the City and was awarded money but his career was lost……Shame is we never had the chance to see him realize his potential…..He and Billy had issues, but Munson, Nettles, Chambliss, Pinella all loved him on the team….
————————————————————
Only got to see Elliott maddux play on TV and live in about 40 games, but, he was a brilliant defensive player and had a high average bat and speed. If he had remained healthy, I doubt that NYY would have ever gotten Mickey Rivers who had the same skills, but, was not even close to Maddox defensively.
from bleacherreport.com:
“DiMaggio’s only flaw was that he rarely made a difficult play because he rarely made a play look difficult.
There wasn’t a player with a better, stronger, or more accurate throwing arm than DiMaggio’s when Joe was in his prime.
Runners refused to challenge him, and the season that he suffered from a sore arm, he said that he would make one hard throw a game.
“It was the only throw I had in my system. Once I let go, I was through for the day.”
PAT, losing Maddox in ‘75 and Stottlemyre in ‘74 killed those two years and beyond. Stottlemyre was only 31 and finished when his shoulder tore apart. He could have easily won 250-275 with those 1970s teams.
The chefs.
http://twitpic.com/8zjn4
Gabe Paul was a brillant GM…..He may have had the greatest winning streak in trades the game has ever seen….He stole ROY’s like a thief in the night….Just think he combined Pinella ( 1969 )with ( home grown 1970 ) Munson & then Chambliss ( 1972 ? )…Plus he steals Graig Nettles and Willie Randolph ( 1976 ROY )….When he left to go back to Cleveland as George thought Gabe was getting to much credit, the Yanks started to decend into a mindless free spending mode in the early 80’s and then of course a merry-go-round of mgr.s & GM’s….
Mick had 6 errors his 1st season not 67! Most were on throws I’m sure.
Lets go Yankees! May you have a very solid game Andy!
Poor Matsui. After a long week on the road and not playing, he’s not playing again.
Rayvt
July 1st, 2009 at 7:02 pm
Mick had 6 errors his 1st season not 67! Most were on throws I’m sure.
————————————————————
The 55 errors from Mantle was in his first minor league year as a shortstop. He was a shortstop until Stengel moved him to right field in his rookie year because they had the 1950 AL MVP at short (Rizzuto).
I missed Phil’s interview with Kim and it’s not on YES.com -anything of interest? I’m pretty annoyed with myself, lol
I have an autographed mint condition upper deck Jeter rookie
Let’s go Yankees
Pat M.
July 1st, 2009 at 7:01 pm
Gabe Paul was a brillant GM…..He may have had the greatest winning streak in trades the game has ever seen….He stole ROY’s like a thief in the night….Just think he combined Pinella ( 1969 )with ( home grown 1970 ) Munson & then Chambliss ( 1972 ? )…Plus he steals Graig Nettles and Willie Randolph ( 1976 ROY )….When he left to go back to Cleveland as George thought Gabe was getting to much credit, the Yanks started to decend into a mindless free spending mode in the early 80’s and then of course a merry-go-round of mgr.s & GM’s….
————————————————————
Gabe Paul, Gene Michael and Al Rosen made quite a team back then.
Ok! Sorry. Mick also played some SS & 3B for the Yankees in his early years, but not much. He was a great outfielder and could have been even better if he hadn’t blown his knee out backing up Joe D on a routine flyball I believe.
AAHH I JUST SAW MY UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT ON TV!!
Okay, so it’s grad school…but this is awesome.
And something you guys might not know:
Earlier this year, McShane got U2 to play a concert at Fordham, a mini concert. For free.
AAAHHH.
Suzuki, Branyon and Griffey are going to be Pettitte’s biggest problems, tonight.
Tex working for that gold glove!
Joe D. was a hell of a player, but not a very good person.
Rayvt
July 1st, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Ok! Sorry. Mick also played some SS & 3B for the Yankees in his early years, but not much. He was a great outfielder and could have been even better if he hadn’t blown his knee out backing up Joe D on a routine flyball I believe.
yep. On a fly ball in the ‘51 WS hit by Willie Mays.
The ball has not been carrying at the stadium since the middle of the last home stand. Weird stuff.
Joba is still capable of hitting 97 late into the game. Look at the Cleveland game.
It’s all about mechanics and leg strength. If he improves his mechanics his velocity WILL come up.
It’s all about mechanics and leg strength. If he improves his mechanics his velocity WILL come up.
—
he could improve his mechanics… in the bullpen!
A Padre’s blessing bestowed…
Posada calls, Pettite nods…
One–two–three inning…
Great at bat by Johnny. Tex is due for a bomb.
GB, Good call on Al Rosen as I forgot about him being in that Brain Trust…I remembered Michaels as he was learning the trade from Gabe, but Rosen slipped my mind…….Texeria has a break out game tonight
Uh oh
RT @BreakingNews BULLETIN — EMERGENCY SERVICES RESPOND TO CRASH IN NEW YORK CITY INVOLVING STATEN ISLAND FERRY; CASUALTIES REPORTED.
Tex! Lets go Alex. Stay hot my friend.
Betsy
“I missed Phil’s interview with Kim and it’s not on YES.com -anything of interest? I’m pretty annoyed with myself, lol”
___________________________________________________________
I don’t think you’ll miss anything, she usually posts all her interviews on her blog.
20 pitches for washburn…get to the pen
Pat M.
July 1st, 2009 at 7:19 pm
GB, Good call on Al Rosen as I forgot about him being in that Brain Trust…I remembered Michaels as he was learning the trade from Gabe, but Rosen slipped my mind…….Texeria has a break out game tonight
————————————————————
Rosen never got much credit for the work he did, especially with George steinbrenner. He held the reins on George and taught him baeball. The only thing in sports that GS knew was track and football.
Ancient Mariner…
Returns to his father’s home…
Thunder clouds encroach…
Renata, true – I’ll check later. Thanks!
Pena > Ransom
A-Rod > all of em
A-Rod EASILY makes that play. Why is Ransom even on the roster? He can’t hit, and he can’t field. What purpose does he serve?
I smell a 5-4-3 triple play.
Ransom has certainly not impressed at 3B.
Ah well, so much for the triple play. Like the K though….bad call lol!
Omg that was way outside lol
Maybe Ransom is just rusty, hasn’t played that much.
wow this umpire is terrrrible…that ball was 2 feet inside
The great thing about Arod is that he has the arm strength where he can stay back and wait for the perfect hop, and then make a strong throw to nail the runner. Other third baseman sometimes come in too soon and then get stuck with a bad hop.
RalphieD
20 pitches for washburn…get to the pen
======================================
Wash has a rubber arm (always throws a ton of pitches)
And, although it wasn’t evident last night, be careful what you wish for (M’s pen is 2nd in ERA only to the BoSox)
Off to my daughter’s graduation – Go M’s
another homerun for montero!…
Montero is a beast
Pete, is Molina ONLY playing tommorow and friday ? or a few more
Posada will need more than a blessing hes a terrible catcher…JK
30 pitches for Andy 22 strikes 8 balls
By blessing Posada, Father McShane extended the blessing to Montero.
Rebecca
I met Father McShane over 25 years ago. Your schools President is a really nice man.
Robbie! Swish!
Jesus Montero with his 3rd HR in 3 games. Man among boys
That’s a prime example of why Cano is better suited hitting 6th or 7th. He gets on base at a pretty nice clip with the bases empty, so he can start a rally from the bottom of the order to loop back around to the top.
get em home melky
melky’s only clutch from the 7th inning on, not in the 2nd.
dp
By blessing Posada, Father McShane extended the blessing to Montero.
—
The Father asked for Jesus’ blessing, so Montero responded
was that a replay of the first inning exactly?
Washburn is pretty damn good
Doesn’t get rattled at all
funny how the 2 guys who had big hits last night (arod and melky) both have hit inning ending double plays with 2 guys on in 2 innings so far…ironic much?
Jesus Montero. Top 5 prospect in baseball. End of story.
RalphieD (OPPC),
Its early
Why is Michael Kay being even stupider than usual?
Is today GIDP DAY,Uhm…?
I really, really hate stupid at bats. It’s an up and in pitch out of the strike zone. There is nothing you can do with it except ground out to the third baseman or foul it off. So why in the name of all that’s holy would you even offer at it, especially with two men on base? Stupid twice doesn’t equal bright, it equals stupid squared.
“ironic much?”
Just baseball.
45 pitches for Andy 32 strikes, 13 balls
Listening to the Hinske’s interview. Someone tell Swish to turn down the volume on the music. It is very distracting.
Pettitte seems to match up well against the free swinging teams (ie. Marlins and Mariners). I know the M’s don’t have a great offense anyway, but they really help by swinging early in the count and getting quick outs.
I was brought up to believe that Jesus wasn’t real. That he was some fantasy people believed in to have hope.
Well, 23 years later I have discovered that Jesus is, in fact, real.
He plays catcher for the Trenton Thunder.
Give us 6 innings Pettitte
# Rebecca–Optimist Prime July 1st, 2009 at 7:50 pm
I was brought up to believe that Jesus wasn’t real. That he was some fantasy people believed in to have hope.
Well, 23 years later I have discovered that Jesus is, in fact, real.
He plays catcher for the Trenton Thunder.
Lmao
Right and when you pull a low outside pitch what are the results? You ground out to the SS. It isn’t just baseball, it’s stupid baseball. Here’s a thought, voiced in Little League, “Go with the pitch”.
ramiro pena has more value to this team than ransom or hinske. never should have been sent down.
Jesus Montero with another HR, that’s 3 in 2 days.
Damon!!!!
yea damon!!!
Damon!
Lefty on lefty crime.
“Why is Michael Kay being even stupider than usual?”
His brain has less oxygen
Damon is positvely DAMONIC!
Does any 2 hole hitter produce as many runs as Damon? With all the homeruns he hits and having Tex and Arod behind him, it would be hard to find someone with more runs + RBI.
“Jose Molina on his way to Pawtucket, the Paris of Rhode Island.”…Why is Paris a dump????
Bo Knows is in the house, and it’s early….Makes too much sense to go with the pitch…..Was one of the first things that I was thought and never was not being mentioned all through my playing days…..The great hitters have always and will always adhere to this basic and fundamental hitting approach…..Ted Williams was unique in this regard however……Hope you’re hanging out for the game Bo Knows…
50 pitches for Washburn 30 strikes, 20 balls
Why is Tex not hitting?Yesterday nothing too.
WOW, damon has 15 already. Realistically, I think he could finish with 30 but I’ll give 26.
From a Padre’s perch…
Watching Damon’s drive ascend…
A divination…
Dude is digging in his nose and Im eating. YUCK
“Why is Tex not hitting?Yesterday nothing too.”
he had a hit yesterday among other hard hit balls and he has one hit today…what do you want from him?
Wow Michael Kay can text on the job. If I text I’m fired
Pat M.
July 1st, 2009 at 7:01 pm
“Gabe Paul was a brillant GM…..He may have had the greatest winning streak in trades the game has ever seen….He stole ROY’s like a thief in the night….Just think he combined Pinella ( 1969 )with ( home grown 1970 ) Munson & then Chambliss ( 1972 ? )…Plus he steals Graig Nettles and Willie Randolph ( 1976 ROY )….When he left to go back to Cleveland as George thought Gabe was getting to much credit, the Yanks started to decend into a mindless free spending mode in the early 80’s and then of course a merry-go-round of mgr.s & GM’s….”
Of the not so good signings- Andy Messersmith was signed as a FA from the Braves and in 1978 went 0-3. He was injured and the Yankees weren’t aware.
I’ll bet the guy on third comes home,something the Yankees don’t do too often
Hey Pat
I vote that we buy 20 copies of Williams’ book and donate them to the Yankees. Seattle has the second best BP in the Majors, I hear. Andy will give up three runs in six. Washburn has given up one run in three innings. The window of opportunity is getting smaller.
Tex bobbled. It happens.
RALPH.runs for starters!
tex always bobbles on that play like that or he going threw a srtetch just a fluke
HI guys, just got in from work – And one thing gets to me right now….
Some earlier posts re:Joba in the the pen.
Look. The guy is 23 and just getting started in his career. According to everyone he has great stuff. Right now, he’s having some difficulties translating that to results. But he’s not bad. Not at all. If he were some vet in the no.5 spot, his results would be lauded as a great find by Cash.
Let him learn his craft, specifically, how to get out hitters who are not minor leaguers or overmatched college kids. Guys who get paid to hit. It’s not like he’s getting bombed and the Yanks lose everytime he pitches. Use that luxury (i.e., the team winning) to let him learn his craft, and the dividends down the road on this investment can be enormous. Or hasn’t anyone noticed what Johan Santana gets paid, or Roy Halladay will get paid?
hahahahaha
The Paris of Rhode Island?
Hahahahaha.
Pawtucket is a place you should really avoid if you’re planning a visit to Rhode Island any time soon.
Messersmith was hurt in spring training when he fell on his shoulder covering first. That finished him. Gullett’s signing looked like a genius move the first year.
“RALPH.runs for starters!”
cool that sounds great….there are 8 other players in the lineup though…tex doesnt have to do it by himself
Here comes the vaunted Yankees offense, swinging at the first pitch after their pitcher gives up runs and has to work.
that went quickly
Nice 5 pitch inning. So much for working the count.
Washburn’s pitch count was getting up there, an inning like that extends him further in the game.
Great night at the ballpark. Not many empty seats.
A Rod, Pull the low outside pitch. Stupid is doing the same thing and expecting different results. Washburn gave him the opportunity to fail.
Ralph of course not!!
LOL at Pettitte!
Not much of a “bandbox” tonight.
That pitch to Cedeno was crushed and died on the warning track.
Nice to see Andy has figured out how to pitch at the Stadium.
Melky way
fair?
Leche!!!!
Can’t take a lot of pitches tonight because Dale Scott’s strikezone is huge.
That’s why the game is going so fast.
Melky!!!
That was a moon shot.
The dreaded replay.
Is it a HR?!?
That umpire better come out waving his fingers in a circular motion.
Washburn has always been tough on the Yankees.
Only a fool would have thought they would rough him up tonight.
ahhh nice
Melky baby!!
Well, I was wrong about Melky. He was going for a HR last time.
Yeah…Washburn is one of those guys that pitches well against the Yankees, but if they traded for him last year or two years ago, he would have stunk up the joint.
aw snap..is he ight?
Vader,
Exactly.
Oh yeah, Ransom is a much better option at third than Hinske. Ransom is hitting .190. solid. Dont get why everybody here doesnt like the deal.
Jesus went deep again in AA
JR!
Home run Griffey Jr! If there’s anyone I wanted to see hit a home run here, it was him. Too bad we weren’t leading 3-1 because it’s tied now. :/
damit..y cant we score mroe runs
Give Andy a lead and he’ll give it right back. Everytime, never fails.
its ok andy…your pitching a very good game…
Puff…second tonight??
Why give Griffey anything to hit? He had already hit the ball hard twice today and the M’s don’t have much in the lineup after him.
Yankees giveth and Andy taketh away.
Erica was right. I DO hate Griffey. I was just suppressing the hatred because he’s old. I will happily meet him under the O’Neill Banner.
Andy taking over from Moose as the guy on the staff who always gives runs the half inning after they score. Been a season long problem for him.
New ballgame.
Ancient Mariner…
Swings against age’s advance…
A pair of deuces…
The question I have is this… If the Yanks had been able to finalize a deal for Washburn last year who would NOT be a Yankee right now, AJ or Andy?
My other question is this, is tonight the first time Hughes appears in consecutive games?
C’mon Andrew!!
That ball Griffey hit may not have been a home run in a lot of ballparks. However it was a mistake pitch and Griffey ripped it. If it’s not a homer in some other parks, it’s definitely a double.
Say what you want about Pettitte, but he fights, and grinds it out.
Andy should have served that pitch with toast. Belt high fastball, a little outside so he could extend the arms.
Andy and Washburn are pitching similar today.
a blessing
Heh. Gotta get those third outs any way you can.
lol
What a brain cramp by Gutierrez!
He thought the count was 3-2, runs half speed on the pitch, and gets thrown out to end the inning.
Only problem was, it was 2-2!
Jesus 1-1 HR BB
anybody that complains with how andy has pitched TODAY is silly…2 runs in 6 innings is great for him…so what he gave up a 1-0 and 2-1 leads….1 runs leads are not much…and when you score 2 runs overall its hard to expect your pitcher to keep those leads..
Great Griffey moment for me was in game one of the 95′ playoffs…we were sitting in the left field bleachers and everyone is just hekling him to death…he wouldn’t look at us and then late in the game he hit this bomb and as he rounds second he just looks at the left field bleachers and smiles.
When he comes out after the inning was over he just kinda smiled and went about his business.
If there was any player over the last 20 years that I wanted to wear pinstripes it was him…if George had only allowed kids in the locker room and on the field.
Any bets where the first pitch will be?
Alex~!!!!
A-Rod seems to be back in the groove.
Mr. Clutch Alex Rodriguez
Thank you, Alex. Thank you.
Nice!! HUGE Shot from A-Rod
Yes! Alex
Dude has been so clutch.
Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeet!
there we go arod!!!….hopefully this go ahead 2 run shot keeps the lead..unlike yesterday
“Andy will give up three runs in six. Washburn has given up one run in three innings. The window of opportunity is getting smaller.”
nice prediction
Alex the great.
It is time to admit that he is not washed up after all.
Pete et al.???
86,
Would have been Andy. I’d rather have Andy than Washburn.
Another big hit by Arod. The haters are upset again.
That was a bomb!
cano…
Maybe Phil was held out of the 8th inning last night because they wanted to try him back to back for the first time?
Pete never said he was washed up. Never.
That was all Buster Olney and his unnamed scout sources.
I would guess Buster would like a do over of that column.
Atta boy Alex.
Cano Cano Cano,Mr swing at 1st pitch!
Milk Pettitte for one more inning, Hughes in the 8th, Rivera in the 9th and everyone drive home safely.
cano with 3 plate appearances and about 6 pitches. really does he have a brain?
he is the worst 300 hitter I have ever seen…
cano is the opposite of a bad stat good player.
Well, my friend and his kid went to the game tonight, with our tickets, because his son wanted to see Jr. one last time. If the Yanks win, we all get what we want.
Olney tried to make a hip point, but, Alex showed him up. The risks of that sort of journalism, I guess.
In all of the discussion about the game yesterday I don’t remember any comments on what a huge hit Alex got with that home run yesterday.
That was an extremely “clutch” hit.
Instead today was largely drowned out by all the conversation on what’s wrong with Joba and where did his velocity go.
It’s a great example of how the times Alex does deliver in big spots simply vanish from memory.
I have a feeling that if he didn’t deliver in that spot yesterday we’d have heard about what a choker he is.
He crushes the ball and it’s forgotten.
Tonight in another high leverage situation he absolutely demolishes the ball.
He looks great. Not trying to do too much and demolishing the ball. Remarkable how such an easy, smooth swing generates so much power.
And on top of that he’s playing great defense.
Phil to Mo please
2 more outs an Andy is out,hope they keep the lead.
Tipping my cap to Andy for tonight’s performance.
verrry nice game by andy tonight…he should feel pretty good about this one assuming they go on to win
Great Job by Andy today if this is his last inning.
Hudson’s hero heard…
Landing among monuments…
The Bronx Bombers’ bronze…
Why would a Yankee fan hate A Rod? Kind of an oxymoron isn’t it?
Let’s try this again. I really hate stupid at bats, Cano – three at bats – 4 pitches….
bottom of the 7th.. next inning yanks go to the pen.. I go with Hughes but Aceves may be OK also.
Will the ygo to Bruney? as a blogger wrote managers love to manage by numbers. this guy is the 8th inning guy this guy is the 7th inning guy, never based on look or feel…
whatever happens if they give up some runs girardi will be blamed…
Sweet Jesus Andy kept the lead!!
CB,
I’d have more respect for the Anti-Alex crowd if they showed up here when he is hitting.
Instead….cricketts.
If he hit into a DP? Post after post that he “never hits in the clutch”.
Buster has defended that column two or three times already…saying that since Alex admitted to have used PEDs it was OK to question his poor play and that all he was doing was relaying what scouts were saying.
Anyone know who is warming up for the 8th?
OK. Big decision coming up. Who pitches the 8th inning? You’be got a right handed bat in Cedeno and two left handed bats in Suzuki and Branyon. I’d give Pettitte a batter to batter. Coke against Suzuki and Branyon is scary.
come on melky and cody your not power hitters take pitches
CB, you’re right. Huge kudos to Alex. I happen to like the guy and have been staunchly on his side since he’s been a Yankee. I’m very happy for him – and frankly, I don’t care about hypocritical fans who boo him one day and cheer him the next. Those aren’t real fans. By the way, I want all those alarmists who wrote Alex’ obituary to come out of the woodwork and acknowledge that they were wrong…….not that they will do that. They were all thrilled that Alex was struggling so badly…..and, by the way, Manny has gotten a free pass. When he returns, it will be like the prodigal son returning – celebrated nationwide and by ESPN.
I go to Hughes because Joe has to see if he can pitch in back to back outings and be effective.
Can’t be an 8th inning option unless you can go back to back days.
That’s the test for Phil before they can consider him for the 8th inning role.
Best game Andy pitched at the Stadium all year.
That has to do wonders for his confidence.
Let Phil pitch…..
Bo Knows
July 1st, 2009 at 8:56 pm
Why would a Yankee fan hate A Rod? Kind of an oxymoron isn’t it?
Let’s try this again. I really hate stupid at bats, Cano – three at bats – 4 pitches….
————————————————————
No complaints about batters striking out on pitches in the dirt twice? Or weak grounders by Swisher?
No Phil nice : /
Dynasty is Destiny -
I see you are incorporating some alliterative talents into your haiku. Nice.
Ace where you been man?
ace got this!
SJ44
Alex has not proven he is clutch or not. This games are pressure cookers. The only way he will get “he is choke artist” off his back is when he performs extremely well in the playoffs.
Yes, he is hitting terrific right now. But still in my mind, I do not want him hitting in a must hit situation in the playoffs. For example bases loaded two outs bottom ninth down a run.
Alex is not proving he is clutch by hitting homeruns against the Mariners and the Triple AAA mets. Sorry.
Alex will never fully get it.
Aceves is in.
Stupid……
SJ,
Not that many comments on this game thread. I wonder why? Crisp game that goes by quickly with the yankees ahead for most of it.
If most times you come up in a big spot and deliver people take it for granted but always harp on the failures that’s “unclutchness” by a self-fulfilling prophecy.
We still haven’t seen Alex and Tex hot together. But I think it’s coming. Tex has looked better the past couple of games.
Tex will offer Alex a lot of protection even though he hits in front on him due to how often he’s on base. Washburn there couldn’t nibble against Alex as Tex was on first and there was no open base.
I can’t believe the torque he’s generating through his hips now. Two weeks ago it almost looked like he was getting caught during his rotation. His arms just kept flying out ahead of his body and his lower half couldn’t catch up.
You watch that last swing – it was just perfect. Everything was balanced, coordinated and allowed him to let the ball travel to him.
Hello Ace
The most inept thing about Buster’s column was that it never achnowledged that Alex had produced at a pretty high level for five years since testing began and yet he questioned if steroid use was now hurting him. It was a preposterous premise. Here also keep writing crap like we’ll never know how many of his HR were due to PED use…. Buster boy, we all know the answer is NONE OF THEM
They are not performance CREATING drugs they are performance ENHANCING drugs. Thus nothing anyone has ever done has ever been DUE to PED use… at most it gave an assist.
Andy had a good outing.
dude is batting 137 and hes about to walk him
This is the equitable solution letting Aceves pitch. Just puts off the hughes/bruney debate for another day.
I still don’t see how Phil is going to get any significant innings pitched when he goes 1 at a time. Honestly, there’s no reason Phil should not be in this game now….1 inning at a time, or 1 inning every few days is just not going to cut it.
Nice to see Joe managing to the reality of the situation in front of him rather than “The Book”
[/sarcasm]
ACE!
nice hold ace!…ok coke..your turn!
now, Hello Coke
Admitting to PED use is really a strawman argument because hip surgery overrides it.
According to him, and there is no proof to the contrary, he hasn’t used since 2003.
That makes it more logical than surgery, not PED admissions, were the cause of his slump.
Aveves doesn’t need a shower after that outing.
Phil can shadow CC tomorrow!
Alex has been very clutch lately.
It should be noted that Pettitte had a very decent quality start.
GreenBeret7 ,
Aceves is in.
———————————————————
Really? What gave you the first clue?
A-rod will never get it July 1st, 2009 at 9:04 pm
SJ44
Alex has not proven he is clutch or not. This games are pressure cookers. The only way he will get “he is choke artist” off his back is when he performs extremely well in the playoffs.
Yes, he is hitting terrific right now. But still in my mind, I do not want him hitting in a must hit situation in the playoffs. For example bases loaded two outs bottom ninth down a run.
Alex is not proving he is clutch by hitting homeruns against the Mariners and the Triple AAA mets. Sorry.
Alex will never fully get it.
*********
I guess you missed the games against the Twins in 2004 huh? He is just about the only reason that Yankees made it out of the first round.
Way to go, Coke. Ichiro was a big out.
A-rod will never get it
July 1st, 2009 at 9:04 pm
SJ44
Alex has not proven he is clutch or not. This games are pressure cookers. The only way he will get “he is choke artist” off his back is when he performs extremely well in the playoffs.
Yes, he is hitting terrific right now. But still in my mind, I do not want him hitting in a must hit situation in the playoffs. For example bases loaded two outs bottom ninth down a run.
Alex is not proving he is clutch by hitting homeruns against the Mariners and the Triple AAA mets. Sorry.
Alex will never fully get it.
*****************************************************
Can’t you find a corner somewhere and skulk in there with Jay?
2 DOWN
Girardi classic over managing again.
Newsflash… stop trying to be Tony LaRussa.
Ace could have finished the inning. Going to Coke 2nd night in a row.
CC may give the club 7 or 8 innings – if the Yanks are leading, they go to Mo (unless it’s a big lead, in which case what’s the point of using Phil unless it’s to eat innings). I don’t mean to belabor the point, but I just don’t have any proof that Joe intends to get Phil the innings he needs. Having faith is not an easy thing, lol…..
CC may give the club 7 or 8 innings – if the Yanks are leading, they go to Mo (unless it’s a big lead, in which case what’s the point of using Phil unless it’s to eat innings). I don’t mean to belabor the point, but I just don’t have any proof that Joe intends to get Phil the innings he needs. Having faith is not an easy thing, lol…..
“Alex is not proving he is clutch by hitting homeruns against the Mariners and the Triple AAA mets”
A few HRs against the Mariners or a few triple A line-ups may have been the difference in getting to the postseason last year.
Why not just appreciate today and worry about October when it gets here.
the coke has def not been give yankee fans bloody noses lately.
Hughes for the save?
This is an interesting approach to the 8th inning. Mix ‘n’ match. So, Joe’s not going by the book here. Or is he???
A-Rod will never get it —-
I strongly urge you to do some research into the post season performances of the some of the best “clutch” performers ever. You will be astounded at some of the horrible series Reggie Jackson, Mickey Mantle and Derek Jeter among others have had in their careers. No one is clutch all the time. To say only post-season performances count is childish.
CB — good observations on Alex. To me the key with him never changes… all pitches middle/away must be hit middle away. when he does that and drives through the ball he is one of the two best hitters in baseball along with Mr. Pujols.
Pat
I am appreciating it.
It simply does not prove if he is clutch or not clutch. Simple as that.
Coke!
I quite like our bullpen now.
Coke Classic
yea coke!!!….the dude is having a great year (coke that is)
My mistake. I guess Coke is it.
……..now he’s warming up, and Joe said that when Phil warms up and doesn’t come in the game, he treats it AS a game (which I approve of). That means, no Phil tomorrow
Is Joe Girardi automatically smart if the moves work? Is he only stupid if they don’t? Or is he stupid and just lucky?
GB
I only have so many arrows in my hate quiver. You mean those Swisher over swings on a junk pitcher. Why didn’t you say so.
Okay, here goes, I really hate all of the following…. (Please insert names where appropriate).
On a different note, Andy pitched a very nice game, aided by Seattle batters, “greatly appreciated guys”.
And someone just shot off fireworks in my neighborhood to celebrate that K.
Bullpen has been pitching outstanding lately. Life in yankee bullpen land is so much better now that veras, ramirez, and Jessica Albaladejo are gone.
He’s not the best late inning guy, but Phil Coke is really solid.
Always going to throw strikes. Always.
Umm
Alex has sucked in the playoofs besides the twins series.
When you are the highest paid baseball player/ have all the talent in the world your job is to carry the yankees in the playoffs. He has not done that one bit.
He hit 8th because Torre knew he would kill a rally, or not come through we the team needed it the most.
Please, he’s proven himself for years.
They don’t make the playoffs in 2007 without his clutch hits.
It’s not just about October. You gave to GET to October.
That’s why it’s a stupid argument.
Second night in a row showing you why you don’t stack lefties in a lineup.
Makes it too easy to matchup against it.
However, on a positive note – great pitching all around tonight. My word, this game is going by fast – I may even be able to get a good night’s sleep tonight, lol
He had the inning planned out. Didn’t want to use Hughes for 1 batter.
Joe has mis-stated his use/non-use of Phil so many times I stopped paying attention. He never got completely heated up tonight so he should be availble tomorrow.
Exaclt what does prove someone is “clutch”? It’s like arguing with a middle schooler
Holy Cramola – a 94/95 MPH smoke upstairs by Coke. Where did that come from?
A-rod will never get it
He was “clutch” tonight and that’s all he can control tonight.
Besides, the postseason is the time for pitchers to be “clutch” because it’s too easy to marginalize hitters especially in a short series.
There are too many kids here who follow the leader and developed to hate A-Rod. You can not help it.
Give credit to Peter, before the season started he said Hughes would have an impact on this team and pitch a good amount of innings.
Good call Pete, you really know your shit.
2-4. GJ Alex
Alex is just seeing the ball and hitting the ball.
MO TIME
Uh, Pete, Mo is up.
“To me the key with him never changes… all pitches middle/away must be hit middle away. when he does that and drives through the ball he is one of the two best hitters in baseball along with Mr. Pujols.”
Agreed. When he’s hitting the ball up the middle/ center field you know he’s locked in. The thing with him is that he has more than enough power to hit the ball over any center field wall.
But before that rest that looked impossible for him to do. His upper half was moving faster than his lower half could.
But it is frustrating when he gets pull conscious and his swing gets long.
Ignore posters like this – it’s like talking to a brick wall and they just want to get rise out of people.
omg a non-cano 5th batter hit in a douple play???!?!?!?…is that even allowed?
He hit 8th because Torre screwed up and he has admitted it since.
You really have no idea what you are talking about.
Let me guess, 14-16 years old, Francesa lover, blinded by nonsensical Arod hate.
He’s proven he’s more clutch than you have presented any logical argument he us not.
A-rod will never get it
July 1st, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Pat
I am appreciating it.
It simply does not prove if he is clutch or not clutch. Simple as that.
————————————————————
Prove that “clutch” in baseball only exists in the 7th-9th innings? Without quoting some idiot like Bill James.
Po sa da another first pitch job.
Yeah St Joe hitting Alex 8th really worked. What a genius!
A-Rod has this streak going on:
11 years in a row of 35+ HRs and 100+ RBI.
Will he continhue the steak by achieving those milestones this year?
I think he will.
What do you think?
It will be an amazing feat given how many games he lost due to injury this year. Right now he is at 13 HRs and 41 RBIs.
Or, prove that it only exists in playoffs. Hell, prove that it even exists.
Give the well deserved credit to Peter. He called that hughes would play an important role this season with the Yankees before the season started.
Pete you really know your stuff. I should take your info and start using it to gamble.
Doreen
July 1st, 2009 at 9:12 pm
Is Joe Girardi automatically smart if the moves work? Is he only stupid if they don’t? Or is he stupid and just lucky?
****************************************
Thats a very good question, Doreen.
Per Sweeny
Last time Junior and Alex hit HRs in the same game was 9/21/99.
Give me some MO!!
Two hours and 15 minutes and we’re in the top of the 9th.
This is the anti-last night’s game.
come on mo
Is everyone trying to jinx this game?
Thats an interesting bit of trivia, Pat.
arod proven, guy a hater
2 more Mo
Don’t know how someone could say that JR homer was a cheapie
Ahhh… The 95′ matchup that never was.
“He had the inning planned out. Didn’t want to use Hughes for 1 batter.”
Sure he did. That’s why hughes was warming up. If Coke lost the lefty Hughes would have come in for the righty.
Instead Hughes just warmed up for no reason and didn’t get into the game.
Girardi’s use of Hughes the past two days has been nonsensical.
If you were not going to use him tonight why not throw him for a second inning yesterday?
And why use hughes and bruney in the same game yesterday? It’s clear that girardi doesn’t want to use bruney back to back games. If that’s the case why throw him and hughes the same game? Throw Hughes for the 7th and 8th yesterday and use Bruney for the 8th tonight as bruney has been decreed the 8th inning guy?
7 in a row….
for a team that was supposed to be 10 games back and finished according to some people just a week ago…
not too shabby
Go Yanks!
1 more please
Yankees win!
vintage
CB, that is what I have been saying. It’s very hard to defend Girardi here and I won’t do it. I don’t like bashing members of the Yankees organization. I criticize, but not unduly so. I just feel that Joe has no clue as to what he’s doing with Phil. He can’t pitch tomorrow as he warmed up without coming in and he’s not getting enough innings. Frankly, I don’t have faith that Joe understands that Phil needs to pitch. There’s a disconnect between what he’s saying (Phil’s a full blown reliever, he can be used back to back, etc……) and what he does. In other words, I think he’s gutless
7th in a ROW~
13 games over .500… and climbing
No strikeouts? Mo must be declining.
YANKEES WIN GREAT PITCHING TODAY AND LONGBALL. give washburn credit he pitched well
Always like fast games that are wins.
Wow, what a ridiculously quick game………
MLBTV Cuts off the interview cry
That was MO, better blues for Seattle 15 pitches,Ah!
Tremendous job tonight by Andy. Excellent effort.
The M’s have been playing good ball. They are a very different team than last year.
What a difference in the pen compared to earlier in the year. Giving a 4-2 lead to Veras and Albaldejo wasn’t working out so well.
The pen is completely turned around.
If Hughes pitches the 8th inning yesterday, Arod has the game-winning homerun 2 days in a row.
Theeee Yankees win!
great win yet we much continue to bash the manager…it makes perfect sense!
Sucks that the Sox won, but the Rays lost, so we’ve now opened up 2 games (I think) on them…..
MO “he raised a good boy”
talking about Wetteland
give giradri credit he made moves, i would went with hughes in the 8th, but giradri was right
The whole A-Rod clutch bs is just that bs…..Yanks need Alex in order to win, plain and simple….If you’re a Yankee fan why rag on # 13…..
Game threads on nights like these are a pleasure….really weeds out the fans from the phonies…..
man quick game today.
Vargas VS Cc hoping for a sweep
Al’s YES on-field post-game reaction:
http://www.zshare.net/audio/62113000ad299419/
1MB (HQ)
Ralphie, come on……..no manager is above criticism. Personally ? I love Joe – he was an important member of the dynasty Yankees and I think he’s a terrific person. I don’t criticize him lightly. I’m thrilled the Yankees won, but that does not make his handling of Phil any the less stupid.
you know whats great about the yankees this year.
That every night they are putting out a quality starter and then on most nights a very good pitcher.
Lets go Yanks and lets get the sweep tommorrow.
“so we’ve now opened up 2 games (I think) on them…..”
Rays 4 back in the loss column.
That man is on pace to break 600 next year….let’s hope he’s not needed tomorrow. wait a night for 503
Betsy,
Really, exhale. They won the game, every move he made worked and the team us more than just Phil Hughes.
If needed, he can go 2 tomorrow.
A manager isn’t “gutless” when he’s trying to make moves to win games.
Hughes has been, and will continue to be, an important part of the equation.
They just aren’t going to make every decision around him.
Thanks Pel!
Betsy that and Pete laying down the law,about his blog.
Vargas VS Cc hoping for a sweep”
———-
CC should shut them down but I’ve been impressed by Vargas.
I could see a 2-1 game.
It’s funny how things can change so quickly in baseball. A week ago we were coming off back to back series losses to the Nats and Marlins, and were shutout by the Braves. Now we’re the hottest team in baseball.
I personally like Joe too and he was my choice to replace Torre, but he’s been pretty inept in a lot of ways. The lying about player injuries last year on numerous occasions, and other bonehead moves he makes like last night taking Hughes out in the 7th and replacing him with Bruney. Hughes was crusing and another inning would have gone toward building up his arm a bit and avoid Bruney’s meltdown – just 1 example of many headscratchers Girardi brings up.
Anyone see the John Wetteland interview on the pre-game show? It was really nice to see him again – he looks the same, lol.
Pat, thanks!
JR.’s HR was definitely not a cheapy, infact none of them were tonight.
Pel thanks,too!
You’re right, SJ – I just get a bee in my bonnet about certain things and I have a hard time letting go. However, I don’t want to spend the night complaining when the team just won it’s 7th in a row.
tim boat, they didn’t want to waste Hughes that inning for on RHB. The next two guys were LHBs and Coke needs work too. Hence why Aceves was the sacrificial get 1 and out guy. Hughes is going to be used in high leverage situations, like a fireman BP arm.
Looks like the papers and tv clowns will be filled with plenty of stuff tonight and tomorrow…..everything from the “Yankee Launching Pad and jetstream” (even though there wasn’t a bloop among them), to “Is Arod on the Juice”, or, “Girardi is Lying To Us about Using Hughes”. Maybe they can each take one to wail and whine over.
they didn’t want to waste Hughes that inning for *one* RHB
Shutout by the braves?
If CC has good command tomorrow he can throw a CG. The M’s swing early and don’t hit well.
wow, that was a quick game. Who knew the Yankees could play under 3 hours!
I hardly read the papers, GB – only a few columnists are worth reading (Feinsand is one of them).
i was a fan of giradri te replace torre. i need to see more switching jeter and damon, i love that move
Andy got the fear of the new stadium out of his system,this is a good thing.
Girardi has been so “bad” this year, his team has what, the third best record in baseball so far this year?
Terrible. Just terrible.
Hmm, I guess Joel Sherman is now a columnist for SI.com -another reason to avoid that site?
they better not mess around w/ Al’s off days, he needs his rests don’t want to Lowell him.
McAllister pitched only 4 innings tonight at Trenton, but only gave up one run.
Pitch count? Not an injury, I hope.
“Ralphie, come on……..no manager is above criticism. Personally ? I love Joe – he was an important member of the dynasty Yankees and I think he’s a terrific person. I don’t criticize him lightly. I’m thrilled the Yankees won, but that does not make his handling of Phil any the less stupid”
unless you just do not like hughes in the bullpen period, then there is nothing wrong with how joe has used hughes…if hes a reliever then thats what he is right now…by nature, releivers do not get consistent scheduled work..they may pitch 4 out of 5 days then maybe not for 3 days…girardi made a decision today and thats that…could he have used hughes?..sure why not, i love hughes..did he have to use him? no.
I was just criticizing Joe on the Hughes thing – I’ve not been a critc of him this year. Any manager has a figurative kick me sign on his back ……that’s the nature of the job.
“Girardi has been so “bad” this year, his team has what, the third best record in baseball so far this year?
Terrible. Just terrible.”
Just attrocious.
rconn,
I’m pretty sure it was a pitch count issue/ workload issue for McCallister or the staff.
“McAllister pitched only 4 innings tonight at Trenton, but only gave up one run.
Pitch count? Not an injury, I hope.”
It’s not injury, they must be doing something w/ him.
McAllister pitched only 4 innings tonight at Trenton, but only gave up one run.
Pitch count? Not an injury, I hope.
____________________________________________________________
lets hope promoted to AAA ….so low pitch count???
Sprinting to the All-Star break….The West Coast swing will be the springboard to start the second half….
Come from behind wins are not “luck” and “magic” — geez, Michael Kay. So these 7 wins in a row are “legitimate” while the wins they got by coming from behind were not?????
I know you don’t want to have to come from behind every night. But the wins are still legitimate. And it is good to establish early both within a team and in a league that the Yankees do not stop playing until the last out is made. That is why cfbws are so important.
Fair enough, Ralphie. I’m just thinking long-term…
Interesting booth report – talking about how this stretch is more impressive than the 19/25 stretch because the pitching is better overall, plus the fact that there were a lot of “fluky” walkoffs in that stretch. I don’t think it’s fair to categorize those wins as fluky, but I also agree that that is living dangerously and the Yankees (no team, actually) can make a habit of that. Per Kim to Alex, the Yankees haven’t been behind in a game since I think that game in Atlanta when Joe got tossed.
“McAllister pitched only 4 innings tonight at Trenton, but only gave up one run.
Pitch count? Not an injury, I hope.”
It’s not injury, they must be doing something w/ him.
I’m hoping for that
Joe is doing a good job as manager, but you can only guess at the pressure he’s under. Warming up Hughes with Coke pitching well was a major mistake. He has to calm down and focus on the big picture. That is a move that you make in the playoffs, not on July 1st.
Eduardo Nunez is killing the baseball in AA.
YES post-game Booth Report with Lorenz, Kay, Singleton, and O’Neil:
http://www.zshare.net/audio/62113547a77b8bdf/
7.6MB (HQ)
If the weather cooperates I will go and see Scranton and Jose Molina play in PAWtucket tomorrow night (known to locals as Puhtucket.)
Mike Dunn had an ugly/good
ugly 2 HR 4 ER
good 2.2 IP , 5 K’s NO WALKS
Pat M. Since when has the west coast swing ever been a spring board…but here’s hoping for that!
Girardi has to think about more than Phil Hughes. He needs to get Bruney going (which is why you saw him in the 8th yesterday against the bottom of the order), and needed Aceves to at least get into a game (had not pitched in a week), and needs to get Coke plenty of AB’s against tough lefties. I’m not sure what the big issue is, so Hughes warmed up. If he is really a full reliever, it should not make him unavailable tomorrow.
McAllister probably bound for Scranton. Kontos out with surgery.
Only in NY can a team be criticized for having the ability to come from behind in games. Unreal.
Sometimes, Kay needs to talk less. It will make him sound smarter.
Poor Nady – hardly surprising news, but man – this puts his career at stake. To be one of the only ones where TJ surgery didn’t work? For this new procedure to have worked on Saito and not on Nady? It seems unfair, really. Nady tried to come back to help this team – he didn’t deserve this. I hope he makes a successful comeback.
Brandon…Joba = Rick “The Vild Thing” Vaughn according to some here LOL
July 1st, 2009 at 9:47 pm
“McAllister pitched only 4 innings tonight at Trenton, but only gave up one run.
Pitch count? Not an injury, I hope.”
It’s not injury, they must be doing something w/ him.
————————————————————
They’re going to put McAllister in the bullpen. They’re going to make him a closer.
j/k. I just want to see something about why Girardi is screwing over Hughes.
Correction: j/k. I just want to see something besides about why Girardi is screwing over Hughes.
I agree that those wins were not fluky – dumb comment – but I still don’t think it’s a good thing having to come back all the time……and, frankly, it’s just not possible to do so.
LOL GB
I love when Mo does the post-game interview with Suzyn.
Every time it ends, he says, “thank you honey”! Lol
if 4/5 starters go into the 7th inning this next time around, Phil needs to go down, no?
Geez Pete, if a dummy like myself could figure out what Girardi was doing in the 8th so can you.
i wonder if the yanks should sign nady to can some deal giving him rehab and bring him back when he ready
Pete, geez. Give the over-analyzing every guy they warmup a rest. It seemed pretty clear that Joe chose to go the matchup route in the 8th and Phil was up just in case someone got on to come in and face a righty. Bruney threw a lot of pitches last night and is coming back from injury. I don’t know what you find so mystifying about that. Do you need to hold Joe to the most literal interpretation of everything he says? The 8th inning need not be as rigid as the 9th in terms of who you use in what situations. Chill out and allow yourself to take a break from being negative for a few innings every once and a while (when they’ve one seven in a row is probably a good opportunity). You’ll be a lot happier.
Montero just bombed a double high off of the wall in left in the 9th, down 5-3.
Nady without any setbacks should be ready to go by next Opening Day.
“Per Kim to Alex, the Yankees haven’t been behind in a game since I think that game in Atlanta when Joe got tossed.”
Pitchers have kept them in it and the offense did their part but it all starts with the pitching.
Betsy,
They came back in almost half their wins in ‘96.
You take wins anyway you can get them.
It also builds a never say die attitude every championship team possesses.
Girardi’s YES post-game reaction:
http://www.zshare.net/audio/621138487f4923b8/
7MB (HQ)
I absolutely love Rivera’s pitching sequences. It’s total poetry. Each pitch has purpose and continuation into the next pitch. He lulls hitters. Some days it’s like – “the optimum pitch would be”…
SJ44
July 1st, 2009 at 9:56 pm
I love when Mo does the post-game interview with Suzyn.
Every time it ends, he says, “thank you honey”! Lol
————————————————————
I thought I heard him call Jones that last night. I’m just happy that he didn’t call Larry Jones “Honey”.
Listen I think Girardi overmanages at times and I don’t like playing match up like he does, but I understand what he’s trying to do with those relievers. He’s trying to develop these guys to be comfortable in their roles.
Phil Coke king of the candid interview.
The belt goes to Andy.
GB7,
are you playing a video game?
real people aren’t supposed to hit that well.
And yet they’ve made little headway against the Red Sox, which is the whole point of the season. Getting clobbered by Boston has probably cost them the division.
————–
Good grief. It’s July 2nd and only back two games in the loss column.
And they’ve already lost the division?
A fine Yankee fan you are.
No, that’s not the whole point of the season.
The point of the season is to make the playoffs and win the World Series.
Believe it or not, there us more to the baseball season than just Red Sox games.
Pel-thanks again for the audio links
Bo – Yep, Mo is best I’ve ever seen…as for Hughes, he is an investment…been a starting pitcher his entire career (at the young age of 23). He needs to be protected, if you get him up, bring him in…This is July, not October baseball.
“Betsy,
They came back in almost half their wins in ‘96.
You take wins anyway you can get them.
It also builds a never say die attitude every championship team possesses.”
SJ44,
Yeah, Kay can say some dumb things and I understand your point about the never say die attitude, but I think Kay was trying to make a point about the Yankees showing some consistency by beating other teams without having to make comebacks because they’re the superior team to those other teams.
I didn’t realize that Pettitte had bought a media outlet. I see mics from YES and his own AP.
“And yet they’ve made little headway against the Red Sox, which is the whole point of the season. Getting clobbered by Boston has probably cost them the division.”
————
I believe they picked up a game and a half (over 40% of the deficit) over the course of the 7 games.
I didn’t realize that was “little headway”.
GF,
Hes not a Yankee fan. He’s a crybaby.
Real Yankee fans aren’t crybabies. Bandwagon Yankee fans are.
Right now, the Yankees need to be concern about winning every series and then around August 1st, you see where you are in the standings and worry about the Red Sox then when you have more games coming up with them.
On June 24th, the Yankees were 5 games out.
They are now 2.5 out.
That’s pretty darn good (esp. considering the Sox played Washington, Atlanta, and Baltimore)
Coke’s YES post-game reaction:
http://www.zshare.net/audio/621140873ba51023/
2.7MB (HQ)
“If you were not going to use him tonight why not throw him for a second inning yesterday?”
What an arm-cahir pundit statement is this.
How would Girardi know yesterday how the game will play out today.
Does every one who warms up in the BP, pitches in the game? The truth is they do not. The managers alway have backup plans if things do not go as planned. As yourself stated, Hughes would have been in if Coke failed to get the lefty out. What if Hughes did not warm up and Coke failed. There was a potential to lose the game.
Uncle Tito sez: Muy Bueno!
Yep Boston Dave, chip away…get better…and perhaps beat them the next time we play them…Fenway was not a fun place to be during the last set of games, but I had my Yankee hat on and my obnoxious Yankees shirt on…
Andy’s YES post-game reaction:
http://www.zshare.net/audio/62114134204ff99e/
3MB (HQ)
I disagree. Michael Kay clearly used the word “legitimate” in referencing the last 7 wins, which to me leads one to believe he believes the other wins were somehow less than legitimate. Plus he referred to those wins as dependent upon “luck” and “magic.” Pretty sure he wasn’t making any point about consistency.
“Fenway was not a fun place to be during the last set of games, but I had my Yankee hat on and my obnoxious Yankees shirt on…”
——–
that’s the spirit. I’ll do my best to make it to the next series.
I’ll have my Joba shirt on…
as long as he isn’t run out of town by the “bored and angry” New Yorkers before then.
BBFan, I understand where you are coming from. But it’s July 1st, not October…Hughes has huge upside that needs to be protected…
Hey Boston Dave, we’ll have to hook up for a beer at the ‘cask
Doreen you’re welcome to disagree, but I’m standing by my point about consistency and being the superior team.
Yanks are playing their best ball of the season by far…..Starting and consistent pitching has a way of doing that….
GB, where do you come up with these “jokes” and who encouraged you, lol?
“Pete, geez. Give the over-analyzing every guy they warmup a rest. It seemed pretty clear that Joe chose to go the matchup route in the 8th and Phil was up just in case someone got on to come in and face a righty. Bruney threw a lot of pitches last night and is coming back from injury. I don’t know what you find so mystifying about that. Do you need to hold Joe to the most literal interpretation of everything he says? The 8th inning need not be as rigid as the 9th in terms of who you use in what situations. Chill out and allow yourself to take a break from being negative for a few innings every once and a while (when they’ve one seven in a row is probably a good opportunity). You’ll be a lot happier.”
Well said, but do not expect any change.
This blog’s motto is criticise Girardi and Alex whether they deserve or not.
Trisha- that should be fun. Do they have a nice stadium out there?
“I see mics from YES and his own AP.”
GB
AP, YES and a Yankee logo mic- I thought the same thing too but don’t tell anyone.
Kay is right about one thing.
The team is playing much more crisp baseball during this streak than they did when they had that other streak in May.
And that’s primarily because the pitching has been a lot better. The starters have been great and the pen has really done the job as well.
The Yanks had to come back in lot of those games in May because the pen wasn’t doing the job.
I like the professional set of Coke. “My job is to get hitters out. Do my job, focus on my mechanics”. Mechanics must be good when he’s bringing it at 95. As a reliever it’s instant results – good or bad.
The problem is the Yanks have already shown that they can’t compete with the Red Sox head-to-head this season, so they would have to play at an extraordinary pace to overtake them.
Everybody on the team plays like they’re psyched out and intimidated vs Boston.
Cash is King -
I thought you were saying that was Michael Kay’s point. I don’t disagree that it’s good for the Yankees to be able to win both ways – all ways, as a matter of fact!
Consistency is what you strive for. But I think both not trailing in a game AND being able to come from behind shows a strong team. But mostly, winning is a good thing all the time, and no wins should be thought of as “illegitimate.”
Michael Kay was just particularly inane this evening. The whole score/scoreless/no score nonsense in the beginning of the game kind of set the tone.
I think they’re going to use Hughes a lot in Aug/Sept. He’ll probably get more 2 or 3ip those months.
“And that’s primarily because the pitching has been a lot better. The starters have been great and the pen has really done the job as well.”
This was the way the team this year was designed to pitch. Game in and out they are getting excellent starting pitching – even when they went into that two weeks funk.
As long as the pitching staff stays healthy there’s a great chance that they are going to put up strings of high quality starts 8-9 games out of every ten.
We’re seeing the blueprint from the winter come together.
Giuseppe, yep the team is starting to come together…perhaps Cash was right, all the pieces were in house. I still think we could use another bat, but hey, I was beating the get someone for the pen idea so that shows what I know…
Yep, the pen has really come around – I never thought I would see the day, to be honest. If we can get Bruney back on track, the pen could be a strength. Robertson can do ok in lower-leverage situations and Coke has pitched very well lately. Aceves is reliable and Hughes has been dominant. Now we wait and see if Wang can right himself – if he does, the team will be very dangerous.
Christina, it’s pretty nice for what it is. I’ve never seen Scranton nor had I ever seen Columbus, but I did go to Connecticut when the AA Yankee team was there and that stadium was beautiful. I tend to think the Yankees do it up wherever they are. McCoy was done over a few years ago. It’s very user-friendly but of course predominantly Sux fans.
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.....p;sid=t533
I had a pretty cool picture I took of Melky last year when I went to see Scranton in the playoffs at McCoy. I’ll see if I can find it.
Can we buy Aaron Boone?
It boggles my mind that someone has made millions capitalizing on the nostalgic feelings of fans. It boggles my mind that someone will pay hundreds of dollars for a brick.
The memories are in your mind.
So, I ask, can I buy Derek Jeter’s homerun at midnight?
“BBFan, I understand where you are coming from. But it’s July 1st, not October…Hughes has huge upside that needs to be protected…”
First, I agree with your premise.
Yesterday, I also felt that Girardi should have used Hughes in the 8th.
But I also believe that Girardi knows better than me, that is why he is the manager, I am a fan.
His explantion of why he went for Bruney sounded very logical to me.
There is too much second guessing that goes on here, that is what I question. Sometimes it is legitimate (no manager is perfect), but most of the times it is petty.
Considering Hughes is on pace to pitch 100 innings this year (well below where he should be), an extra session here or there is just about right. WAAAAY over reaction here.
Yanks are good. Very good.
Starts with starting pitching and their rotation turns are excellent. Going to be a battle to win the East.
-dennis
Hinske seems like a good guy -
http://www.nj.com/yankees/inde.....man_e.html
“You can make a decision to be kind of a miserable person or not,” said Hinske, the 2002 AL Rookie of the Year with the Toronto Blue Jays. “If that’s the role you’re in, if you embrace it and accept it, you’re going to do a lot of things to help a team win. You just have to work as if you’re going to play every day.”
*He’s got a good attitude – hopefully he’ll fit in well and help the team.
I just want to be the first to say this.
Yankees will lose tomorrow because they are seeing a left hander for the first time.
Now that that silly nonsense is out of the way……
Dave, I think you have more of a hang up about the Red Sox than the ballclub does….
Doreen,
We all know that Kay is a dork and he’s far from being Vince Scully when it comes to being a good announcer. However with that said, I don’t place too much stock in what he has to say during a game so I don’t take his comments to heart like you and SJ.
I do think his point is the Yankees are playing better now than back in May and I agree with him.
“As long as the pitching staff stays healthy there’s a great chance that they are going to put up strings of high quality starts 8-9 games out of every ten.”
I fully agree with this.
In fact, if that happens, Yanks may finish with the best record in the majors. Sounds unrealistic, but true. They are only three games behind in the loss column.
Ghost – 100+ innings for a reliever is a lot…pitchers get burned out fast pitching in the pen…
BBFan – Second guessing, us???? It’s what we do!
dave July 1st, 2009 at 10:19 pm
The problem is the Yanks have already shown that they can’t compete with the Red Sox head-to-head this season, so they would have to play at an extraordinary pace to overtake them.
Everybody on the team plays like they’re psyched out and intimidated vs Boston.
——————-
What they’ve done against the Red Sox is irrelevant. Wins against a depleted Mets’ team along with the Braves, Mariners, and Orioles count the same in the standings as a win against Boston.
The Yanks were 6-0 against the Tribe during the regular season in 2007 but lost the ALDS in 4 games.
The Red Sox haven’t won a season series against the Yanks since 2003 but have found a way to win two World Series during that span while the Yanks haven’t won any.
So the head-to-head matchup means jack. The Red Sox have no “mental edge” against the Yanks. That’s just psychobabble.
Betsy
July 1st, 2009 at 10:15 pm
GB, where do you come up with these “jokes” and who encouraged you, lol?
————————————————————
I only do it to annoy someone “special”. I stole Nick’s copy of “Pathetic Jokes For Blogs”.
Mainly to stop from being annoyed by some of the ridiculous whining, though. And, you know how much humor annoys Boston fans like Ray and Dennis.
j/k, guys.
>So, I ask, can I buy Derek Jeter’s homerun at midnight?
I’m sure they put out a DVD.
Potential enormous news in amateur baseball and international free agents.
They had this over at RAB – it appears that Aroldis Chapman has defected from the Cuban national team.
If this is confirmed this is a huge deal that is going to create an enormous free agent bidding war. It is going to make signing Jose Contreras look tame.
Chapman might be the best pitching prospect outside of the united states. He was scintillating for Cuba in the recent World Baseball Classic. He’s a left hander who was hitting 100 MPH.
He’s extremely talented and he’s not fluff. He’s the real deal as per amateur talent.
http://translate.google.com/tr.....ry_state0=
Any pictures of Jobber, Youuuse and Ace greeting fans in the Great Hall?
GF.
How did the Angels do against the Sox in the regular season last year compared to the playoffs? You are exactly right. All about pitching match ups…
-dennis
All I know is that I came from a long day’s work, and the wife came home from a business trip. I turned on the TV, had a glass of good wine with dinner, and the Yankees won. A well pitched game, too, with an Alex HR. Even my wife appreciated it.
Not a bad way to end a long day.
Let’s do it again tomorrow.
Pel -
That’s funny.
Of course they do! I shoulda realized that.
“Hey Boston Dave, we’ll have to hook up for a beer at the ‘cask”
——-
sure thing.
It will be extra sweet if the Yanks are in 1st by that time and the Sox fans are especially bitter.
Peter,
Did you ask Girardi why he got Hughes up for nothing?
Word of the night: psychobabble…
Cool news about the Cuban lefty.
Joe, why are you typing on the computer when you could be…
GB, I get off quite a few groaners at the office myself – I do love a bad pun, lol. If you liked “Pathetic Jokes for Blogs”, you should read the sequal “Pathetic Jokes for Message Boards”…
Wow, teams are going to be running after Chapman like like a pack of wolves after Bambi.
That kid is definitely legit and going to be very rich very soon if the story is accurate.
Huge news.
CB,
that is huge news.
has he ever given a preference regarding team/location?
money talks, of course, but if he is a Yanks fan it might make things easier.
sequel……ugh.
Boston Dave…after the past few years, I look forward to feeding some Crow out in the ‘cask…
pat
July 1st, 2009 at 10:16 pm
“I see mics from YES and his own AP.”
GB
AP, YES and a Yankee logo mic- I thought the same thing too but don’t tell anyone.
————————————————————
Actually, I had never seen Associated Press have a mic in there for a regular season game before. Just thought it was APropo that it was for a Pettitte interview.
dennis-Costanza July 1st, 2009 at 10:31 pm
GF.
How did the Angels do against the Sox in the regular season last year compared to the playoffs? You are exactly right. All about pitching match ups…
-dennis
————
Ah, yes. You are absolutely right.
If I remember correctly, the Angels were something like 8-1 against the Red Sox last season.
That sure helped them in October didn’t it?
“Wow, teams are going to be running after Chapman like like a pack of wolves after Bambi.
That kid is definitely legit and going to be very rich very soon if the story is accurate.
Huge news.”
———–
As far I know, no two teams have as much cash to spend as the Yanks and Sawx.
The Sawx may even have a bigger budget than the Yanks.
I hope Chapman has an affinity for the pinstripes…
NYY needs to win like 7 additonal games in a row. They haven’t been 20 games over .500, in over 2 years.
this is the time to do it. No more 2 steps forward, 1 step back bullsh*t
The Red Sox and Yankees bidding war over Chapman is going to be epic.
Unlike guys like Matsuzaka or Yu Darvish he has unquestionable stuff. If he stepped onto a major league hill tomorrow he would have one of the games best arms.
He has a dominant arm. This is very big news.
Betsy
July 1st, 2009 at 10:34 pm
GB, I get off quite a few groaners at the office myself – I do love a bad pun, lol. If you liked “Pathetic Jokes for Blogs”, you should read the sequal “Pathetic Jokes for Message Boards”…
————————————————————
I’ll have to go to my local bookstore, “Books Of bad Taste” and get a copy.
I love bad puns. Absolutely loved “The Rocky And Bullwinkle Show” and the movie for those reasons. The worst puns in history.
Somewhere Brian Cashman just dropped a glass cup
Alrodis Chapman in the Yankee bullpen
“has he ever given a preference regarding team/location?”
I don’t think so. The cuban guys don’t talk much about things like that as it would only tip their hand on defecting.
The white sox and kenny williams have been the club as a whole that has had a real strong ability to land guys from Cuba. It’ll be interesting to see if and how that holds for Chapman.
He’s going to make whatever Strasburg signs for look like pocket change.
I seem to recall that Chapman was hitting 100 MPH in the WBC and had a ridiculous Bugs Bunny change up as well.
He was definitely a temperamental kid, too. Lots of emotion and hopping around on the mound that sometimes got him into trouble.
Hell of an arm, though.
Unless they plan on building some bleasure seats above the Mass Pike, they’ve just about maxed out the money stream from Fenway…They may have to decide on Bay or Chapman if it actually would come to this….
CB.
Great point. See Alexi Ramirez as a prime example.
-dennis
Chapman is defecting?
link?
Chapman is defecting?
link?
My translation of the Chapman article:
El pitcher Aroldis Chapman abandona el equipo nacional en Holanda
Pitcher Aroldis Chapman abandons the national team in the Netherlands
Roger Machado, director del equipo, dijo a CUBAENCUENTRO.com que el lanzador había abandonado el hotel, pero que no podía confirmar ’su deserción’.
Roger Machado, director of the team, tells CUBAENCUENTRO.com that the pitcher has left the teams hotel, but that he could not confrim “his desertion”.
El pitcher Aroldis Chapman, la mayor promesa entre los lanzadores de la Isla, abandonó el equipo nacional de béisbol que participará desde este jueves en el tradicional Torneo de Rotterdam (Holanda).
The pitcher Aroldis Chapman, the most promising of the pitchers from the island [Cuba], abandoned the national baseball team that will participate this Thursday in the traditional Tournament of Rotterdam (Netherlands).
“Estoy muy contento. Hasta ahora todo ha salido bien. Era un plan que yo tenía, fue una decisión que tomé. Quería probarme en ese béisbol”, afirmó Chapman a CUBAENCUENTRO.com desde una ciudad cuyo nombre no será revelado por motivos de seguridad.
“I am very happy. Everything now has left well. There was a plan that I had, it was a decision that I took. I wanted to test myself in this baseball,” affirmed Chapman when talking to CUBENENCUENTRO.com from a city whose name will not be revealed for security wins.
Según relató el lanzador, tras arribar a Rotterdam, a primera hora de la tarde del miércoles, decidió abandonar el hotel con la ayuda de unos amigos.
As the pitcher narrated his tale, after arriving at Rotterdam, at one in the afternoon on Wednesday, he decidided to leave the hotel with the help of some friends.
“Salí normal, por la puerta del hotel, y me monté en un carro. Fue fácil”, añadió. Ahora sus planes son “firmar con algún equipo y jugar en Grandes Ligas”.
“I left normally, by the hotel door, and got into a car. It was easy,” he added. Now his plans are “sign with some team and play in the Major Leagues”.
Roger Machado, director del equipo nacional, dijo a este sitio, en la madrugada del jueves (hora central europea), que Chapman había abandonado el hotel, pero que no podía confirmar “su deserción”.
Roger Machado, director of the national team, told this site, at daybreak on Thursday (central European time), that Chapman had left the hotel, but that he could not confirm “his desertions”.
“No ha llegado al hotel desde que salió”, apuntó Machado, y además declinó adelantar el lanzador que utilizaría el jueves frente a Taiwán, en sustitución del holguinero.
“He has not come back to the hotel since leaving,” said Machado, and then declined to [hasten?] that the pitcher he would use on Thursday was heading to Taiwan, in substitution of [the holguinero] holguinero seems to be the adjective form for someone from Holguin, ie, like Italian or Englishman. Holguín is a Cuban province. I don’t quite understanded the part about Taiwain.
Chapman, que posee una recta que alcanza las 100 millas por hora, tiene 21 años de edad. Nació en el municipio de Frank País, provincia de Holguín.
Chapman, who possesses a [pitch?] that he throws at 100 MPH, is 21 years old. He was born in the town of Frank País, in the province of Holguin.
Cuba lleva a Rotterdam un plantel renovado de 24 jugadores, ahora 23, en el que sobresalen cuatro subcampeones olímpicos de Pekín y cinco miembros del equipo que asistió al II Clásico Mundial.
Cuba arrives in Rotterdam with a renovated roster of 24 players, now 23, that participated in the fourth [baseball] olympic championships in Beijing, and five members of the team that attended the second World Baseball Classic
Errors are my own.
I don’t know – the Steinbrenner boys seem to have a budget. Do they even know who this kid is? I just don’t see Hal agreeing to such an expenditure…..On the other hand, I can see the Sox blowing everyone out of the market.
Pat M…Bay is going to look nice in pinstripes next season…
Pat M.
The Sox have a ton of money to spend. A ton.
-dennis
GB, I never saw the Rocky and Bullwinkle show..or the movie. Airplane and the Naked Gun movies had the kind of silly humor I enjoy, though. I have a few bad jokes in my repertoire that I enjoy telling over and over again (two of them, I made up) – even though people generally roll their eyes while I’m telling them.
Agh just got back from the game and it was a really good one but I’m also dissapointed like Pete that there was no Hughes..not that Aceves or Coke didn’t do their jobs.
Betsy July 1st, 2009 at 10:44 pm
I don’t know – the Steinbrenner boys seem to have a budget. Do they even know who this kid is? I just don’t see Hal agreeing to such an expenditure…..On the other hand, I can see the Sox blowing everyone out of the market.
—————
There’s no doubt they know who this kid is. He was one of the most hyped players in the entire WBC along with Darvish.
The Sox have less money than the Yanks…and have proven that many times…they can out bid the Yanks in a blind bidding process, but not with everything on the table. No way this kid goes anywhere else but to the good guys…
Noreaster, I’m not really that hot on Bay, although I wanted him last July over Nady….Carl Crwaford would be ideal if Tampa fails to pick up his option…..Holiday isn’t the answer either in my mind….
Noreaster July 1st, 2009 at 10:44 pm
Pat M…Bay is going to look nice in pinstripes next season…
—————-
No thanks. I don’t want Holliday either.
Youth, speed, and defense is the better strategy going forward. Maybe a stopgap for 2010 in LF and wait until Carl Crawford becomes a FA after next season.
Crawford would be a much more inviting target and long term solution.
“I seem to recall that Chapman was hitting 100 MPH in the WBC and had a ridiculous Bugs Bunny change up as well.”
That’s him. What an arm. The kind of arm you don’t forget.
He reminded me of brien taylor before the injury.
Cashman better get on the phone and get El Duque into the front office.
Chapman is as near a must sign as there is on the international market.
I’m sure teams have been scouting him for years. And now it looks like it might be time.
Dennis as usual is right – the sox have an enormous amount of money to spend. Enormous. Put it this way – they put $172M on the table for Tex and then spent almost none of it this off season. They cut an enormous amount of payroll over this past winter and are very well set in terms of future payroll commitments.
Okay I am home- who missed me???? Some thoughts on the game tonight and my first stadium experience
1) I was sitting in 420B. I was freezing. It was a giant wind tunnel up there
2) It was amazing that Johnny Damon (my pretend boyfriend) hit a homerun to acknowledge my presence there tonight
3) Never get the carvel icecream in the Yankee helmet. It melted before I even got back to my seat and I was wearing a lot of it.
4) Donnie, I told you to meet Griffey under the O’Neill banner. However, thank you. The phrase “Erica was right”, does not get used nearly enough in my world
5) It did not rain. I take full responsibility for this because I brought my butterfly rain jacket with me just in case- thus, controlling the weather
6) I looked at the O’Neill banner and smiled as I thought of all of you
7) This was the shortest game I have ever attended. I am pretty sure it was because I do not have to be up early for work tomorrow. I am sure if I wasn’t on vacation it would be a 5 hour epic like I usually attend.
I know there is more, but I can’t think offhand
Can yuo imagine how Carl Crawford wouyld be looked at if he played in NY or Bos or Chi? He is a great baseball player. All the tools.
-dennis
Most if the guys on the current Cuban National Team are huge Yankee fans because they often get the games on the radio from a bootleg signal from a Fort Lauderdale radio station that carries all the Yankees games the past three years.
Chapman is a 50+ million dollar guy on the open market.
The Yankees are also in on the 2 most recent defectors.
IIRC, one of them is good friends with Chapman.
I hold out hope Gouerreal will defect one day because Derek Jeter is his hero. He would take less money to play for the Yankees.
However, he is one if the last remaining true believers if the Castro regime.
Pat M. July 1st, 2009 at 10:49 pm
Noreaster, I’m not really that hot on Bay, although I wanted him last July over Nady….Carl Crwaford would be ideal if Tampa fails to pick up his option…..Holiday isn’t the answer either in my mind….
————-
You read my mind, Pat.
Betsy
July 1st, 2009 at 10:47 pm
GB, I never saw the Rocky and Bullwinkle show..or the movie. Airplane and the Naked Gun movies had the kind of silly humor I enjoy, though. I have a few bad jokes in my repertoire that I enjoy telling over and over again (two of them, I made up) – even though people generally roll their eyes while I’m telling them.
————————————————————
The R&B show was a cartoon from the late 50s and early ’60s with a thinly veiled jab at the USSR and spies and the Cold War. Hilarious. The movie was a live action with humans and computer generated R&B, with Piper Parabo, Renee Russo, Jason Alexander and Robert DiNiro and about 15 big name cameos.
It’s all about pitching. They’re getting good starts from Sabathia and Burnett every time out, serviceable ones from Chamberlain and Wang, meh from Pettitte. The bullpen has four guys going great right now in Coke, Aceves, Hughes, and Rivera, which makes the serviceable and meh starts from Wang/Chamberlain/Pettitte easier to swallow. Even if Wang/Chamberlain/Pettitte only go five-ish innings, the bullpen underbelly isn’t this horribly soft thing like it was earlier in the year, which means the games don’t slip away the minute the starter leaves. Yay for good bullpen pitching! If only we could get Bruney right.
CB,
That’s an excellent point about El Duque. It would be very wise for Cashman to get a Cuban national hero like El Duque on the recruiting trail for that kid.
Wow, what a scoop that would be.
GF, I hope the Yanks open their wallets for this guy then, but I really doubt it.
Isn’t El Duque working for the Rangers now?
Betsy July 1st, 2009 at 10:55 pm
GF, I hope the Yanks open their wallets for this guy then, but I really doubt it.
Isn’t El Duque working for the Rangers now?
————–
They’ll open their wallets. No question about it. Arms like that come around once in a generation.
We’ll just have to see how everything plays out.
GB, I’d probably love the R&B show – heaven knows we can never get enough of Cold War humor, lol.
Erica -
Sounds like you had a good time, melted Carvel ice cream notwithstanding!
Nice to know someone else has weather-controlling behavior — we brought umbrellas to our game and thus the rain stayed away that night, too!
FYI…. Hughes warmed up in that Saturday Mets game too (people were killing Joe because they thought he was coming into a 5-0 game, but Robertson ended up coming in) and then Hughes pitched the next night.
So, that is another myth that is dispelled.
Erica,
Glad you had a good time at the game! Your weather controlling abilities are astounding.
Also, of course I will tell you you’re right when you are, in fact, right. It was almost as if Ken Griffey knew I needed a reason to beat upon him, and decided to make the decision easy on me.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/ne.....;type=lgns
Yanks won’t be getting their hands on El Duque anytime soon…..
Betsy
July 1st, 2009 at 10:59 pm
GB, I’d probably love the R&B show – heaven knows we can never get enough of Cold War humor, lol.
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It was a cartoon that kids loved, but it was actually created to humor the adults that got the bad puns. I have the movie and every episode. It really needs to have a warning label about overdosing on laughter and puns. About 20 per show….the worst was “Fractured Fairytales”. They had a spinoff that was just as “bad”, “Dudley Doowright Of The Mounties”.
Chapman:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZE0iQmsFSms
Christina, if you are still here. The picture of Da Melk tipping his cap to us at the game!!!
http://hotimg25.fotki.com/a/70.....A-MELK.jpg
New thread-
Donnie, I will reply to you there
“I hold out hope Gouerreal will defect one day because Derek Jeter is his hero. He would take less money to play for the Yankees.”
Gouerreal would look fantastic in pin stripes. Didn’t know he was a true believer. That’s too bad.
Chapman is going to get more than the matsuzaka contract. I think he’ll get significantly more as this will be a true open bidding on a free market.
They should sign whoever they need to get Chapman in the fold in terms of those two players who just defeceted. Good they were in on them already.
SJ do you know anything about Chapman other than what’s generally known?