Pitching matchups for the A’s series
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Jul 23, 2009 
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Thursday: RHP Vin Mazzaro (2-6, 4.09) vs. LHP CC Sabathia (9-6, 3.66), 7:05, YES
Friday: LHP Brett Anderson (5-7, 4.25) vs. RHP Joba Chamberlain (5-2, 4.05), 7:05, YES
Saturday: LHP Gio Gonzalez (1-2, 9.33) vs. LHP Andy Pettitte (8-5, 4.62), 1:05, YES
Sunday: LHP Dallas Braden (7-8, 3.40) vs. RHP Sergio Mitre (1-0, 4.76), 1:05, YES
favorable matchups… lets go yanks
No excuse not to take at least 3 of these games. Holliday probably won’t even be on their team by the time we play Sunday’s game.
Let’s not get too crazy. The A’s are coming off a Twins series where they pounded the ball.
You take them one at a time and try to realize they aren’t going to go undefeated for the entire second half.
There will still be bumps along the way.
You just can’t go into extreme panic mode when they occur.
SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP
3 out of 4 sounds about right. You can’t sweep everyone but you gotta win series against bad teams, and Oakland is a bad team this year.
This sounds like the SJ44 we all like
being two games in first place so suddenly puts one in a very relaxed good mood to start a day, but the red sox being wounded at the trading deadline makes them potentially dangerous.
they may sacrifice 3-4 years down the road for a big shot in the arm now. the yankees are also one starter injury away from being very thin starting.
the question is does cashman roll the dice and hope for starting rotation health or does he buy some insurance in case a starter goes down? insurance is costly so there’s no easy answer.
i’d get some myself just in case, but it’s understandable if cashman doesn’t. if no one gets hurt you won’t need it.
Adam LaRoche’s July OPS: .408
Cody Ransom’s July OPS: .547
“No excuse not to take at least 3 of these games”
the Washington Nationals say hello
work the count, take pitches, wear these pitchers out. it has to happen every game. stick to the plan. stick to the plan.
“work the count, take pitches, wear these pitchers out. it has to happen every game. stick to the plan. stick to the plan.”
Tell Mr. 1 pitch at bat Derek Jeter that lol
Derek Jeter is hitting 320 or so… hes doing just fine wen ever he hits the ball
“work the count, take pitches, wear these pitchers out. it has to happen every game. stick to the plan. stick to the plan.”
Somebody please tell Cano about this plan. Cano has to be among the bottom 10 in MLB for pitches seen per at bat. He’s the Swisher opposite. Kinda un-does the things the other guys in the lineup are trying to do when he goes up there and swings at the first pitch every time.
One game at a time. And frankly, all the match-ups look like they could go either way, to me. 4-game series are difficult to sweep. I always hope for a split and anything else is gravy. Works for me.
Also, have to realize how early it still is and how precarious the standings will be for the duration of the season in the AL East.
Tyler it’s not about what 1 player might be doing. It’s about the team effort. Sure Jeter is hitting great but if the teams game plan is to get into the bullpen the whole lineup has to be on the same page. Really though I don’t I have a problem with Jeter’s AB’s. He works the count on most AB’s. Cano and sometimes Melky are the weak links in the strategy.
A 2 game lead and some people are sounding like the Yanks are bulletproof.
The Yanks are going to lose games and the Sox and Rays are going to win some between now and October.
Prepare yourselves to avoid the shock because it’s not going to always seem this easy or feel this good.
Just have to hope that from today forward, the Yanks win 3 more than anyone else.
Does this mean the Rays series will look like this:
AJ Monday
CC Tuesday
Joba Wednesday
Hoping for a split gets you nowhere in the AL East. A 4 game series at home against a lowly team has to end up better than a split. Not taking 3 of 4 under those circumstances is basically a disappointment. Not too many .500 teams win the World Series (or get to the playoffs for that matter).
The Yanks have bludgeoned the bad teams to death this season outside of the Nationals.
They aren’t going to win all of them. Hell, it’s obvious the Red Sox haven’t either.
Enjoy their win streak and do not take Oakland for granted. Worry about the Rays when they play the Rays.
Do that against guys who pound the strikezone with strikes, and you are shut out in 90 minutes.
There isn’t one universal way to attack pitchers.
Take Anderson for instance. The Red Sox tried that tactic against him and got owned in Fenway.
Its pretty dumb to criticize Derek Jeter’s approach this year since he’s been the best hitting SS, and the best overall SS, in baseball in 2009.
Cano isn’t changing his approach at this point in his career. You just have to live with what he is, which is one of the best players in the league.
This team is 20 games over .500, in first place, and have the second best record in baseball, for a reason.
Its a very, very good team. The best overall Yankee team since 2003.
Its not a perfect team, no team is, but they have a lot of weapons at their disposal.
Frankly, more than their opponents at the present time.
Randy,
I don’t think its a question of the Red Sox wanting to upgrade. I think its a question of whether or not they will give up what other teams want.
For example, for all the hype Clay Buchholz gets, he’s not as good a pitcher or prospect, as Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes. Mainly because, he’s older than both guys.
I think a lot of teams like Casey Kelly as a propsect more than Buchholz. Would the Red Sox be willing to give up Kelly in the right deal? Probably not.
That hamstrings them.
Also, with Smoltz and Penny being nothing special, and Dice-K and Wakefield hurt, they need Buchholz in their rotation right now.
Its going to be tough for them to swing the “big deal” unless they are willing to give up more than just Clay Buchholz. That’s their problem right now.
Seems to me whatever “plan” they have has been working.
If not, how are they in first place.
They aren’t going to play .800 baseball the rest of the way, regardless of the opponent.
You look to win series and avoid big losing streaks. Its a tried and true baseball philosophy that has worked for over 100 years.
From Gammons:
“One player does make a huge difference. Alex Rodriguez recently said, “If the Red Sox had signed Mark Teixeira, there’d be no race.” We don’t know what happened when Boston’s ownership met with Teixeira, but the meeting changed everything about the relationship GM Theo Epstein and manager Terry Francona had built with Teixeira. When Yankees general manager Brian Cashman offered Teixeira $180 million, he was a Yankee. If Teixeira were with Boston, the difference would be worth 10 games in the standings.”
http://insider.espn.go.com/esp.....mons_peter
When you are facing pitchers like Rich Hill and Birken, there is no urgency to get them out of the game and into the pen. You are already facing their worst pitchers.
Against Halladay, Garza, etc, working the count and getting them out ASAP is most times the only way to have success; but the bad pitchers in the league are going to make a lot of mistakes and you can jump on them at every opportunity. I would say that the results this week are OK with me.
jeter’s the man
cano’s the man
joe g is the man
go find someone who isnt having a great year to pick on!
Who said I wanted the Yankees to play .500 ball? But I am a realist. Of course, a sweep would be “nice.” Of course 3 out of 4 is better. But you know, the A’s are going to show up and they’re going to want to win, too. The Yankees are hardly playing .500 ball, so you’re statement about not many .500 teams winning the WS kind of misses the mark.
Over a continuum of games, there will be some “.500 ball.” Heck, the played negative baseball for 3 days in Anaheim. But over the course of the last couple of weeks, they’re 9 out of 12, and that includes the 3 losses in LA.
A bit of an unfair advantage for the Yankees – the A’s just took a cross-country flight, and the Yanks are coming off a daygame yestreday.
Let’s crush’em.
“i’d get some myself just in case, but it’s understandable if cashman doesn’t. if no one gets hurt you won’t need it.”
Randy,
I’m going to bookmark this quote in case a starter gets hurt and you start pounding Cashman again for not being proactive enough.
“Really though I don’t I have a problem with Jeter’s AB’s. He works the count on most AB’s. Cano and sometimes Melky are the weak links in the strategy.”
Even though it’s only a small sample size, but in the month of July, Jeter and Cano have both played 18 games. Cano has been averaging slightly more pitches per plate appearance than Jeter. Granted, like I said, it’s a small sample size since it’s only 18 games, but Cano has been seeing more pitches lately
Well, Pete knows what happened in that meeting. He just doesn’t want to out his friends.
Larry Lucchino blew that meeting with his mouth and John Henry finished it off with that ill-times, “we’re out of it” press release following the meeting.
He ticked off Tex and when the Yankees made their final offer, they didn’t even bother going back to the Sox to see if they would match or exceed it.
Mark in Tampa July 23rd, 2009 at 9:48 am
Against Halladay, Garza, etc, working the count and getting them out ASAP is most times the only way to have success; but the bad pitchers in the league are going to make a lot of mistakes and you can jump on them at every opportunity. I would say that the results this week are OK with me.
—————
Are we going to have this discussion again?
Didn’t the Yanks just beat Verlander and Jackson in back-to-back games last weekend?
There’s no need to over-analyze every performance. They’ve proved they can beat teams in all sorts of ways.
I’ll take 3 of 4. Against a last place team and a team that’s 10 games under .500 on the road.
So, who’s your Yankees MVP thus far this season?
Here are the candidates:
1) Jeter: He has the highest average, has generally been the most consistent hitter, and is having a great season defensively.
2) Tex: He’s been very streaky, but has great power numbers and flashes some serious leather.
3) Mo: He’s unhittable.
4) Hughes: He’s unhittable.
5) Aceves: The best middle relief guy we’ve had in ages.
6) Cervelli: Lot of blog readers think that everything good that happens to the Yankees is because of him
So, who would it be??
The Jays want to get the most bang for the buck and other teams want it to be painful if the Yankees or RSox are in on Halladay. That said, both the Yankees & RSox could try to lure other teams prospects into the loop or salary dumps. I think we all agree if Toronto trades with the Yankees then Rios or Wells would have to be included so I assume it would be like that for Boston too.
Teams like SF & Colorado could use a bat and middle relief. A 3 or 4 way trade may boost everyone. Yanks could get Halladay & SF Rios and SF could provide some prospects to fill in for Halladay or Colorado could get a middle relief closer type like Mellacon or Bruney. I also wonder if the Pitt 2B & SS duo could be parlayed into Toronto with Toronto’s Hill moving to 3B so Toronto could free up salary from Rolen, Rios & Halladay.
Boston could give Saito or Declarmen for a similar scenario and Bucholtz for Halladay/Rios. I am sure wheels are turning now that Tampa says they may be in play too.
My prediction still is Halladay will either be a Yankee or a Giant.
SJ44,
Weren’t you saying the Yankees were a third place team after they got swept by the Angels? Do I “misremember” or has your opinion changed based on their play since the break?
dave,
its tex, he has changed this team.
Dave Man:
Can I give it to A-Rod? I mean I know he’s only batting in the .250′s, but the team absolutely took off the second he got back in the lineup. And we’d be in 4th place without him.
Joba vs. Brett Anderson should be a good matchup of a couple of highly-touted young starters. Interesting to see where those guys end up in a few years, but for now it will be very interesting to see if Joba can get on a roll. That would probably change the dynamic of Cashman’s approach next week before the deadline bigtime, because if it looks like Joba has figured it out it makes the Yankees look a lot less desparate for a starter and could help lower some asking prices on guys.
I don’t know if A-rod’s OBP is good enough to make him a candidate, and he’s been sluggish on defense, no?
Nobody is taking on Vernon Wells contract. Nobody, not even for Roy Halladay.
The entire industry is down revenue-wise this year. Nobody is assuming a 100 million dollar debt to get a pitcher, along with giving up their best prospects.
This ain’t fantasy baseball.
The problem JP is going to have is nobody is giving up 3 “A” List prospects in this current economic environment for Doc.
If he has to deal him, he would be wise to take the best offer on the table, regardless of who makes it.
However, if Jays ownership continues to insist he not trade him within the AL East, he won’t get the value for him folks believe he should get.
You take these games 1 at a time. Sounds simplistic, I know. But c’mon this is baseball – everyone beats everyone else. There are no upsets. If the Yanks and A’s split it would come as no surprise to anyone.
“I don’t know if A-rod’s OBP is good enough to make him a candidate, and he’s been sluggish on defense, no?”
A-Rod has the highest obp on the team…
So i am heading to the game on Sat. Hopefully Andy has a performance like last start.
Giuseppe Franco,
What discussion is that? I’m not over analyzing, I said I am quite happy with the results of the last week. They beat very good pitchers in low scoring games and did what they had to do against bad pitchers. The constant was outstanding pitching by the Yankees. I’ll sign up for that for the rest of the year.
Andrew –
good point, though I don’t think it’s up to only joba. The Yankees need either AJ, Pettite or Joba to be another top-tier consistent starter along with CC.
I had to laugh at this quote about Hughes:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/07.....180893.htm
Five months later, he is there, and it is for good, for keeps, forever. It may not be in the featured role in the rotation that everyone always envisioned for him, but in something even larger, even greater, even more important: as the EIG, the Eighth-Inning Guy, the bridge to Mariano Rivera that has for so long been under repair at Yankee Stadium.
—————
There you go. This guy truly believes that pitching the 8th inning is more important than who pitches the first seven.
Another example of the media’s lack of common sense these days and the dumbing down of their intended audience.
It’s unbelievable.
A-Rod is 2nd on the team in homers, 2nd in RBI’s, 3rd in walks, 1st in OBP, 1st in Slugging and 1st in OPS. And he’s done all that in 30 less games than anybody else. Not taking anything away from the seasons Jeter, Tex, Mo or anyone else has had. A-Rod has been the MVP of this team since May 8th
Ramey – I didn’t know that. Pretty amazing considering his avg
tex has made jeter look much better defensively. he picks up derrek’s sometimes erratic throws with ease and on the hard ones, you can see that jeter knows he only needs to get it in the neighborhood of 1B and he will get his assist. big G was great at scooping but had no range to either side.
Dan -
I’m headed to the game Saturday too. Hopefully we both see a good game!
so a win today is actually a sweep of the other series, right? This is a rain out make-up game…
They can get 2 sweeps by winning the next 4 games
Damon should at least be considered in your MVP list. He’s been terrible lately but without him April and May could have been complete disasters.
Ham Fighters
On the other hand, you could state, with equal accuracy, that Giambi made Jeter look worse than he really was.
Dave Man-
all good choices, but I have to go w/ Tex. His defense is incredible.
DaveMan, AJ is firmly implanted as #2 right now. You may still question his work early in the season when his strikeouts were down and he was prone to random implosions, and his career track record for up and down performance, but for better or worse he is the #2 guy next to CC. Yankees paid him to be that guy and so far he has shown that he is capable of doing it.
One out of the Joba/Pettitte tandem has to step up their game in the 2nd half to take the reins of the #3 slot. I think age and stuff are on Joba’s side, and can just hope that consistency, the main missing ingredient, is discovered for the stretch run. He would be a perfect #3 starter with his arsenal, giving you 3 power arms, which are key come October baseball (should the Yankees, hopefully, get there).
I know the 9th inning is usually considered highest importance because it is last and usually determines saves (one of the most misleading pitching stats out there), but can’t an argument be made that really, all innings are equally important?
If you starter implodes in the 4th and gives up 6 runs. The 9th inning recomes irrelevent. In that game the 4th inning is more important. The most important inning is a very relative term
I do agree that Tex has made Jeter a better defensive player but I think Jeters range on the glove side has gotten better as well. It seems like he has found the fountain of youth. He definetly could be a considered gold glove winner. I am not saying he should win but should be in consideration.
Daveman-
Yea, it is pretty incredible what A-Rod has done so far this season, all with a hip that isn’t 100%. He’s been huge
“It may not be in the featured role in the rotation that everyone always envisioned for him, but in something even larger, even greater, even more important: as the EIG, the Eighth-Inning Guy, the bridge to Mariano Rivera that has for so long been under repair at Yankee Stadium.”
This has to be satire. No sports reporter could honestly in their right mind believe that the “EIG” is more important than the guy who starts the game.
Erica-
Agree entirely that every inning and for that matter, every out, is just as important as the next
I wonder if the Mets traded Santana & FRod could they fill their depleted cofers and make a run in 2010 when the team gets well? With the economy & Wilpon’s losses maybe they could be in play. I look for something out of the ordinary to happen real soon. Maybe a 4-team trade with everyone being happy! LOL! Pitt with 2b, SS, SP & CL all in play could be a part someone needs to make a run.
Anderson is real good- he’s had back-to-back good starts. I saw him at the futures game last year, he’s got great stuff.
it will be very interesting to see if Joba can get on a roll.
==================
Yes, I’m glad he had a good game against the Tigers but I’ll be disappointed if he doesn’t follow up with a good start.
I’d prefer not to see another string of 4-5 mediocre starts before the next good one.
Dan:
I agree Jeter could at least be considered for the GG at this point in the season. Maybe not win it but at least be up there. Could you hear the anti-Yankee media screaming about that after all the years they’ve bashed his defense? It would be great. Gammons would finally drop on the set of Baseball Tonight.
It’s too bad that the Yankees have a manager who can’t manage or a general manager who can’t put together a roster. Otherwise they would be 80 games over .500 at this point.
Erica:
“Importance” is based on the number of outs remaining and the run differential. As you get to 10 and fewer outs remaining, the inning where you face the heart of the order (if you’re ahead) is generally the highest leverage, or most “important.”
No manager acknowledges this…I guess for fear of being non-conventional. But the smart strategy would be to use your best reliever in the highest leverage situation. Rivera often comes in when the Yanks’ win probability exceeds 95%. It would be nice to a manager turn idiotic conventional wisdom on its head by bringing in the closer to face 2-3-4 in the 8th, rather than letting the 2nd best guy do it.
I would vote Jeter for first half MVP because he’s been so steady and reliable and he’s having a terrific season. Tex was great early and Alex lifted the team when he returned, but through it all Jeter has been a rock.
You have to play them one at a time, it’s a rule. Please toss that inane cliche’ from your vocabulary list.
The real key to the Halladay situation is knowing what Ricciardi’s marching orders are and we don’t know that. Does he have to cut $ 50 Million in future oblications by July 31? It’s possible, in which case he has to take the boest offer for his guys and the best shot at that is moving Rios. Is there an absolute ban on intra-divsional trading that trumps the financial directive? Doubtful, but possible.
My guess — and I freely admit it’s only that — if that they don’t move Halladay unless they are moving multiple contracts to clean the decks (as muchy as possible) for the future.
“Gammons would finally drop on the set of Baseball Tonight.”
Hate to say it but that would make baseball tonight an Emmy winning show.
“Gammons would finally drop on the set of Baseball Tonight.”
Hate to say it but that would make baseball tonight an Emmy winning show.
dont get all bent out of shape at the media just b/c vaccarro implies that the eight inning guy is more important than the starter.
it was jorge who said hughes “is the reason we are here”
a little hyperbole coming from a columnist or a catcher can be forgiven cant it?
I’d love to say the Yankees are going to get another sweep, but 3 out of 4 is much more of a reasonable expectation. The way the Yankees are playing right now, a sweep is certainly possible, however.
If the Mets traded Santana and F-Rod they wouldn’t be contenders in 2010. However, I do not think they would be contenders anyway. They are just a flawed team that needs to be re-made. If I was Minaya I would at least explore what I could get for Santana. I’m sure Santana would be thrilled on getting out of there. Mets at this point cannot rule out ANY options.
GF, Thanks for the link to the PH article. Impressive attitude by Hughes. He has been a big part of the NYY success. But I believe he, and Joba, will be part of the NYY rotation for years to come. It is easier to find a guy who can pitch 1 good inning (Bruney when healthy) as opposed to a guy who can pitch 6-8 good innings (Joba and Hughes,more 6 inning guys now but they’ll learn to get to 8).
Hyperbole from a teammate pumping up another is not only acceptable it’s important and expected. Brain;ess hyperbole from a professional columnist is nonsense. Sometimes the eighth inning is the more critical inning because of game circumstances and strategy, but the set up man will NEVER be more important than the closer until/unless they start declaring games over in the eighth.
MORE HOPE: As part of their HOPE Week, the Yankees will welcome Camp Sundown to the Stadium tonight, hosting a carnival on the field after the game for camp participants who suffer from Xeroderma Pigmentosum, a rare genetic disorder that prevents them from going outdoors in daylight. …
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/spo.....z0M5m0vvJR
Peter Gammons is not as bad as portrayed by some posters.
He is a very knowledgeable baseball journalist with a decidedly Boston Red Sox bias. He respects the game and gives credit where it is due, even to yankees.
I like Gammons and his passion for the game, even with his bias.
“It would be nice to a manager turn idiotic conventional wisdom on its head by bringing in the closer to face 2-3-4 in the 8th, rather than letting the 2nd best guy do it.”
I agree with you, but I don’t think that will ever happen unless baseball changes the rules to allow the official scorer to award a save based on something other than the pat rules that are in place now. The save is maybe the best example in baseball of a misleading stat that can also work to the detriment of the team.
Jeter isn’t the best hitting SS in the league this year. That goes to Jason Bartlett if you are talking AL only and Hanley Ramirez if you are looking at MLB as a whole. Although since Bartlett missed a bunch of games I’d lean towards Jeter being the more valuable hitter.
However if you look at Ramirez vs Jeter, it’s really no contest. Look at these numbers from Hanley:
.348/.411/.563, 15 HR, 62 RBI, 13 SB, 27 doubles
158 OPS+
Hanley Ramirez is the best hitting SS in the league, Jeter is probably the best hitting SS in the AL.
But it is just not Gammons it is the whole ESPN crew. From Skip Bayless to Gammons, ESPN loves the Red Sox and I am sick of it.
“But it is just not Gammons it is the whole ESPN crew. From Skip Bayless to Gammons, ESPN loves the Red Sox and I am sick of it.”
Dan-
The more the media bashes the yankees, that means it’s the better the Yankees are playing. I actually enjoy hearing them praise the red sox and destroy the Yankees, because it means we’re doing something right and are dangerous
“If the Mets traded Santana and F-Rod they wouldn’t be contenders in 2010.”
With their contracts, their is no way to get equal value for these players. Krod was a FA last year, and it was really only the Mets who wanted him, mostly b/c of the price tag. I don’t see anybody thinking that it is a good idea to now take on that kind of money for what he is. As for Santana, with the questions about him slipping a tiny bit, nobody is going to take on his @125M contract AND give up the kind of pieces the Mets would demand. Maybe either/or, then it doesn’t make sense for the Mets.
i like gammons alot, when he’s on he makes BT. of course he has a boston bias, he lives there and covers them. but with his bias comes a ton of knowlege from years of covering them and alot of insight borne of being closely connected to everyone involved.
he’s also got a good sense of humor, excellent taste in music and (for me) he’s a fellow brain surgery survivor.
i may not like the message alot of the times, but i dont mind the messenger a bit.
Yeah, Hanley’s been about a win better on offense than Jeter. But he’s still not much of a fielder. He’s really improved since being disastrous in 2007, however.
Derek Jeter is 35, though, and he’s still amazing to watch. Hanley can put together a few of Derek’s 1999s and 2006s before it’s over.
Yankee MVP for the first half? Tough choice between Jeter, Teixeira and Sabathia. A-rod is in the conversation because of the team’s record while he’s been here but I don’t think I’d choose him.
I’m torn between Tex and Jetes. They have both been great for us.
Don’t get me wrong I enjoy listening to the media bash the Yankees too while we win but when ESPN finds one little thing to pick on they stick to it.
john_halfz,
Was only talking about hitting. Hanley’s defense is not that good but his bat is far and away the best out of all shortstops in the league.
That being said, Jeter is maybe the MVP of the Yanks so far this year. He’s been great.
The only argument against Tex for MVP is that his April was a nightmare offensively.
However, I can’t quantify how many runs he has saved with his sparkling defense
“Don’t get me wrong I enjoy listening to the media bash the Yankees too while we win but when ESPN finds one little thing to pick on they stick to it.”
Dan-
It could be worse! The only time the Pirates are ever discussed on ESPN is when the story starts with “The Pirates traded….”
Hanley Ramirez is the best hitting SS since Alex Rodriguez.
I can’t put Batlett above Jeter for slightly better offensive numbers when it’s a career year for him. He’s gotta do it for more than 75 games before I’m convinced.
Alex is the MVP without a doubt. The team did not start winning until he came back. Jeter is a rock and having a great year but he’s #2 in more ways than one…
3 leftys going for the A’s. I’d have Gardy and Eric in the OF tonight against the righty. I could see Alex getting a full day off or DH over the weekend…
The Yankees win 3 of 4 and have a 2.5 game lead going into the road trip would be my prediction…
Hey check out this post from Replacement Level blog:
”
Apr 6 – May 7
Runs Scored: 158
Runs Allowed: 178
PythagenPat Winning Percentage: 0.439
162 Game W-L: 71-91
May 8 – July 22
Runs Scored: 360
Runs Allowed: 271
PythagenPat Winning Percentage: 0.632
162 Game W-L: 102-60
”
Without A-rod, with A-rod. Pretty nice eh?
http://www.replacementlevel.co.....and_after1
So, do they not have a trash receptacle in the dugout? I mean, all the empty crushed paper cups on the floor! It’s a pigpen and it doesn’t need to be. Sunflower seeds I get, used papers cups and empty wrappers, not so much.
86w183 ,
We are simply talking about who’s been the best hitting SS this year. We aren’t talking about past years. So far this year Barlett has better rate stats than Jeter. However, it works against him that he’s played 14 games less than Derek.
i cant see the closer being brought in to face the big hitters in the 8th either. if tony la russa (super genius) doesnt do it, then nobody’s gonna do it.
did u see the mets almost blow a game in the 8th saturday while K-Rod sat waiting for the 9th to come along. ridicluous. i’d like to point out that tom brennerman (sp) called K rod and the mets out for it as it was going on. even erik karros, who doesnt criticize anybody, agreed that he should have been in the game.
its a players league…
It could be worse! The only time the Pirates are ever discussed on ESPN is when the story starts with “The Pirates traded….”
That is why it is great to be Yankee fan. There are no fans better then us.
“That is why it is great to be Yankee fan. There are no fans better then us.”
Couldn’t agree more. I actually feel worse for Pirates fans than I do for National fans. The Nationals at least have Ryan Zimmerman and show ‘some’ attempt at getting better. The Pirates are where guys go to get shipped out. They’re like the UPS of baseball.
It’s already starting to fade for Bartlett:
14/57 with 4 XBH in July
.246/.348/.351
Pittsburg Pirates = career rehab assignment
That may be John but if you are comparing Derek Jeter vs Jason Bartlett for the first half of the year there is a very good case for Bartlett being better.
Pete said it best when the past couple seasons the Pirates have been an AL East Farm team
That is why it is great to be Yankee fan. There are no fans better then us.
————–
LOL. Uh, not exactly.
These are the same “fans” who booed Teixeira and Mo in April and still can’t wait to boo A-Rod whenever he screws up.
Not even close to the best fans in baseball.
I know we need a starting pitcher…..But any chance we make a run for a CF? I love Gardner, but lets face it, he is not an everyday Centerfielder…Melky has been slumping as of late…..What do you think it would take to land Grady Sizemore??
As great as it has been watching the Yanks roll of late, nothing compares to the visceral impact of HOPE Week.
Reading about tonight’s event is gave me goosebumps. I’ve never been prouder to be a Yankee fan.
Speaking of hyperbole, anyone hear Mike & Mike this AM? They played tape of someone interviewing Manny after his HR last night. Interviewer said “This is one of the greatest moments in Dodgers history.” Talk about exagerating! Dude needs to check his “history” book.
I didn’t realize the question was qwho has th ebest offensive stats among AL shortstops at this point in time.
Even with Batlett’s slightly superior numbers I would still say Jeter is the better offensive shortstop this year because of consistency and durability which are legit factors in a one year discussion.
The one thing this team has shown is that it is VERY capable of ripping off 6-8-10 game winning streaks. They come out of the break and don’t lose a game for a week. What’s that the third? fourth? 6+ game winning streak of the season?
They are starting to look like that 1998 team that just demolished bad opponents and played about even with the good ones.
Sizemore is giving them nothing, and he hasn’t shown much with the glove in a few years.
Giuseppe Franco July 23rd, 2009 at 10:39 am
That is why it is great to be Yankee fan. There are no fans better then us.
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LOL. Uh, not exactly.
These are the same “fans” who booed Teixeira and Mo in April and still can’t wait to boo A-Rod whenever he screws up.
Not even close to the best fans in baseball.
=========================
Agreed. The Yank fans get upset easily. Ortiz was rarely booed, if at all at Fenway this year apparently.
Now, some people will say, in comparison to A-Rod getting booed, that A-Rod never helped the Yanks in the post season.
Ok, but I’ve heard them boo Mo and Jeter who have contributed so much to past and current success.
86w,
Fair enough. I agree, that is a big factor in favor of Jeter.
Robbykid
What do you think it would take to land Grady Sizemore??
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a dimebag and some cheeseburgers
new thread!
Sizemore is one of the best players in the AL.
His injuries have really slowed him down this season but every team in the majors would love to have him.
The dude is a stud.
“Pete said it best when the past couple seasons the Pirates have been an AL East Farm team”
Yeah, if you’re a Pirates fan you can take comfort in knowing that you have the best AAAA team out there.
i feel sorry for the people in pittsburgh (and KC)
they have been great baseball fans in the past, and they would be now, but thier teams and thier managements are so inept, its ridiculous. the # of solid to excellent players that have passed through those systems is unbelievable. and these are 2 of the best baseball stadiums there are, imo.
this illustrates the classic chicken-and-egg situation.
niether team is willing to spend the money to put a contending team together because they dont have the fans to pay for it now. but the fans will not come until the teams put a contending team on the field.
Somebody needs to step-up and invest in the future of thier franchise or they will eventually be swept away.
imo this is the perfect opportunity for a mark cuban type to step in, make the investment and reap huge rewards, but hey, its not my money.
It’s hard not to feel bad for pirates fans considering they last won a division title in the early 90′s. At the same time, any true Pirates fan deserves credit for not becoming a band wagon fan somewhere else.
“imo this is the perfect opportunity for a mark cuban type to step in, make the investment and reap huge rewards, but hey, its not my money.”
he would make any team a contender for large free agents and do everything in his power to win…sadly, because the baseball powers don’t like his antics he will never get the chance…
The Pirates should be nice and deal the Yankees a starting pitcher that would fill the 5th slot. They should accept Kei Igawa and Shelley Duncan for this pitcher.
Agreed. The Yank fans get upset easily. Ortiz was rarely booed, if at all at Fenway this year apparently.
Now, some people will say, in comparison to A-Rod getting booed, that A-Rod never helped the Yanks in the post season.
Ok, but I’ve heard them boo Mo and Jeter who have contributed so much to past and current success.
============
The Yankee fan base is huge. All fan groups have their smart and stupid fans.
However, the larger the group, the smaller number of intelligent fans, relatively speaking.
It’s not that the Yankees draw more idiot fans, it’s that the pool is larger.
And “panicky” fans nearly always seem to be the ones who also betray a lack of baseball knowledge, and sort of swallow the pablum of the dumb writers and columnists.
The wiser sort nearly always qualifies/complains in some sort of context.
Rishi
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:00 am
The Red Sox problems
It feels like the U.S.S. Red Sox is taking on water and the front office is working frantically to plug the leak, and LaRoche may or may not help. He typically is a strong second half player and is the type of hitter who can put the team on his back for a week or two weeks, but he also is known to be a sensitive sort who doesn’t like criticism. Maybe he’ll get on a serious roll, and maybe not. Maybe he’ll help the Red Sox, and maybe not.
But there are no great solutions out on the market for the Red Sox, either. They could acquire Victor Martinez, theoretically, but they would have to overpay to get him; they would have to give up their most valued asset, young pitching. They could make a move to trade for Matt Holliday, but while Holliday has had some good games this week, he hasn’t had a good season and Boston couldn’t feel 100 percent confident that he would pay off for them — and defensively, he would be a square peg for a round hole for Boston, because he would have to play right field, with Jason Bay limited to playing left.
The Red Sox are like the Cubs in this way: Simply put, the guys who are playing for them now simply must perform better.
J.D. Drew is among those Red Sox hitters buried in a slump, as Adam Kilgore writes.
Boston’s maneuvering sets them up for something big, writes Nick Cafardo, who wonders if the Red Sox might go after Roy Halladay. Mark Kotsay appears to be the odd man out.
http://insider.espn.go.com/esp.....ney_buster
new post two over