Game 118: Yankees at Mariners
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Aug 16, 2009 
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YANKEES (74-43)
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira DH
Rodriguez 3B
Posada C
Swisher 1B
Hinkse RF
Hairston CF
Pena 2B
Pitching: RHP Joba Chamberlain (8-2, 3.85).
MARINERS (60-57)
Suzuki RF
Branyan 1B
Lopez 2B
Griffey DH
Gutierrez CF
Hannahan 3B
Johjima C
Langerhans LF
Wilson SS
Pitching: LHP Doug Fister (0-0, 0.00).
TIME/TV: 4:10 p.m., YES.
STATE OF THE ‘STRIPES: No complaints on the blog today, people. The Yankees have won five straight, 12 of 13 and 36 of 47. They are 23-6 since the All-Star break, the best record in franchise history.
SERIES SWEEP? The Yankees are looking for a four-game series sweep, having outscored Seattle 20-5 over the first three games. The Yankees are 5-1 against the Mariners this season.
HISTORY IN THE MAKING: Derek Jeter needs one hit to tie Hall of Famer Luis Aparicio for the most hits ever by a shortstop with 2,673. Those are hits by a player when he was playing shortstop. Jeter has 2,685 overall, Aparicio had 2,677.
I’LL TAKE THE PEN IS MIGHTIER: Yankee relievers have allowed no runs in their last 12.2 innings, one in their last 19.2 innings and three in their last 30.1 innings. They have whiffed 31 in the last 30.1 innings and given up 22 hits.
MONUMENT PARK AWAITS: The great, great Jerry Hairston Jr is 9 of 26 with three extra-base hits and six RBI as a Yankee.
CONSISTENT CANO: Robinson Cano has a 13-game hit streak, going 24 of 57 with nine extra-base hits and 10 runs scored. He has 51 multiple-hit games this season.
TUCKERED OUT: Melky Cabrera has played every inning in center field since Brett Gardner broke his left thumb. He is 6 of his last 48 at the plate and is down to .269.
PITCHING POWER: Yankee pitching in the last four games:
38 innings
34 hits
7 earned runs
12 walks
46 strikeouts.
SEATTLE STUMBLES: The Mariners have scored seven runs in their last 50 innings. They are 3 for 20 with runners in scoring position in this series.
WILL THE REAL JOBA CHAMBERLAIN PLEASE STAND UP? Joba was 3-0, 0.83 in his three starts following the All-Star break, allowing eight hits over 21.2 innings and striking out 19. He regressed to nibbling, jittery Joba in the last two starts, allowing eight runs on 11 hits and nine walks over 11 innings.
THE JETER METER: The Captain has four home run his last eight games.
ROAD WARRIORS: The Yankees are 33-26 away from the cozy confines of Yankee Stadium. They have won six straight.
ON THE iPOD RIGHT NOW: Affection by The Lost Boys. Picked this up off The Sopranos soundtrack. The Lost Boys are a garage band fronted by Steven Van Zandt. Great guitar work on this tune. Highly recommended.
Back later with much more.
UPDATE, 2:09 p.m.: Hideki Matsui has fluid on his left knee and is day to day. … Girardi said he may not have Mariano Rivera today. He wants to rest him.
UPDATE, 3:33 p.m.: Melky Cabrera is getting a day off as is Robbie Cano. This way they can keep each other company on the bench. … Girardi wants to stay away from Dave Robertson today if he can. … Did you see the story in the Post about Hideki Matsui’s wife having a baby? One little problem, it was Chien-Ming Wang’s wife. Oops.
UPDATE, 4:07 p.m.: Joe Moser, a World War II veteran and fighter pilot, just throw out the first pitch. A Washington native, Mr. Moser was shot down over Europe and was sent to the Buchenwald concentration camp to be executed. Rescued by Luftwaffe officers, they were sent to a prison camp and later survived a forced March to another camp as Allied troops approached.
All these years later, Mr. Moser received a huge ovation from the crowd. Nice to see.
UPDATE, 4:10 p.m.: We’re underway and Derek Jeter just singled to tie Luis Aparicio for the most hits ever by a shortstop with 2,673.
UPDATE, 4:18 p.m.: Fairly big start here for Joba in that he’ll get eight days off afterward. You want to go into a break like that feeling good about things if you’re a pitcher. His last two starts were shaky and he needs to get himself back on track.
UPDATE, 4:40 p.m.: How about that? Pesky little Ramiro Pena bunts for a single then scores from first when Ichiro has trouble finding Jeter’s double down the line. Good base-running by El Nino.
Jeter now has the SS hit record alone.
It must make Girardi feel good when he uses the bench and those guys produce.
UPDATE, 4:49 p.m.: Joba was bopping along. Now he’s in trouble. First and third, Ichiro up, one out.
UPDATE, 4:51 p.m.: That wily Ichiro tried to slap one the other way and A-Rod caught it. Now Joba has a chance to escape.
UPDATE, 4:56 p.m.: Joba is either real, real good or real, real not so good. This is the bad Joba. He’s close to 30 pitches this inning.
UPDATE, 4:59 p.m.: 47 pitches, 27 strikes. Five first-pitch strikes to 13 batters. His stuff is just too good to screw around like that. Joba is forever repeating that old cliche, “Strike one is the best pitch in baseball.” But he doesn’t always seem to remember it.
UPDATE, 5:03 p.m.: It’s Swishalicious on the road again. Twenty jacks, 17 away from the Boogie Bown. Yankees lead 3-2.
And he hacked at a 3-0 pitch. Might as well, the Yankees can do little wrong these days.
UPDATE, 5:05 p.m.: Red Sox lose again. Yankees up eight games pending the outcome of this one.
UPDATE, 5:09 p.m.: The Red Sox have won 11 of their last 28 games. Yikes. Could they stay home and the Yankees will get the wild card winners? Would you rather face Texas or the AL Central winner?
UPDATE, 5;11 p.m.: Swisher gives Joba the lead, he falls behind the first two hitters he faces in the bottom of the inning. Throw strikes young man.
UPDATE, 5:40 p.m.: Nice effort by Joba. He has given up seven hits and three walks in five innings and four runs against a team that had scored seven in its previous 50 innings.
The 0-2 pitch to Gutierrez was horrendous.
90 pitches in five innings and first-pitches strikes to only 10 of 25 batters.
UPDATE, 5:46 p.m.: And Joba is finished after a poor five innings.
His last three starts: 16 innings, 18 hits, 12 runs, 12 earned runs, 12 walks, 12 strikeouts. So much for him having figured it out after the break.
UPDATE, 6:09 p.m.: Doug Fister has retired nine straight as he faces Hairston and he’s at 90 pitches here in the seventh.
UPDATE, 6:11 p.m.: Cano pinch hits and bloops in a single to extend his hitting streak to 14 games.
UPDATE, 6:15 p.m.: Isn’t it about time for somebody to hit a home run and break Seattle’s heart? Fister must be getting tired. Next pitch is No. 100.
UPDATE, 6:17 p.m.: Johnny nearly beat that. Would have tied the score. Now the Seattle bullpen has to try and hold on.
UPDATE, 6:21 p.m.: Hairston started back on that ball. Had he started in he might have caught it.
UPDATE, 6:33 p.m.: The Yankees were due for a stinker and they’re getting it. Aceves just hit a batter to force in a run. But, it’s only 5-3 Seattle. If Chad Gaudin can hold them here, the Yankees very much have a chance.
That run broke a streak of 13.2 innings without a run for the bullpen.
UPDATE, 6:36 p.m.: And that could cook the Yankees. 8-3 now. Bad day for the pitchers.
They’ll take three out of four here and move on to Oakland. Please do me a favor and ignore the panic stricken commenters. They’re not worth your time.
Classic SNL reference to The Pen Is Mightier…..A+ work pete
You’re sitting on a gold mine, Trebek!
Three questions
1. ) Does anyone think that Possibly a kid like Zach McAllister gets a call up in september and starts a couple games instead of a Gaudin or Mitre?
2. ) Any info Slade and Murphy’s contract situation?
3. ) Any update on Ian Kennedy and how his session went friday?
One comment – How good are SI Baby Bombers? Medchill, Mack, Black, Warren not to mention Vizcaino
‘Melky Cabrera has played every inning in center field since Brett Gardner broke his left thumb. He is 6 of his last 48 at the plate and is down to .269.”
this shouldn’t be a problem unless he’s burning both ends of the candle again.
with some players going out after games is as much an addiction as alcohol or drugs.
the yankees should seriously have some of the veterans keep an eye on him.
BD, I don’t give Damon a 2 year deal, no way. He may fall off the cliff next year – you don’t know with older players. What he’s done this year has no bearing on what he will do next year. The Yankees have an old lineup – as SJ or CB said recently, they are hitting on all cylinders and that’s unexpected for a team with so many older players. We can not expect the same type of production out of the lineup next year. Jeter can go forever it seems, but Damon? Who knows? Matsui will be gone. Posada? Again, who knows? He’s aging catcher. Can Melky and Gardner give us the same solid production as this year? That’s a question mark. The Yankees need to figure out why Swisher can not hit at home…… Not that it matters right now, but this team has alot of question marks going forward.
Also, good points about the hometown discount thing……I don’t think the Yankees are inclined even now to overpay even for top FAs. For instance, I don’t think there is any way they give Holliday or Bay the $$$ or years they are looking for. The days of just indiscriminately spending seem to be over…..
With everything going well for the Yanks, remember Pete, the Angels are ONLY TWO BACK in the loss column. Now, that’s scary.
“Well, the game is afoot. I’ll take anal bum cover for 7,000.”
Some asshat will complain, it’s inevitable. They ALWAYS do.
If I were negotiating for the Yanks I would prefer to get Damon for one year with a vesting option, $ 10 M guaranteed with another $ 3 M in incentives if he stays healthy.
I’d have to say goodbye to Matsui, Molina and Nady and the $21 M they are making and add Austin Jackson and Cervelli to the roster. If there’s a top shelf RF that can be had with the right package I’d certainly be interested in that.
A real key is whether or not Pettite wants to return and on what terms. He’s certainly justified this year’s deal.
1. No way on McAllister. He’s not ready yet.
2. Murphy and Slade’s signings will be announced pending passing of their physicals.
3. Kennedy….No setbacks thus far in his rehab.
Damon? I’d go one year with incentives for 10 million base or 2 years (vesting option depending on production) for 16 million + incentives.
Similar to what they did with Pettitte in the off-season, with Damon getting more upfront because of his production.
BJ Upton, a young player, “fell off a cliff” this year.
It can happen to anybody, regardless of age.
Johnny is a great player, wants to stay in NY, and the Yankees want him back. Seems to me you can make that happen if both sides want it to occur.
“Not that it matters right now, but this team has alot of question marks going forward.”
That’s why this year is so special. With the exception of Wang, literally everyone is having a good season. It’s not often that so many things go right for one team, which is why it would be a shame not to win the WS. With the huge contributions of old veterans such as Jeter, Damon, Matsui, Posada, Pettitte, and Rivera, it’s like the stars are aligned for ’09.
“David Duchovny August 16th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
With everything going well for the Yanks, remember Pete, the Angels are ONLY TWO BACK in the loss column. Now, that’s scary.”
Why?
“Three questions
1. ) Does anyone think that Possibly a kid like Zach McAllister gets a call up in september and starts a couple games instead of a Gaudin or Mitre?”
Not a chance in hell.
“2. ) Any info Slade and Murphy’s contract situation?”
Pretty soon is what we’re hearing.
“3. ) Any update on Ian Kennedy and how his session went friday?”
very good according to reports.
“One comment – How good are SI Baby Bombers? Medchill, Mack, Black, Warren not to mention Vizcaino”
Very good but too old: Medchill
Very good at right age: Vizcaino, Mack, Warren
Too early to tell on: Black
“With everything going well for the Yanks, remember Pete, the Angels are ONLY TWO BACK in the loss column. Now, that’s scary.”
Not really. They aren’t in the same division so that’s comparing apples to oranges in terms of whether or not the Angels are as good as the yankees.
The angels get to play this awful Seattle offense 18-19 times this season. They get to play the A’s 18-19 times this season.
The angels have outscored their opponents this year by 72 runs.
The yankees have outscored their opponents this year by 111 runs.
And that’s taking into account the crazy games that wang pitched where the team got ouscored by large amounts.
The angels might be a tough foe head to head, but as a whole they are nowhere close to being in the yankees league.
Jeter ss
Damon cf
Tex 1b
Arod 3b
Matsui dh
Posada c
Cano 2b
Swisher rf
Hinske lf
“No complaints on the blog today, people”….
Pete, you know better! lol
Once the lineup is announced, there will be complaints Girardi doesn’t give Joba the “A” Lineup and has no clue on how to fill out a lineup card.
If they fall behind, the second guessing will begin.
If they GASP, happen to lose, we will read 200 “the Red Sox will catch them”, and “they didn’t come to play” posts today.
Old habits die hard!
=============
JeterJobaFanForever – but I will notbadmouthPhil August 16th, 2009 at 5:01 am
“CompassRosy: You have been a great poster prior to and during this series. However, Joba is my favorite and I hope your presence at the game doesn’t jinx him!
We had planned to drive from deepest Idaho to Seattle to see Joba pitch. Then the rotation was changed so he would not pitch. Then changed again so he WOULD pitch on Sunday. Too late for us to plan the trip and it is about an 9 hour drive.”
==============
JJFF ~
What a bummer that the schedule change ruined your plans! Well, you’ll have another shot to see Joba pitch in Seattle next month – hope it works out for you.
As for me jinxing Joba – I think I’ve been more of a jinx to the M’s – they’ve been playing some pretty crummy baseball this series with me in attendance
unlike the previous series I attended vs. the Rays where I got to see an extra-inning walk-off win on Friday night and a blow-out victory on Sunday afternoon.
Time to get a few chores done before I head to the field.
ttp://www.nypost.com/seven/08162009/sports/yankees/fun_loving_newcomers_help_cream_rise_to__184824.htm?&page=0
The whipped cream pie might not be universally adored. But it has given Burnett a way to insinuate himself into the group and shake a reputation for being edgy or an outcast
***I wonder who exactly doesn’t like the whipped cream to the face?
See, this is where writers get lazy. AJ was never an outcast on any of his teams…..and he’s been a darn good teammate for more reasons than just his boyish antics.
This is my favorite part:
4. Young players are thriving. It matters that the success is not limited to the few. Just look at how many guys have double-digit homers and how many have enjoyed walk-off hits. But there is something unique about the energy of young players doing well. So this includes Robinson Cano, Melky Cabrera and Phil Hughes reviving after forgettable 2008 campaigns. Brett Gardner’s speed was a big part of this. And so were the positive contributions of players such as Francisco Cervelli and Ramiro Pena when they were called upon.
SJ, I’m hearing that Kroenke and Dunn have made a case for a Sept. call up. Where do you stand on Kroenke, I know Dunn is in the Coke stage from last season unknown but nasty stuff, watching Kroenke get converted from BP to spot SP has made him one of those, “I didn’t know he could do that” guys, what’s your take on him and what are you hearing?
MLB Network is showcasing Yankee Stadium for Cathedrals of the Game series. Right now they are talking about Cone’s perfect game. I have chills.
from the last thread…
CompassRosy August 16th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
====
cor shep August 16th, 2009 at 11:45 am
“Can anyone explain why Ichiro’s teammates hate him so much? Maybe give some examples? Thanks a lot.”
====
No doubt the clubhouse was a mess last season. But I think rumors of “Ichiro hating” were slightly overblown (as is everything in the midst of a 101 loss season).
I used to think managers got too much blame when things went wrong – on the field or off. But this year, with Wak, I have changed my tune entirely. He has totally turned the attitude around. Of course, much credit goes to Jack Z for acquiring players that mesh and lead.
Anyway, things are just fine with Ichi, others and especially the Kangaroo Court Judge. Here’s a snippet from an article back in May…
“By the way, Ken Griffey Jr. has found Ichiro’s “tickle spot” and had him on the ground, during warm-ups, tickling him until Ichiro could be heard crying out in laughter and pleading for him to stop.”
I must agree with the Damon signing how in the heck can you not sign this guy. Brings it to the park every night, he WANTS to be here, so give him 2 yrs 18m with club option for 1 more year. Looking into signing Holliday or even Abreu if the price is right, in terms of health Jeter looks great yet how long till he’s in left field, as for catcher the future may have been seen with Cervilli, good bat and good behind the plate no need to get into a bidding war with Boston over Mauer. Wonder what the cost would be for Crawford you could easily outbid Tampa think of the speed with him, AJax and Melky in the outfield. What a pick up by Cash with Jerry, can you think of a better quite trade than this one? Not sure of his contract for next year. Thank goodness I can sleep tonight, have been up till past one the last few nights with this west coast bullcrap and to think the Red Sux don’t have a West Coast trip again this year and Yanks come out here again, to me that is crap, thanks Bud.
CB
That’s why when someone trys to base an argument on just numbers you can punch holes in it.
It always bugs me when someone tries to say the best hitter, team etc. based on a certain stat it isn’t always true.
When the Dodgers had the best record in baseball it was based on record alone even though they played in a weak divison.
get ready for the line up complaints – just saw it on Twitter
Dunn has a much higher upside than Coke. It’d be interesting to see him get a shot in Sept. because he throws smoke and would be a nice lefty to have in the pen.
Brandon,
Neither guy does much for me. Kroenke is a kid whose stuff can get AAA hitters out. Not sure if it translates once he reaches the majors. Sort of like a RH Edwar Ramirez to me.
Dunn? I’ve never gotten the hype on him. I know folks get excited by the radar gun readings. However, I’ve seen him pitch a lot and he has trouble throwing strikes and real trouble in high leverage situations.
Good stuff, can’t always find the plate. Could he be, like Coke, a guy who finds it at the major league level? Perhaps.
Of the two, I like Dunn better but, I’m not enamored with either guy.
I might actually vomit if I see some of the usual complaining that goes on during this game thread. Seriously, we’ve played .766 baseball (yes that’s not a typo) since the last week of June. THAT’S ALMOST TWO ENTIRE MONTHS. And we’re doing it with a 70-80% healthy A-Rod and without our ace of the last 3 years. We are an incredibly good team. The best in baseball by a long way. Is it really that hard to actually SIT BACK and ENJOY this season? You don’t see teams like this club very often. Who cares about next year? Who cares about nitpicking every lineup and bullpen decision? Just WATCH the games and ENJOY this special team. If we execute and things fall into place later on…we will be popping champagne in the last week of October.
SJ, I agree, but there is more of a chance of an older player falling off a cliff…..This is a terrific team, but unlike the Rays, where you know they will be good for a long time, you can’t say the same about the Yankees. Their core is old……
The Angels may or may not be as good as the Yankees, but that doesn’t matter at this point because only the actual record counts. I didn’t realize they are only 2 games back of the Yanks for the best record – that can easily be made up. How do they determine who plays who in the ALDS and who has home field? I’m assuming the Sox will win the wild card, so obviously the Yankees can’t play them. How do they determine if the Yankees play the Angels or the Tigers/White Sox?
Dunn doesn’t have more upside than Coke for one big reason. He can’t throw strikes on a consistent basis.
Lots of guys have talent. Its the ability to do it in high leverage situations that seperate those who make it from those who don’t.
Phil Coke has done that since his callup. Michael Dunn, despite being older than a lot of his the people he faces in AA, has not.
Does he have a better arm than Coke? Yes. Is he a better pitcher? Not even close.
line up posted above
From what I’m hearing they love Dunn down there.
Cisco has been giving major props to Kroenke who’s ERA is under 2.00, I read up on him, apparently his fastball is better this season and he’s got a split finger plus the change up. I guess it messes w/ the hitters eye level. Hard to ignore he’s been solid since being converted to a SP. Back of the end type guy.
http://www.scrantontimes.com/s.....impression
http://www.nypost.com/seven/08.....84823.htm?
I wonder if Mo was in a bad mood of if he’s just rather straightforward like that all the time, lol…….I almost felt uncomfortable reading this.
Brandon, not to worry – Phil is not going to be the future closer of this team!
David Wright was released from the hospital this morning. He will undergo follow-up testing later in the week and could join the team if the doctors see no residual effects. Jerry Manuel would not rule out shutting Wright down for the season.
I think there should be mandatory shut down periods for this type of head injury.
Come back too soon and God forbid he gets another shot to the head ? Very dangerous.
I said this right at the trade deadline but amazing how close this team was NOT to have Coke this year. Remember he was one of the players that was pulled during his Trenton game as a possible player going on the Nady trade. But the Pirates didnt take him.
What makes you think the Rays are going to be good for a long time? They have more question marks than the Yankees.
No primary guy in their pen. Carl Crawford is as good as gone soon. Pena can’t hit .220. Their catching position is a mess.
Scott Kazmir is a huge question mark and they have money issues.
They have big problems.
Young isn’t always better Betsy. Its sexier to talk about teams being “young”. However, give me a balanced club of youth and experience, and they take out young everytime.
Wow Betsy. From the posts I’ve read of yours for the past few days I can safely say you’re the biggest downer on here.
Don’t worry so much about the Angels. They’re only 2 games back in the loss column, but they also have 5 fewer wins.
Jeers,
I agree. Baseball doesn’t take its concussion injuries as serious as football, IMO. There should be a mandatory shutdown time if a guy is diagnosed with a concussion.
Brandon.
There is a BIG difference between facing AAA hitters and ML hitters. He’s done a nice job in AAA.
However, those guys swing at pitches ML hitters lay off. That’s why the stats are meaningless.
Its two different worlds.
“Scott Kazmir is a huge question mark and they have money issues.”
They should have traded him in the off season when they had the chance to get back value.
Trading Jackson instead of Kazmir is going to hurt them for awhile.
Unfortunately, as good a job as Friedman does, they have literally zero margin for error.
It’s such a strange situation. Tons of young talent – on the surface they look like they’re set up for success for a long time.
But the situation there is actually much more brittle than it appears.
Hard to operate with no margin of error and no ability to add to the team during the season.
that Matsui’s a father article referenced in the last thread:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/08.....184786.htm
Can we stop complaining about the line-up complaints.
There really isn’t anything to complain about with this team.
Doesn’t mean people won’t do it but, its pretty tough to muster up much complaining about the State of the Yankees at the present time.
http://www.northjersey.com/spo.....038;page=1
El Nino! at 2B. Jr. Hairston in CF, Mall Cop in RF
I get what you mean SJ. Although a spot start or a Sept. call up isn’t out the question for them.
Shdw, sorry if you don’t like the posts – I’m being realistic, IMO.
A late afternoon game. Oh la la.
Keep on winning Yankees
Looks like we’re going with a C-lineup today. Eh, with the way the Yanks are rolling, does it matter? Glad Melky gets a day off, at least. Jer-Hair in CF should be interesting.
As for the outfield next year, what’s the consensus on Jackson for CF? With Gardner in left and Melky in right, that’s a fast, fast outfield. It’s also very, very risky… do you think the yanks will go for Crawford in the offseason?
Saying that the Red Sox’s comeback win is the stepping stone for them to overtake us and worrying about the Yankees’ core 3 years down the road is being realistic?
The Mets handled Ryan Church’s concussion disgracefully…..I hope David Wright will be ok and that he gets all the time he needs. If he has to be shut down for the season, so be it; head injuries are nothing to fool around with.
I saw a clip of the Dodger pitcher getting hit with the batted ball – wow, that was scary. We’re lucky that all of these guys are going to be okk.
The Yankees are the best team in baseball right now. Perfect? No, no team is imo. But, not much to complain about this team right now
Keep on trucking
Velocity isn’t talent, it’s just velocity. Franswurst throws a lot harder than Mariano. Dannis Rasmussen threw as hard as Pettite. Everyone throws harder than Creg Maddux did.
The Yanks have several starters in the system who throw harder than McAllister, but he’s probably the best MLB prospect in the system right now because of how he pitches.
There’s no reason to expect Damon to fall off a cliff in 2010. He has been a very consistent offensive player and could be even more effective with the DH spot available to him 2 or 3 times a week. He’s played in 140+ games for 13 straight years and this could be # 14. He’s had 10+ HR and 70+ RBI the last eight straight seasons including this one.
Amazing how far Kazmir has fallen…..what has happened to him?
lol @ Andrus talking about taking advantage of certain team.
I had a serious question last night, and got 1 answer.
Who’s the best catcher in baseball?
Annie Jay
August 16th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
Looks like we’re going with a C-lineup today. Eh, with the way the Yanks are rolling, does it matter? Glad Melky gets a day off, at least. Jer-Hair in CF should be interesting.
———————————————————-
Cano and Melky get a day off and it’s a “C-lineup”?
I’ll take our C-lineup over most teams A-lineups.
you are dead on about the Lost Boys.
I do however reserve the right to complain about Joba’s nibbling and time between pitches today.
I believe Andrus stole 2nd…then 3rd…then scored.
Oh, 2 pitches to the head, and the line drive of course. Didn’t see David Wright’s but the one to Kuroda was nasty. Comebacker off a 94 mph pitch. Kinsler was stunned, then when he popped up, he popped off.
If the Rangers get the lead, I’d expect someone to get plunked. That wasn’t intentional, but it was dangerous nonetheless.
m,
Joe Mauer. Hands down, IMO. A great, great player.
Brandon,
I could see both guys getting called up. I hope the Yankees have a big enough lead to be able to use them and see how they make out at the ML level.
There are no A, B or C lineups. Its a 25 man team and you use your entire roster to win games over the course of the season.
It keeps everybody in the flow and it enables guys to get their rest.
Especially important in the Dog Days of August.
Who’s the best Molina?
Until Gardner returns, Girardi may use Hairston in CF in spot situations to rest Melky a little.
Cashman knew what he was getting for versatility when he got Hairston. He’s been a good addition.
“what’s the consensus on Jackson for CF? With Gardner in left and Melky in right, that’s a fast, fast outfield. ”
That outfield would be lucky to hit a combined 25 HR’s. That doesn’t sound very appealing to me.
Who’s the fastest Molina?
IDK how this is a C lineup, I mean Teix is DH’ing, Al is at 3B, Jetestream is a SS, Georgy is catching and the devil is in LF.
Annie Jay
August 16th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
Looks like we’re going with a C-lineup today. Eh, with the way the Yanks are rolling, does it matter? Glad Melky gets a day off, at least. Jer-Hair in CF should be interesting.
———————————————————-
BJK
August 16th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Cano and Melky get a day off and it’s a “C-lineup”?
I’ll take our C-lineup over most teams A-lineups.
_______________________________________
Agreed, we have far more depth than most. However, you can’t say it’s optimal, especially defensively. But what can you do? It’s not a bad lineup.
As for the outfield next year, what’s the consensus on Jackson for CF? With Gardner in left and Melky in right, that’s a fast, fast outfield
———–
That is also an OFFENSIVE black hole. So let’s never mention that again. Melky is too streaky and inconsistent at the plate and all 3 are still unproven commodities. Stupid idea.
What is wrong with Swisher that he gets little love around here? His OBP is in the 370s!
Victor Martinez catching today for the Red Sox.
They go from one guy unable to throw anybody out to another guy who is worse. Their catching situation is a mess.
“Who’s the best catcher in baseball?”
Forget just catcher, Joe Mauer has a real argument for being the single best player in baseball.
Mauer is on his way to becoming the greatest catcher in the history of the game.
Okay, Nick’s on the right trail.
It’s universally accepted that mauer is the best catcher. I’ve even heard talks he could be the best in history (a tad bit premature imo).
But ESPN mag has Yadier on their next cover, with the caption “Why Yadier is the best Catcher in Baseball”. Of course it’s insider content, so I didn’t read the article. But I was just wondering what everyone thought.
Benjie’s got the best bat. Jose has a better glove than Benjie. Yadier has a great snap throw that I saw about 40 times on tv last night. Otherwise, I don’t know much about Yadier.
Also, was great to see some love for Jose on the blog last night.
“That outfield would be lucky to hit a combined 25 HR’s. That doesn’t sound very appealing to me.”
It’s not all about jacking one out of the park buddy, Melky alone should be able to give 15-20, Jackson and Gardner would add better defense and versatility and it’s not like they both will hit under the mendoza line. I’m guessing summer 2010 AJax will reach the show barring any setbacks.
Today is like the Yankee lineup version of Labor Day.
Watch Hinske, Hairston and Pena light somebody up today.
The way the pucks are bouncing for the Yanks lately?
I’d even give Igawa a start at this point.
m – the article is long or I would post it
SJ
Lets hope the Sox don’t try to pry your nephew from the Pirates.
Does anyone think Damon is throwing better? (Insert funny joke here) Seriously, I don’t know if his shoulder is feeling better or what, but he seems to be making better throws lately. Or maybe I am delusional.
highlights:
But if Pujols is El Hombre, the Dominican successor to Cardinals legend Stan “The Man” Musial, Molina is the glue that holds the team together. In fact, he’s the sport’s one true game-changing catcher, playing the position like no other. Yes, Joe Mauer has won two batting titles, Jorge Posada owns four World Series rings, and Matt Wieters may be the Next Big Thing. But catchers throughout the game know who sets the bar behind the dish.
Says Posada, “The best defensive catcher in baseball is Yadier Molina.”
Says Atlanta’s Brian McCann, “Yadi is the best defensive catcher in baseball.”
Says Cleveland’s Victor Martínez, “Yadier is the best behind the plate.”
Yadier Molina is baseball’s one true game-changing catcher.
Molina is a throwback, a catcher in the grittiest sense of the word. He’s a master of an art driven underground by a collective lust for the long ball. In the early 1980s, when offense exploded and home runs became all the rage, many clubs started signing catchers for their skills at the plate rather than those behind it. In the ’90s, Mike Piazza became the poster boy, and the nuances of the position began to fade. But no catcher can drive in as many runs as he can prevent. The stat geeks have yet to master next-level fielding metrics for catchers, so Molina’s defensive prowess is more anecdotal than measured, but his pickoff and caught-stealing numbers are telling.
Rishi,
Thanks. I figured that to be the case. Thought it’d be an interesting topic to discuss as there’s a “late” game today.
SJ44
August 16th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Victor Martinez catching today for the Red Sox.
They go from one guy unable to throw anybody out to another guy who is worse. Their catching situation is a mess.
——————————————————
It will be interesting to see what moves they make in the off season. Catcher isn’t the only area they need to fix.
more highlights:
Casual baseball fans may best know the 27-year-old Molina for, of all things, a home run — one of just 36 he has hit in his career. In the top of the ninth inning of Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS against the Mets, Molina, who had batted just .216 during the regular season, came to the plate with one on and one out and the game tied 1-1. He drilled Aaron Heilman’s first-pitch changeup over the leftfield wall at Shea Stadium, giving the Cardinals a 3-1 lead and reducing to a footnote Endy Chavez’s spectacular, over-the-wall catch of a Scott Rolen blast in the sixth. But it was the bottom of the ninth that revealed the essence of Molina. With two outs, the bases loaded and Cardinal-killer Carlos Beltrán at the plate, the catcher signaled for an 0-2 curveball from closer Adam Wainwright. In a situation where a hanger or even a wild pitch could have spelled catastrophe, the rookie righthander, without hesitation, hurled a filthy bender that started up and away and bit hard to the low inside corner. The pitch froze Beltrán for an embarrassing called third strike and gave the Cardinals the NL pennant. “You don’t ever have to worry about bouncing a ball to Yadier,” says Wainwright, now a St. Louis starter. “He’s a human vacuum behind the plate. The only thing you have to think about is making the pitch, because you know Yadi’s going to catch whatever you throw.”
why no matsui
Pete, Fister is a RHP
Matsui’s wife just had a baby.
SJ,
WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON WARREN? FROM WHAT I’VE READ/HEARD, HE SEEMS TO BE ADAPTING TO SHORT A BALL FAIRLY WELL. OOPS SORRY ABout caps
Garza’s off to the worst start possible in Tampa. First batter of the game takes a 13 pitch out.
ok thanks
“Matsui’s wife just had a baby.’
Was it a blue or pink post it note?
Shdw
August 16th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
Garza’s off to the worst start possible in Tampa. First batter of the game takes a 13 pitch out.
——————————————————-
Wouldn’t the worst start possible be a 13 pitch HR?
Or would it be a 14 pitch HR?
Even if Garza doesn’t give up a run. If you throw 30+ pitches in the first, it’s a terrible beginning to a game.
Victor Martinez catching today for the Red Sox.
They go from one guy unable to throw anybody out to another guy who is worse. Their catching situation is a mess.
————
yet there are morons here who continue to rip Posada….
“But no catcher can drive in as many runs as he can prevent.”
Catcher is the most difficult position in baseball to play. It’s the most difficult position to find talent in. It’s the most important defensive position.
No position in baseball has more nonsense, fluff and hackneyed drivel attributed to it than catcher.
It’s as if just calling it the most difficult position on the diamond isn’t enough.
So instead there has to be some kind of mystical realm of “nuance” that can’t be apprehended directly but instead has to be intuited.
In this realm of subtle nuance Jason Varitk is a hall of famer who magically makes pitchers throw no-hitters, the yankees are a better team with Cervelli than Posada, Yadier Molina is the only “game changing” player at this position, and Tim McCarver gets to pontificate on any aspect of the game he choses.
It’s just unsubstantiated fluff.
The idea that Yadier Molina has a bigger impact on a game than Joe Mauer is a joke.
The idea that no catcher can create as many if not more runs with his bat than with his glove is just factually incorrect. Nicely done ESPN.
more:
The game has never seen anything like the Molina brothers, and now Yadi seems poised to out-Molina everyone. The Fielding Bible, one publication that has tried to attach numbers to the nuances of catching, dubbed Yadi baseball’s best defensive catcher in 2008; José was No. 2 and Bengie No. 5. “I’m not going to be in the Hall of Fame, and I don’t think José will be either,” says Bengie, a two-time Gold Glove winner. “But Yadier, he has a chance.” Molina’s ability to block balls in the dirt is unparalleled, mostly because he knows his pitchers so well that he’s able to anticipate the movement of the ball. And if a pitcher isn’t hitting his spots, Molina will shift his body, not just his glove, so that the ball thumps neatly into the webbing, as near to the strike zone as possible, on every pitch. On a good day, he says, he can steal 10 or 12 strikes for his pitcher.
…
What separates Yadi from the rest is his mental awareness,” says Astros first baseman Lance Berkman, who got back-picked by Molina last season. “He makes a terrific play and thinks to himself, Maybe there’s more I can do with this ball.” Molina will throw regardless of outs, count, score or other men on base. If an opponent is bold enough to push his secondary lead (the extra step or two a runner takes once the pitcher commits to the plate), the ball will be there, waiting in Pujols’ glove, when the player dives back to the bag. “Molina’s arm cuts your secondary down by at least one shuffle,” says Royals first base coach Rusty Kuntz. “If you normally get two, you get one. If you get three, you get two. But sometimes players have to see it for themselves before they’ll believe it, and those are the guys he picks off.”
Most of them never see it coming. If Pujols is holding the runner, he’ll flash a sign to throw, but if he’s positioned behind the bag, it’s up to Molina. “I have to be aware that he’s going to throw every time, even though he could go the whole game without throwing,” Pujols says. The simple threat of a pickoff can cause poor jumps, which not only prevents stolen bases but also stops runners from breaking up double plays and from going first-to-third on singles.
if we don’t sign molina next year, the sox might pick him up.
Just watching the Yankee Stadium program on the MLB network and they’re showing Trost discussing how the new stadium will be built to capture the history of the old park.
And I quote:
” We still want Y M C A ….”
Huh ?
There’s nothing wrong with Molina love, but why does it make people say stupid things about Jorge?
muffin stump
August 16th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
if we don’t sign molina next year, the sox might pick him up.
to do what? be a third string catcher? Varitek has a player option and Martinez has a team option that will surely be picked up.
Betsy,
Of course Damon could fall off a cliff next season.
But he has given no indication whatsoever that he will.
2 year contracts are fantastic. If the Yanks can get him on a 1 year deal, even better. but we’re not talking about a long term deal here. It’s only 2 years. If that’s what it takes to keep around an all-star level player who is as consistent as they come, so be it.
Damon has been quite consistent over the past 4 seasons with the Yankees, and frankly, for his entire career.
If anything, he’s getting better!!
I don’t blink if it takes 2 years to keep Damon around.
He’s a risk worth taking.
just my opinion (again, I’m suggesting they go 2 years only if they have to. I think they will)
“But no catcher can drive in as many runs as he can prevent.”
I do not agree with this per se, However, I do think a catcher such as Jose Molina saves many more runs with his defense, than he produces with his offense.
Mauer is another story, Posada as well.
“There’s nothing wrong with Molina love, but why does it make people say stupid things about Jorge?”
Similar ethos.
The reasons given in that ESPN article for why Yadier Molina is better than say Joe Mauer, (“What separates Yadi from the rest is his mental awareness”…?) is pretty similar to the thinking behind why the yankees were a better team with cervelli behind the plate than with posada.
Catcher is chalked up with myth.
I’m happy to see a guy like Yadier Molina get some credit.
Of course, Joe Mauer is as good as it gets, but it’s nice to see players and analysts appreciating somebody for their defense.
like his brother jose gunning down Ichiro last night
tj: i don’t think martinez is really a catcher at this point–more of a first baseman/dh. didn’t recall that veritek had a second year guaranteed–ouch for those sox fans.
still, i don’t think we should sign molina, but i wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up in bean town.
The Texas/Red Sox game is starting on TBS.
BD, falling off a cliff usually implies that it comes out of the blue, which is exactly my point. It’s hard to assume anything with older players. Sure, Damon looks great now, but some guys just lose it very quickly, without any signs previously that that was going to happen.
Given that I don’t see any palatable options for next year (short of signing Bay or Holliday), I’d have to go with Damon…..if there’s going to be a 2nd year, it would have to be a club option. 2 years guaranteed to me is very sketchy…..
thanks, fran!
CB,
looking back at those Wang starts, it’s simply amazing what this club has been able to do.
of course, if the Yanks had a healthy Wang, it’s scary to think how good they’d be.
This Yankees club is on one heck of a run.
The best teams in the league win 60% of their games. I believe the Yankees are winning close to 80% over the past 7 weeks or so. no small sample size.
simply amazing.
If only Jose Molina had a bat
He would be one of the greatest catchers of all time.
tj: i don’t think martinez is really a catcher at this point–more of a first baseman/dh. didn’t recall that veritek had a second year guaranteed–ouch for those sox fans.
still, i don’t think we should sign molina, but i wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up in bean town.
———–
I wouldn’t be surprised either, but I also do think that Boston views Martinez as a catcher and the heir to Varitek, that seems to be the prevailing media sentiment at least. Varitek has 5 mil team option (highly likely to be declined) and a 3 mil player option (which he’ll be likely to pick up given how little interest he generated on the market, how much he loves Boston, and the hard ball stance they took with him). And as far as back up catchers go, Molina isn’t really the cheapest, for sure though we should see a lot of demand for his services.
“Catcher is chalked up with myth.”
So true but when you come face to face with this set it’s more about fantasy.
http://thunderbaseball.files.w...../04/12.jpg
Betsy,
I don’t disagree. Damon could fall off a cliff next year.
I’m just saying that I would not let adding a guaranteed 2nd year to his contract be the reason they can’t keep him.
But if you need to take risks, players who have been a model of consistency over their careers, as Damon has, are the best risks to take, IMO.
Signing 38yr old Mariano Rivera to a 3 year contract was considered a bit risky too.
We’ll see how things shape up in the offseason. I’d just hate to see Damon go. He adds so much to this team.
“Some asshat will complain, it’s inevitable. They ALWAYS do”
if Trisha were to change her generous offer from salt-water-taffy to beef rib eye steaks and lobster pounds, people would still complain of the lineup and Mitre as the #5
get well soon matsui, your bat has been great! I was wearing his jersey at a bar the other day when he hit the two bombs. Before the game everyone was like dude get a new jersey he’s washed up. Felt so good when he did that.
Sitting Cano? During a hot streak.
Trying to make Melky feel better about the day off?
Unless Cano is injured, why?
If he’s needed as a pinch hitter, this might ruin his streak. Not that Girardi should care.
Nothing’s more important than winning.
Lots of players getting the day off which is perfectly fine. With a 7 1/2 game lead now is as good a time as any. Want them fresh for Boston series so we can throw more dirt on them.
I got the saltwater taffy from trisha and it’s delicious!
you guys can complain all you want.
i’ll be on the couch today eating my taffy and watching the best team in baseball with a huge smile on my face
I’m liking this Julio kid for Texas. Solid D with speed.
wow tazawa pumping that 86-87 mph gas…
Thomas Cano hasn’t had a lot of days off. You want to push him? give me a great! Who gives a crap about a hitting streak. You want your players healthy to make the stretch run. There is no I in team.
I added Julio Borbon to my fantasy team bc I need steals today.
don’t let me down!
robust, maybe cano and melky partied together too well last night, and girardi (no one calls him general joe anymore?) thought it best to rest both.
“wow tazawa pumping that 86-87 mph gas…”
———–
Sox broke a gentleman’s agreement with Japan by signing him.
bad karma has already hit them for it
the fact that Tazawa is even starting games for the Sox is a sign of how thin their pitching is right now.
he didn’t pitch a single game of professional baseball in Japan.
he came here and pitched a half-season in the minors.
the kid is probably going to get hammered this year and may never recover.
“What makes you think the Rays are going to be good for a long time? They have more question marks than the Yankees.
No primary guy in their pen. Carl Crawford is as good as gone soon. Pena can’t hit .220. Their catching position is a mess.
Scott Kazmir is a huge question mark and they have money issues.
They have big problems”
interesting (and good) points.
and for a team which has no room for error, the Pat Burrell signing was an ignorant one. Bobby Abreu would have been the better signing. Regardless of a left/right bat in the order.
“robust, maybe cano and melky partied together too well last night, and girardi (no one calls him general joe anymore?) thought it best to rest both.”
———–
agreed.
The Yanks are 7.5 games up.
The main benefit of having a big lead is being able to give guys a day off here and there so they are rested for the playoffs.
Take advantage of it!
BD, I agree……..and despite what I’ve said, I would hate to see Damon leave as well. Odd how he feels like a lifelong Yankee even though it was just a few years ago he was tormenting us on the Sox. I have a sentimental streak in me – I hate to see anyone leave.
“Was it a blue or pink post it note?”
LMAO !!!!!!!!!! LMAO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“What makes you think the Rays are going to be good for a long time? They have more question marks than the Yankees.”
————-
The Rays still have a ton of premium talent in the minors.
losing Crawford will hurt for sure but their pitching, which can alone carry a team to the playoffs (see Oakland A’s up until recently), will be solid for the foreseeable future.
“Matsui’s wife just had a baby.’
Was it a blue or pink post it note?
still laughing…
“I have a sentimental streak in me – I hate to see anyone leave.”
Anyone without the name Wilson Betemit.
m August 16th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
lol @ Andrus talking about taking advantage of certain team.
I had a serious question last night, and got 1 answer.
Who’s the best catcher in baseball?
***********
Mel why are you asking this? Don’t you know it is V-Mart. After all he was the Red Soxs answer to the Yankees signing Tex. YES he was the answer! They waited 7 months to answer back that Evil Empire and traded for V-Mart.
Betsy,
I feel the same way.
Any guy who takes pride in wearing the pinstripes, as Damon does, is ok in my book.
Hopefully they can work out a deal that both sides are happy with.
Ah, but the love for Jose last night was the best kind of all. It didn’t come at the expense of Jorge. There’s enough love to go around.
Damn that li’l bit o’ luck!
Tazawa bailed out there.
the Rangers look like they’ll put up some runs today though.
Q: What would you say to Yankees fans who are dreading the day when the ninth inning belongs to someone else?
A: I know for sure I’m not gonna do that job forever. I know they know.
. . . I don’t even have to worry about that. Players come and go.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/08.....84823.htm?
Mo still doesn’t realize how important he is to Yankee fans, saying players come and go. He isn’t just any player!
Castillo?
maybe Citifield is has a jetstream
“BJ Upton, a young player, “fell off a cliff” this year”
after his carlos beltran-like Postseason last year, i did not expect this.
Ortiz just crushed one…
Premium talent in the minors don’t always replace premium major league talent.
It’s the prospect hugging trap some fans, and quite a few GM’s these days, fall into doing.
For every prospect that makes it, there are 10 who don’t.
Not great odds.
I’ve always wondered why writers ask questions like “is Rivera available today?”. Its even more puzzling why Girardi would even answer and say that he’s resting someone.
Its like asking a poker player what his cards are.
“Anyone without the name Wilson Betemit”
and Todd Zeile. (who incidentally made Cody Ransom look like a superstar)
m, I wish what you said was true, but it isn’t.
Luckily, the virus has been localized and doesn’t appear to be spreading.
Hopefully, the dolt who was whining about Matsui not playing last night read Pete’s update.
Matsui could barely run to first base Friday night.
Girardi knows his team better than anybody.
Something for the daily lineups to remember.
Straight from Wikipedia:
Zeile has the most home runs in Major League history for players whose last name begin with the letter Z.
That’s some acheivment at least…
there are many great closers, but they just dont last more than a handful of years.
Mariano has dominated for 14 years and counting. That just doesn’t happen (apologies to Trevor Hoffman who has been excellent – he’s just not in Mariano’s league)
Hmm, not good about Matsui………….
We might not see Phil in a close game today in the 8th -as possibly he will be used as the closer.
“the fact that Tazawa is even starting games for the Sox is a sign of how thin their pitching is right now.
he didn’t pitch a single game of professional baseball in Japan.
he came here and pitched a half-season in the minors.
the kid is probably going to get hammered this year and may never recover”
not to worry. I am sure the fenway/boston-area fans will provide him the nurturing environment which is needed.
m
August 16th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Damn that li’l bit o’ luck!
——————–
too funny
‘jennifer, muffin stump and bd 2.0′
I’m not saying never sit Cano, every player needs a day off.
What I am saying is since it’s a rookie pitcher and an afternoon game, put Cano in and hit the ball. When the Yankees have a strong lead (3 runs or more) after 5+ innings take him out.
Since the game tomorrow is at night, it’ll be like a day off, while the player (in this case Cano) gets that energy of a streak.
Many players that sit during a streak lose that streak, the feeling of continuing something great is sometimes lost and production goes down.
Why do that to a guy who’s having a great year.
A slumping player gets a day off to get himself together, a player that’s not hurt? ?, and young shouldn’t sit in middle of a streak.
It’s not like there were no days in the last few weeks and no days off coming
No reason to use Mo today.
They already won the series.
Hughes can close if necessary.
UPDATE, 11:09 a.m.: Hideki Matsui has fluid on his left knee and is day to day.
=================
I laugh everytime Alex Gonzalez comes to the plate for the Sox.
and so far I’ve been rewarded with weak groundball outs (double plays if a man is on) every time
The Sox keep grasping for straws… from a batch of short ones.
I had to repost this from NYYFans.com:
I’ve got a great story to share from last night’s game.
So yesterday, Phil Coke was signing autographs for a bunch of Yankees fans for about 20 minutes (I didn’t get one unfortunately), and some guy comes up with a Red Sox hat expecting an autograph. Coke takes the ball, looks him straight in the eye, and says you have got to be kidding me. So eventually he signs it, and the Red Sox fan goes “Yankees suck!” Coke goes, “Oh really, because I seem to recall what happened last weekend.”
After that, the guy goes, “It doesn’t matter, we’ll pass you in the standings next Thursday.” And Coke goes, “I do believe we have an off-day next Thursday, so it appears you know as much about baseball as most Red Sox fans do.”
Phil Coke is pretty much my new hero.
http://www.footballsfuture.com.....start=1395 ( Go down to timbit’s post)
Yikes hope Matsui is okay. He had fluid in his knees earlier in the season and once they drained it he was fine after a few days.
You know.. the only reason fluid would be in his knee is if the knee is not fully repaired. The fact is, he is playing on two bad knees and he is probably damaging them more every day he plays. It’s sad to say this but he should probably retire after this season.
If it’s close, who can pitch today late in the game? Bruney? If Phil is being saved for a possible 9th inning stint, then I guess Bruney and Aceves are the only ones available………
How long does it take for fluid to drain from a knee and can this have a lasting effect? That would be a shame if it did as Matsui’s been great….
I <3 Phil Coke
Ian Kinsler says “welcome to the bigs Tazawa” with a bomb
“Hopefully, the dolt who was whining about Matsui not playing last night read Pete’s update.
Matsui could barely run to first base Friday night.
Girardi knows his team better than anybody.
Something for the daily lineups to remember”
no excuse. The Yankees must get to +32 games over 500. FULL SPEED AHEAD
SJ44,
Just a clue but the term “prospect hugging” is completely retarded. Thought you should know.
Good for Ian Kinsler. (and for us!)
Victor Martinez catching today for the Red Sox.
They go from one guy unable to throw anybody out to another guy who is worse. Their catching situation is a mess.
——————————————————–
It gets worse when Tim Wakefield returns because he requires his own catcher (George Kottaras). Neither Martinez nor Varitek can catch Wakefield.
BD 2.0
August 16th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
Ian Kinsler says “welcome to the bigs Tazawa” with a bomb
————————
More like “that’s what you get for throwing at me yesterday”
Does this team work without Matsui?
I think we’ll see Joba for about 6 innings, Aceves for 2-3. Hughes in the 9th if it’s close.
# BD 2.0 August 16th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
Ian Kinsler says “welcome to the bigs Tazawa” with a bomb
A-Rod already gave him his welcome
“More like “that’s what you get for throwing at me yesterday””
============
ahh yes. I had already forgotten.
I have a feeling Kinsler’s teammates will also get back at the Sox for that.
Or maybe it’s just that Tazawa throws 88mph meatballs down broadway?
I won’t lie to you. I liked seeing Ellsbury bounce off that wall.
Elvis Andrus just missed a HR off Tazawa.
Of course it was a ground rule double which saved a run.
“I have a sentimental streak in me – I hate to see anyone leave.”
Me too Bets. I made exceptions for the unrecognizable version of David Cone and the snippy version of Alfred E.
***********
How is this for weird? Some of you might remember that I went out and bought a DVR when I wanted to tape the last game at the Stadium. Well I didn’t know you had to have it hooked up, etc., so it has been sitting in my house for a long time. I did take it out of the box when I thought it was like a VCR. I finally called DirecTv to have them set it up and they’re coming Friday. Meantime, yesterday a kid came to my house and talked me into VIOS; now that they have YES network I’m willing to do it. So since they provide a DVR I figured I would try to sell mine on eBay. I couldn’t find the model on the box (of course it’s there) so I checked the back of the DVR. The model (HR22-100) gives up to 100 hours hi def and 400 hours standard. The model on the box – the one I thought I bought (21-700) only gives half the recording times! So I got a better one than I thought I did.
Now to try to explain on eBay that the box says one thing “but it’s really a better model, honest.”
Great@Coke.
Why do some fans have to act like such idiots when they have contact with players.
Coke had the perfect response. Well done.
I hope Joba can give us 6 innings…….
“# BD 2.0 August 16th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
Ian Kinsler says “welcome to the bigs Tazawa” with a bomb
A-Rod already gave him his welcome
”
————–
true
yanks signed 14th round pick stoneburner..DES with a big arm apparently
About Tazawa – even if he wiggles out of jams, his pitch count is rising. That’s what we want.
no more red sox updates, it doesn’t matter, they were cooked after the sweep in the Bronx. It’s wild card or bust for them.
I’d love to see what happens if the Rangers take a big lead.
Fireworks, to be sure.
So far, Tazawa has caught a couple of breaks or this is a 3 or 4-1 game.
He’s not missin’ a lot of bats.
yanks signed 14th round pick stoneburner..DES with a big arm apparently
—————————————————-
What does DES mean?
Tazawa is on pace for about 5+ innings.
The way he’s pitching, that should be long enough for the Rangers to score 5-6 runs.
Why would a Sox fan even want a Yankees autograph ? Jeter or Rivera I could understand, but Phil Coke? I would be mortally embarrassed if I acted like that around a player. Phil Hughes is coming to my neck of the woods on 8/27 and I definitely plan to go. I’ll get his autograph, but I really just want to say hi to him……if I can even get the words out, lol.
“It’s wild card or bust for them.”
JH – I vote BUST – and that’s why it’s such a joy providing and reading the updates!
TBS broadcasts have really come a long ways since the Braves & Skip Carrey ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzz
if only they could put Fox Baseball 6 foot under. Permanently
Frankly, I’m a little surprised the Sox went with Tazawa instead of Michael Bowden in the first place.
Maybe they don’t want Bowden’s trade value to take a hit??
After all, they’re going to need to make some moves this offseason. They’ll need those prospects to stay “premium” prospects
Let’s see if the Rangers pitching can hold the Sox down…….I’m still not ready to proclaim the East race over, but since it probably is, this would be a huge series for the Sox. All they (or any team, really) needs to do is just get in the playoffs……by hook or by crook. Frankly, does the division winner even gain much of an advantage over the wild card? Not really…..
Weird, I’ve been trying to post Mo’s insane career #s since last night, and every time my post gets eaten.
Check out his e.r.a. numbers through the years:
http://www.baseball-reference......ma01.shtml
and then, of course, his insane post-season #s.
they look more like #s from the late-1800′s than this era.
“yanks signed 14th round pick stoneburner..DES with a big arm apparently
—————————————————-
What does DES mean?
draft eligible sophmore
Betsy,
i’ve met plenty of the Sox and never asked for an autograph unless it’s for a friend. I think i’d feel kinda phony
most of them just laugh if/when they find out I’m a Yanks fan. But they don’t care.
this guy who went for Coke’s autograph is just a complete jerk. no other way to put it.
Trish… I vote bust also…. but I wouldn’t mind knocking them out of the ALCS either…. either way we’re the better team this year so i’m happy
division winner is huge for the Yankees because they would prob have the best record on the AL, and open up the playoffs against the division leader w/ the worst record. This would probably be the winner of the AL central, and the Yankees would have their way w/ whatever team that is in the first round.
“yanks signed 14th round pick stoneburner..DES with a big arm apparently
—————————————————-
What does DES mean?
draft eligible sophmore
========================================================
Thanks!!!
Never in my time have I seen the Angels give up so many runs. If their offense wasn’t playing way over their heads, they’d be cooked. They’d be fighting the Sox for the WC.
Just popped on to the Red Sox official site. How pathetic it sounds that they are toting Oriz’s putting them on the board, especially when its a tie game. I realize its meant to give salve for the fans, but it just sounds pathetic that something Ortiz used to do regularly has be heralded as something newsworthy.
JH, also having the best record gives the team the option of the playoff series with the extra day off. That means you only need 3 starters for the round.
Weird, I’ve been trying in vain to post Rivera’s insane career #s. Every time, my post (some which were pain-staking and thorough) have been eaten.
Anyway, his earned run average has been below 2.00 in 9 of his seasons (this one included).
The numbers look straight out of the late-1800′s, really.
http://www.baseball-reference......ma01.shtml
I thought best record plays WC team unless they’re in the same division?
m
August 16th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
I thought best record plays WC team unless they’re in the same division?
—————–
I believe that is correct
Run, Michael Young, run
m,
I know it’s premature but I’ve been trying to think about what team i’d most want the Yankees to play in the first round of the ALDS (if things stay on course).
I was thinking Tigers but the Angels aren’t much scarier because of pitching.
Verlander can shut down any team and they’d face him twice. Edwin Jackson seems capable of shutting a team down too.
when I doubt, i think i’d lean towards the team with the weakest pitching (Angels).
yes, Yanks would play the WC unless it’s Boston/Tampa.
Hamilton smokes a deep RBI double off Junichi!
the Rangers are crushing the ball today
I think I’m leaning towards playing Texas as the WC.
BD, I have some autographs from when I went to ST a few years ago (and a baseball signed by the Bronx Zoo Yanks), but they really don’t do much for me. I mean, they’re just signatures – what am I going to do with them? For me, encounters with players are much more meaningful – I would remember them forever. When I went to ST, I went to the charity lunch event (think it was Boys and Girls club) and, before the luncheon, fans could meet players, coaches, etc….I really remember my chats with Mel Stottlemeyer and Lee Mazilli – they were sooooo nice. I hate the fact that players think most fans just want something from them (heaven forbid a player not have time to sign for everyone) and that they don’t appreciate them as individuals, just as robots who wear pinstripes. I’m hoping to find something interesting to say to Phil in two weeks, lol. Too bad I stopped watching the Office a couple of years ago, lol
I respect every team, so there is no team I prefer playing. Also, be careful what you wish for – that kind of thing.
http://njmg.typepad.com/yankee.....place.html
Damon: “I just can’t picture
“Trish… I vote bust also…. but I wouldn’t mind knocking them out of the ALCS either…. either way we’re the better team this year so i’m happy ”
It is really a joyful experience. I like the limping version of the Sux as opposed to the fully stocked version, whom we would STILL kill off. These guys remind me of neighborhood kids who decided to have a pick-up game but didn’t have enough players so went around to other neighborhoods and found kids playing street hockey and asked them to join in the game. They have that kind of chemistry and cohesion!
Well into every life a little rain must fall. I am now leaving to go to a birthday party where the entire compliment is comprised of rabid Sux fans. The good news is that the game will be on! YAY!!! I’m talking a group with no sense of humor so I won’t even be able to enjoy making remarks about, well you know, everything!
You are my buds. I know you will throw extra negative vibes toward the Sux in my name.
GO RANGERS!!!
GO YANKEES!!! – in case I’m not here in time to root them on.
Betsy,
I feel the same way.
And I’m jealous you got to meet some Yanks. I’ve met Mariano and many of the late 90′s Yanks (no Jeter
) but only in passing or for a quick handshake. Never had conversations!! You’re lucky!
As for Phil, try to throw in a “that’s what she said” after he says something (The Office reference)
haven’t checked any redsox message boards, in the past week.
I am just curious, do Boston fans still think they have a chance to win the division ?
I was thinking Tigers but the Angels aren’t much scarier because of pitching.
Verlander can shut down any team and they’d face him twice. Edwin Jackson seems capable of shutting a team down too.
————————–
prepare to get beaten down by the experts on how the Tigers have no offense and the White Sox are the greatest offense since the ’98 Yanks.
Winning the division and finishing with the best AL record would be a huge advantage for the Yankees because they would have homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. Since May, they have only lost 1 series at home, and that was to the Nationals.
On the other side, the Yankees would also get to face an AL Central team, and those teams are all awful on the road.
Erica, fyi – if you are out there, I just emailed you. Let me know if you receive it or not…..thanks!
http://njmg.typepad.com/yankee.....place.html
Damon
“I think I’m leaning towards playing Texas as the WC. ”
Moi aussi!
Betsy – you need to be careful what you wish for only if you have any doubts about your ability to handle your wish.
I HAVE NONE!!!NOT ANY!!! BRING ‘EM ON. I DON’T CARE WHO THEY ARE.
And that comes straight from the heart. That’s because I have ice water running through these veins!
Later y’all
Rishi
My bad you already posted it!
np, Carl
Come on, Nippert, throw strikes, baby!
“I am just curious, do Boston fans still think they have a chance to win the division ?”
=============
it’s kind of funny in Boston.
they are talking more about the Patriots!
If the Sox make the playoffs, I’m sure their interest will return, but I think most Sox fans are seeing the writing on the wall.
The Yanks are the better team.
For Sox fans right now, the football season couldn’t start any sooner.
The 2009 Yanks are 22-6 since the end of the All Star break. Over the same period the great 1998 team was 22-7. Pretty good company to be in.
The 98 Yankees won on August 16th to go sixty (60!) games over .500!
Does anyone else really enjoy watching the Rangers? They have a lot of young, exciting players and they always seem to have fun on the field.
I want them to win the WC because if the Yankees lose in the first round, having them to cheer for would soften the blow a bit. I’d really hate to root for any of the other AL contenders (Red Sox, Angels, Tigers, White Sox).
The Rangers have a lot of young flamethrowers. Having Ryan mold these kids is a scary thought.
When did Papi turn into Insane Bolt?
BD 2.0
August 16th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
“I am just curious, do Boston fans still think they have a chance to win the division ?”
=============
it’s kind of funny in Boston.
they are talking more about the Patriots!
If the Sox make the playoffs, I’m sure their interest will return, but I think most Sox fans are seeing the writing on the wall.
The Yanks are the better team.
For Sox fans right now, the football season couldn’t start any sooner.
—————————————————-
And they are making plans for the Super Bowl allready.
“Does anyone else really enjoy watching the Rangers? They have a lot of young, exciting players and they always seem to have fun on the field”
definitely. In particular when they are playing at home (like the way their stadium looks on TV)
BD, I remember that line, but I never understood it or thought it was funny,lol. Phil does like watching the Food Network, though, so maybe I will mention that.
You have no idea what I went through to get to that luncheon. I had met a bunch of Yankee message board friends and they already had tickets to the event (I had decided that I didn’t want to spend the $$$). While I was down there, I decided I just HAD to go and meet Roger Clemens (huge fan of his once he joined the team). I called the luncheon committe and told them that I had never received my tickets and what should I do? Of course, this was a big fat lie – strange that I could pull it off, given that I am a terrible liar (my emotions always give me away). They said that they couldn’t find my name on any list (not a surprise, lol ….I had never called them, never ordered any tickets), but that if I could get down to the hotel where the event was being held, they had extra seats at a coporate table. Of course I paid for the seats, but I paid the same price as my friends did and got better seats, lol.
I would kill to meet Mo and AJ in particular, but before I did, I’d probably die of embarrasssment, lol
The Rangers also have some great announcers. They stick to the game, and they aren’t out-and-out homers. They’ve been very complimentary of the Yanks all weekend long.
They absolutely ripped Varitek apart last night, which was pretty funny.
Trish, it has nothing to do with lack of confidence in the Yankees. I believe in respecting all opponents and never counting your chickens until they hatch…..
Aww, Damon……..I don’t want him to go. I REALLY adore these guys….and they just love each other. I can’t stand it anymore, lol -
I think Damon played his way into an contract for next season.
I love damon, but what kind of contract do you give him. I would try to sign damon, and let matsui go…try to get some younger outfielders who can hit in the corner(s)
which outfielders are free agents next year
if the Yanks let either of Damon or Matsui go, they will have to replace the lefthanded power that makes them nearly unbeatable in NYS
Next year’s free agents:
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/.....ree-a.html
It’s not a matter of wanting to face someone. It’s a matter of the lesser of several evils. Don’t want to go to Angels in a short series. Don’t want to face Tiger pitching in the case the WC is an AL East team.
It’s not disrespect to say you’d rather face the Rangers. They’re just the least of all the evils.
“I am just curious, do Boston fans still think they have a chance to win the division ?””
whatever deep dark flaw that caused them to be red sox fans in the first place is exposed like a raw nerve in an aching blackened tooth.
liquor , medication, or patriots football is the only way out
The Yanks should offer a 1 year renewal of Damon’s contract. Do it now and get it out of the way.
I’d love to see them sign Chone Figgins in the off season as well.
Terry promised Ortiz to get him
this if he hits a homerun today.
LOL @ the Post
would damon take a one year contract off this season, he would want three years i guess
just end the pining for Chone Figgins. The guy is 32 and on the downside of his career, any contract he gets will be based on what he’s done in the past not what he’s capable of now. He’s got no power and his legs/speed won’t last much longer.
i cant see Texas getting the wildcard….I just can’t if they did it would be a good match-up for the yankees….
i agree with you about figgins, i loved him 3 years ago…what position would he even play on the yankees? I think yankee fans like us love figgins so much because he lke the rest of the angels kill the yankees,
man – when the Post gets it wrong, they really get it wrong!
i looked at the list of available outfielders, there is no one i would want to sign…except crawford, but it looks like he has a club option and will not be available…I would not want Matt Holiday too much money i think…
That kid just caught back to back foul balls. So lucky!
That kid just caught back to back foul balls. So lucky!
——————————–
it was funny. they had just finished the highlight of the kid’s first catch, and then Josh Hamilton’s next foul ball goes right to the same kid.
tazawa has gotten soooo lucky today….a ground rule double that would of atleast scored 1…a lucky double line out on a runner stealing….couple amazing defensive plays…tazawa looks like not nothing special at all
>>Did you see the story in the Post about Hideki Matsui’s wife having a baby? One little problem, it was Chien-Ming Wang’s wife.<<
If I didn't know better, I might've read this as one of those Mike Kekich/Fritz Peterson arrangements.
day to day or “indefinitely”?
Yankees DH Matsui out indefinitely
updated 12 minutes ago
SEATTLE – Hideki Matsui has been held out of the New York Yankees lineup because of swelling in his balky knee and is out indefinitely.
Manager Joe Girardi said Sunday before New York tried for a four-game series sweep at Seattle that the designated hitter may have his surgically repaired left knee drained.
The 35-year-old Matsui had his second two-homer game of the season and a season-high five RBIs on Friday. He spoke afterward with huge ice packs on both knees, then sat out Saturday.
i link for the game ??
>>Did you see the story in the Post about Hideki Matsui’s wife having a baby? One little problem, it was Chien-Ming Wang’s wife.<<
Er, paging Mike Kekich and Fritz Peterson.
Lets go Yankees!!!!
It’s the NY Post… What do you expect?
4-2, Tex
Oooh, that’s bad news…….
Junichi’s luck just ran out.
that was a total bomb tazawa gave up to teagarden…i thought tazawa had great stuff? i understand he has no experience but he BARELY breaks 90 mph
Just responding to a few posts –
Regarding Heathcott and Murphy – NY Post is saying that the financials are worked out; both just need to pass the physicals.
McAllister won’t get a call up in September
and I can’t see the Yankees going into next season with an OF of Jackson, Gardner and Melky – they’ll add at least one other bat
Does anybody here believe the Red Sox play dirty ?
They hit Miguel Cabrera a number of times, then Youkilis starts a fight with Porcello to get him out of the game, and then they hit Kinsler in the face because there losing and Varitek talks smack to him.
And I’m not even talking about the number of times they hit Yankee players.
Jete! 1 more hit!
Nice to see Pena starting. Nice to see Hinske playing.
i need a link for the game- anyone?
w/ all the plunking that’s happening, any chance a yank gets brushed back today…they’ve been pretty comfortable at the plate — joba wouldn’t be afraid to retaliate either (and he’s going to be on the pine for a week anyway)
Tazawa is overrated garbage.
I can’t see the game yet. The game between WAS and CIN is still on MLB Extra Innings. Thank God, they are in the 9th inning.
A-Rod needs another A-Bomb soon.
He didn’t even swing!
anyone got the game link?????
I dont think Extra Innings has the game
pretty comfortable at the plate? They haven’t exactly torn the cover off the ball against a couple of very pedestrian lefties the last couple of nights.
“I dont think Extra Innings has the game”
They need to finish the game that’s before it.
This kid is good…..I watched him when he pitched for Coach Mayne @ Fresno ……Next to Pac Bell / AT & T IN San Fran, this is my favorite park……Have not been to the new Yankee Stadium…..Pitch was high to A-Rod….
I think these fans hate A-Rod more than they like the Mariners. That’s just sad.
Let’s go Jobber
Ichiro has the one of the ugliest swings I’ve ever seen and all of his hits look the same.
Nice play Swish
Games on! Woohoo!
swisher doing his best Tex impersonation
Nice 1-2-3 for Jobber
“I think these fans hate A-Rod more than they like the Mariners. That’s just sad.”
The dude left SEA 9 years ago. You’d think they’d be over it by now.
6 pitch inning!
Your right Laura!!
Thank God my Sunday funday was almost ruined
Nice easy inning for Joba.
i dont even have that link
6 pitches for Joba.
Damn, this Yankee D is looking good.
The Hobbitt hit a dinger. 4-3 Texas.
Sorry if this was posted already:
http://www.thestate.com/clemson/story/903433.html
Nice bottom of the half for the Yankees. I didn’t realize Tex wasn’t playing 1B until Flash mentioned it after the nice play by Swish.
That shouldn’t count as an inning for Joba.
what makes this guy so hard to hit?
Who the hell is this guy throwing strikes?
This guy they are afcing had almost a 4 era in AAA, with a .305 BAA and gave up 132 hits in 106 innings. We should kill him. Which means, of course, he will 2-hit us.
Posada has been the most unclutch hitter on the team this season.
There, I said it.
facing. sorry.
??????
I mean the guy has thrown 3 balls. Jesus.
Today may be a day to swing early in the count. Where’s Robbie Cano when you need him?
LOL, these are all down the middle.
Swisher knew it and gambled.
Fast game so far.
“This guy they are facing had almost a 4 era in AAA, with a .305 BAA and gave up 132 hits in 106 innings.”
He’s only thrown 8 innings in the majors. Give the league and the Yankees time to see him multiple times. And his numbers will live true to form.
Not much of a book is out on him.
Wow, Padraig Harrington w/a snowman on par 3, absolutely killing his tournament hopes.
sorry for the golf post, but damn!
Naughty By Nature? Really, Griffey?
Trevor
See ball go down the middle. Swing. Win.
Man, even Junior’s walk-up song is old.
I can’t believe that Tazawa is getting lit up. According to Keith Law he’s going to be the Sox number 3 pitcher this year and really help them down the stretch.
always an adventure <3
RIP Babe
Fister is 6’8″ and throws very over the top. His release point is very high and it’s something they’ll need to adjust to.
They aren’t picking up the ball out of his hand.
LOL! Damon is always scary as heck to watch.
Pel August 16th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
Naughty By Nature? Really, Griffey?
———
cause it’s naughty by nature…not cause i hate ya…
LOL! Posada with the f-bomb.
memo to Ron Washington: no Everyday Eddie or Frankie Francisco today.
/30
“I can’t believe that Tazawa is getting lit up. ”
For sometime now Jim Callis has been saying that Buchholz is the best pitching prospect in the game. He’s said often that Buchholz is not only better than Hughes – but also Joba. And this was even after Joba showed success in the pros.
In his chat this week Callis had a revelation:
Tazawa > Bucchholz.
It was as if 2 years of commentary just dissappeared.
Let’s move on to the next “big thing”…
So far, Swish is a topnotch stand-in @ 1B.
Good start by Jobber.
“So far, Swish is a topnotch stand-in @ 1B.”
Swisher has always said that 1B is his best position.
Joba with an efficient 21 pitches through 2 innings. Gj.
Wow, Swisher gets his Tex on, pouncing on that ball!
lol. You forget what it’s like to see the Yankee 1B toss to the pitcher covering first.
I like how Joba looks. He doesn’t have the kind of history in Texas his amigo Phil Hughes has, but he looks muy bueno today.
CB,
Tazawa is better than Buccholz so that means he’s also better than Joba and Hughes lol.
Nice bunt Pena!
what a beautiful bunt…
ramiro pena will make yankee fans forget the name chone figgins in a few years…
Nice bunt for a hit for Pena.
Hey Guys,
I have a question. Im going to boston next saturday for the game. Any idea where the Yanks stay/go to eat? I would love to try to meet some of them.. Thanks!
nice Pena
Is it just me or are most of these pitches right down the middle?
bunt single? last time that happened?
2 on, 1 out for boston in the top of the 8th, trailing 3-2…
Grats Jeter!
jeter is a MACHINE!!!!!!
YES!!!
congrats, Jeter
The Captain making history and scores on this Fister dude.
Congratulations to Derek on breaking the record.
Congrats, Jeter!
Jetes!
pena is fast
raymagnetic,
that was falling off the wagon really hard.
Tazawa is now the red sox top major league ready pitching prospect.
Casey Kelly is of course the games top pitching prospect based on half a season of A ball
well – swinging early against a guy throwing strikes, right?
Congrats Jeet! LOVE YOU PENA!
jeter has the most hits for any SS in MLB history…and we’ve seen his entire career. awesome…
If you completely ignore the fact that batters absolutely tattoo Tazawa’s stuff, then he’s a decent pitcher. As the TBS booth was saying, he’s mature for his age. He’s not as WHIP happy as Daisuke, but he hasn’t fooled batters like Daisuke did.
Nice running by Pena.
CJ Wilson does NOT look good in his gameday pic
Tazawa is 23. The same age as Joba and Phil.
Mets put Wright on the DL. They have to be careful after the way they messed up with Church.
watching the home plate umpire call balls that gameday is calling strikes.
alex gonzalez STRIKES OUT – theo = boy genius…
you can tell when joba is in that zone…he might be able to give us 7 or 8 if this continues…
lol @ joba dancing to the music…
Jobber looks like he’s got a lot of life on his fastball today. I like to see that he is trusting his stuff so far.
Texas pen kind of looks shaky. Where do they rank?
Joba can dance
CB,
how much longer before a guy like Callis has any credibility left?
honestly.
Oh boy, Francisco warming up in Texas.
Frankie Francisco warming up?? no. no no no no no. NO.
The Red Sox had men on 1 and 2nd with one out in the 8th inning of a 4-3 game against the team that they are only 0.5 games up in the wild card race.
And they sent up to the plate Brian Anderson and Alex Gonzalez.
Both struck out looking.
They have no viable SS. They have no 4th OF because they made the “low risk” move of counting on Rocco Baldelli as their 4th OF.
Less dancing please…
Johnnie Damon’s arm………..
Tazawa’s curveball looked ok but he didn’t have great command of it.
His fastball is just bad.
He doesn’t have the location to make it with that fastball unless he’s really in control of his off-speed pitches (which have always been his “out” pitches)
Joba has to pitch with a man on base and out of the stretch for the and is facing Josh Wilson.
And he throws him 2 sliders and hangs one.
He gets away from his fastball much too quickly when anyone gets on base.
are we watching the Yankee game or the Red Sox ?
Joba’s missing his spots. Gotta keep it down here and try to force a ground ball, and induce a DP.
They have no viable SS. They have no 4th OF because they made the “low risk” move of counting on Rocco Baldelli as their 4th OF.
But Peter Gammons said that was a good move…
“Frankie Francisco warming up?? no. no no no no no. NO.”
————
prior to his last game in which he imploded, he had only given up 7 runs ALL season.
He’s a really good closer that had one bad game coming off of an injury.
I was laughing at all the “Francisco is a medicore reliever” posts the other day. He had a horrendous outing. It happens.
Of course, this will be a big outing for both he and the club. He does need to prove he’s ready to close again since coming off the DL.
love that up and in fastball
“He gets away from his fastball much too quickly when anyone gets on base.”
———–
good observation
especially when his fastball has been just fine today.
Joba really becomes a different pitcher with men on base.
He is his own worst enemy.
Enough with the 2 strike sliders. Challenge the hitters please.
I want to see him get out of it, but I don’t want to see him pump his fist this time.
Suzyn Waldman just said Luis Sojo got big hit after big hit in his career. Sure he did, that’s why he was such a great hitter. I liked him, but sure didn’t like him in the lineup.
i jinxed joba…
need to put that slider away
Lovely. Just lovely.
Joba is so frustrating to watch. How many times is he going to throw that slider?
Durrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
let the nibbling commence…..
Bad Jobber
Texas might have themselves a new leadoff hitter. Borbon looks good.
very odd choice of pitches today…the 3-2 slider to langerhans made no sense to me…
where was the first pitch to Junior
That all started with a walk. Let’s go, Jobber.
Another damn slider with 2 strikes.
PUT JOBA IN THE PEN!!!!
Nice way to work out of a jam Joba.. Walks will kill ya!
changeup or fastball, no slider
How could Flash call Griffey dangerous in 2009?
I bet if Joba had his way, he would throw a slider every pitch.
that was a surprisingly long inning
2-2 slider okay, 3-2 slider not okay?
After that walk and before the run scored Joba threw 10 pitches.
Just 2 were fastballs.
He just will not throw his fastball enough with men on base. It is a constant problem with him.
He threw another stupid slider to Guttierez and guttierez was just sitting on it.
Could have been worse. Get runs
Too bad he couldn’t throw that same pitch to Branyan.
C’mon, Tejas. 3 more outs. That’s not asking too much.
once joba learns that he needs to challenge bad hitters with fbs instead of throwing sliders in the dirt he will be much better off..
Down 1. No problem.
They’ll figure out Phister and get it back.
It is a little disappointing that Joba couldn’t close the door after getting Ichiro, though. Branyan strikes out a lot. He should have been able to get him.
A-Rod got lucky, but I’ll take it.
Put the slider away and concentrate on the change.
Posada = MOST UNCLUTCH HITTER ON THE TEAM THIS SEASON
There. I said it again.
Swish baby!
“Texas might have themselves a new leadoff hitter. Borbon looks good.”
Very good athelete. He was a good draft pick. They got him in the supplemental first round in 2007 and many people had him as a first round guy.
He’s come very fast.
Good example of how Daniels has really improved the way that Texas drafts.
They are loaded with young talent. Loaded.
God, does Pedroia argue about everything?
“There. I said it again.”
Johnny D, I’m beginning to think that you don’t think Posada has been very clutch this year. I could be wrong though.
Swish a licious!
SWISHER THE ULTIMATE ROAD WARRIOR!!!!!!
Joba, get back on your grind, dude.
Who else called that one?
Swishy!
ok, Texas – one more out
haha…Swish, yes and we got him for only Wilson Betemit
Rob B August 16th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Down 1. No problem.
They’ll figure out Phister and get it back.
It is a little disappointing that Joba couldn’t close the door after getting Ichiro, though. Branyan strikes out a lot. He should have been able to get him.
_____________________
See? Swisher goes boom.
Must have been that Marvin Gay he was listening to on the bus this morning. Got him really pumped.
My nickname for this year’s team is “The Huggers”. Every time I look around, they are hugging each other. Alex is the biggest hugger. He hugs everybody.
Johnny D.
August 16th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Posada = MOST UNCLUTCH HITTER ON THE TEAM THIS SEASON
There. I said it again.
take the knot out of your little girl panties. we are in the fourth inning of a 2-1 game. hardly a ‘clutch’ or ‘crunch time’ at bat. i suppose you missed 2 of Posada’s walk off hits or that late game tying HR earlier against Toronto?
Frankie Francisco singing The Redemption Song.
Texas wins
Texas beats Boston and takes over the WC lead.
Rangers win!
Rangers in 1st place!!!!!
Hey Johnny D, Jorge has a few walk-offs this year. Just sayin.
And BOS loses again!! Woohoo!!
The Yankees seems to have figured out Fister.
hehehe, Fister…
Francisco bounces back. Boston loses!
Sox lose.
aaaaaaaaand BOSTON LOST
The most clutch player in history – Dustin Pedroia – and the now “elite” Victor Martinez both strike out to end the game down one run in a huge home run park.
“second time through the line up”
“They are loaded with young talent. Loaded.”
————-
Texas looks like the team to beat in the AL West this year and for the immediate future.
They actually have pitching too!!
Man, having BOS be 8.5 games back would be so sweet!!
Oooh. Not good for Boston.
Yankees take this one, and we’ll be closing in on a 10 game lead. In less than a month.
Pedroia didn’t go down quietly.
The NESN K-zone showed a ball on the outside corner.
Pedroia pretty much flipped out (again) because, like Youk, he’s just too good to strike out looking.
Sox continue to suck on the road. Not even a .500 team.
Everyone swinging at the first pitch.
“Oooh. Not good for Boston.
Yankees take this one, and we’ll be closing in on a 10 game lead. In less than a month.”
——–
the Yanks were FIVE back not that long ago
Second time through the order it’s clear that the yankees are starting to figure out Fister’s strange release point.
They are starting to square the ball up.
Let’s see if Joba can stay aggressive.
hahaha, screw the Sux. This season is karma for them chanting Yankees Suck all the team – even when not playing the Yankees.
CB,
Its really amazing how stubborn Joba can be on the mound.
Once he falls in love with his slider, he’s basically toast.
Got beat by his second best pitch that entire inning.
Its the “joys” of developing young pitching. Its never a straight line upward.
I really hopes he grows out of the nonsense because if he does, he can be a very special starting pitcher.
Right now, he’s more hype than substance all too often and he has too much talent to settle for that.
He screws around too much out there for my tastes.
This is a bad hitting team. You can’t walk guys and hang sliders to bad hitters. If you do, they will make you pay.
TylerKepner:
Seeing how Boston keeps losing and the Yanks might go up by 8 1/2, that was a pretty selfish Youkilis to get himself suspended, no?
I’m not sure if this was already mentioned (I missed it) but did you see David Ortiz kinda flip out on the Boston media?
http://www.boston.com/sports/b.....ou_wa.html
It’s the beginning of the end (or maybe the middle of the end) for Big Phony in Boston.
We could conceivably bury BOS on this next trip to Fenway.
I’ll say it again: They got Swisher for Wilson freakin’ Betemit.
“Sox continue to suck on the road. Not even a .500 team.”
They just don’t hit on the road, especially their RH hitters. They are so dependent on Fenway to score runs.
And it’s been that way for the entire season. That was a major reason why all of the worry about how the Sox were just the “better” team and that the yankees “couldn’t” beat the Sox was so out of line.
They couldn’t score at Yankee stadium. They go home against the tigers and put up some runs. Then they go to Arlington and once again dry up other than that meltdown the Rangers pen had in the 9th inning.
To think, at the All Star break Boston was sitting with a 3-game lead.
Now they could possibly be 8 1/2 games behind the Yanks in just over a calendar month.
Panic in Beantown.
second time through the inning for the Mariners, too?
What happened to the efficient Joba of innings 1 and 2
so bad
Slider again.
Joba is making me angry.
What is wrong with this kid? Stop throwing the slider. It’s obvious the Mariners are on it. geez…
Off to Toronto for Boston and a date with Halliday
Stop pitching the damn slider. I hate Posada.
Hanging slider, ripped down the 3rd base line.
Seems I’ve seen that once, or twice, before.
joba needs to slide that slider a little farther down in the zone
this is horrendous
If the Angels go on to lose this game, Texas will only be 3 GB.
Who’s calling all these sliders? Either Jorge is, or he’s letting Joba have his way.
What’s with this music?
visits the mound
Eiland: Dude, what the %@#$ is your problem?!?!
leaves the mound
Hung another slider to Jojima.
Get Ace up and get Joba out of this game. Only way you are going to teach him is to pull him. Only way he will learn that doing it his way isn’t going to work.
This is a good time to give Joba a break from the rotation. This is not the way to pitch if you want to be in a playoff rotation.
“Its really amazing how stubborn Joba can be on the mound.”
SJ,
It is just amazing. It’s as if he’s just not learning from experience out there.
He does this all the time. And he always gets hurt.
I wonder if he goes out on the mound and just feels on a certain day that he doesn’t have his “good” fastball so he’s going to have rely on his breaking stuff to get out through the start.
It’s just very puzzling.
And it’s blatantly obvious that hitters are sitting on his slider. They are just waiting for it.
laura the sox are already buried….that series will be meaningless….except for the sox who are trying to get the wild card
Bad play there by Jeter. He seemed like he wasn’t ready for the throw.
bad tag jeete
Nice play by Swisher. Too bad we couldn’t double off Johjima.
TylerKepner: Ruben Rivera… Irabu…Westbrook… Justice… Ventura… Proctor… Betemit… Swisher. Who says Ruben Rivera was a bust?
4 minutes ago from web
——————————–
too true
Watching Chamberlain pitch is like getting your teeth pulled by drunk monkeys. Can anyone imagine him starting a playoff game against a good lineup? He falls behind every hitter, then throws 91-mph batting practice fastballs down the middle. Where’s the 96, 97, 98-mph fastball that makes him what he is???? If this is all he has as a starter, then he should be back in the bullpen, because as is he’s a glorified Mitre.
“What is wrong with this kid? Stop throwing the slider. It’s obvious the Mariners are on it. geez…”
This is why the whole notion that it was critical for Posada and Joba to get on “the same page” was so off the mark.
What was needed was for Joba to capitulate and stop giving up on his fastball.
The crux of the issue between Posada and Joba was throwing more fastballs.
And it seems that Joba has won the war so to speak.
Joba. Better buckle down, sir.
Not a pretty inning, but I’ll take it
So fricking lucky. Jeez, Joba. You could be a 7th inning guy. Like pitch into the 7th inning every time.
good job by joba getting out of that…
hey he got out of it….not a fan of him..but he got out of it..I said it all weekend. the mariners could have the worst line-up in the American League right now
“Would you rather face Texas or the AL Central winner? ”
Give me the AL Central winner. We may have played poorly against the White Sox in Chicago, but I think that was a fluke. DET doesn’t scare me. MIN won’t make it. Bring on the AL Central winner.
What’s that, like six degrees of separation?
Damn, Tyler Kepner is good.
“The crux of the issue between Posada and Joba was throwing more fastballs.”
Which is what he did with those 3 outstanding starts after the all star break.
but now he’s back to being slider happy.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t Joba supposed to have 4 pitches?
For all the talk about him getting beat by his 2nd best pitch, why don’t we see more of his 3rd pitch so they’re not sitting on fastball/slider?
“Where’s the 96, 97, 98-mph fastball that makes him what he is???? If this is all he has as a starter, then he should be back in the bullpen, because as is he’s a glorified Mitre”
ok..now we are getting silly…joba is a young pitcher who has had DOMINANT games…mitre is 28 and has never been much…
totally different
BJK
He was throwing his curve ball and stopped. He was throwing his change then stopped.
Wow Boston got old fast eh?
And even next year they are stuck with almost every player on their roster right now unless they cut em. they are already paying $9M for Lugo to not play for them next yr.
And unless they increase their payroll they don’t look like they have too much flexibility.
Good times.
What’s really frustrating, at least to me is, this staff has spent more time with Joba than any other pitcher.
Multiple meetings about establishing and using his fastball, working faster, trusting your catchers, etc.
Yet, he goes out to the mound most games and it doesn’t sink in.
You can see this team will chase fastballs just off the plate. They have done it all weekend.
Yet, Joba wants to “trick” them, with sliders and breaking balls and they are sitting on them and putting good swings on every one of them.
Like I said earlier, its a good time for him to take a break from the rotation.
Watch the other guys work lineups and do some thinking.
I thought he was over this hump when he came back from the ASB and seemed to be more focused. Clearly, that’s not the case.
Perhaps this 8 day break will do the trick.
Right now, the only person holding Joba back is Joba.
You just wonder how long its going to take for him to figure it out.
Joba should stop throwing the slider for strikes becausehe can’t command it. He should use his other pitches and then throw a slider out of the zone.
He “has had” dominant stuff. That’s the point. Where is it now? Other than those three starts right after the all-star break, where is it? During those three games, his fastball was up in the mid 90s. Now it’s back down to 91-92. His slider is hanging. Of course Joba has more potential, but my point is he isn’t using his great arm. If this is all we’re going to get out of him as a starter, then it really isn’t much different than what mitre’s giving us.
the slider isn’t breaking as sharp, probably because the arm speed is down?
Mitre = Jeff Weaver (Nuff Said)
Joba = Nolan Ryan (Mets Verison) Great stuff..doesn’t know how to use it though..
Version*
Let’s not nibble away here Jobber
You don’t need to throw 96 + to be considered a good pitcher. Some of you get into high velocity too much. If you can command a 93 mph fastball then your in good shape.
I think I’d rather face Texas in the playoffs. Texas is a Boston killer, but the rotation seems easier to face. Would you rather face Millwood game 1 or Verlander? Tommy Hunter or Edwin Jackson?
Nibble nibble nibble gets you into trouble trouble trouble
Jeter not only has the most hits for a SS but he also passed Ivan Rodriguez to on the all time hit list. He is now 60th all time.
The only active players with more hits are Griffey Jr and Omar Vizquel.
Jeter needs only 36 more hits to become the Yankees all time leader.
4 pitch walk :/
Johnny D.
August 16th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
Stop pitching the damn slider. I hate Posada.
OKAY. We get it. Everything is Posada’s fault.
Oh god I remember this Joba, please go away. Snap, get pissed off!
Another bases-loaded, inning-ending double play by the Angels.
Here we go, again.
Come on Joba!
Jeter needs to stop setting records. He’s going into the hall of fame as it is. He doesn’t need more records. Someone should send him the memo. lol
“He should use his other pitches and then throw a slider out of the zone.”
Actually that’s what got him into this pattern in the first place.
He was so ridiculously successful out of the pen in 2007 because hitters couldn’t distinguish his slider from his fastball.
That allowed him to get outs on completely unhittable, close to no risk pitches – sliders in the dirt or wildly out of the zone.
So he kept trying that same trick.
But it was never, every going to last.
Major league hitters will always adjust. And they did. They stopped swinging at that pitch.
And Joba still hasn’t adjusted back. He’s stopped throwing the slider in the dirt – but now he tries to pain corners with it.
He’s still not challenging hitters enough – that’s the problem.
This at bat against Branyan is a great example. He’s pitched scared to Branyan every at bat. He just wants no part of him.
This year hitters swing at pitches Joba throws out of the strike zone less often than they do against any other pitcher in baseball.
The league has figured his tricks out. They are very tired now.
he is painful to watch sometimes
do the Yankees really not have anyone in the 3000 hit club? (not counting guys like Boggs who only played in NY for a short while)
Joba vs. Griffey
What a matchup
JOBA PISSED! JOBA FIST PUMP!
Theeee sun will come out. Tomorrow
Anyone who says Posada is a bad catcher is a very dumb person
Again. Settle down with the Joba over reactions. He’s young and learning. Chill-out.
Today he’s hanging his slider. let’s see if he can adjust.
That little dance started this bad pitching.
Griffey fouls a lot off
The problem with Joba is he never learned how to pitch. He was in the minors for a VERY short time. They still haven’t gotten it into his skull that major leaguers will not swing at sliders in the dirt. He is in love with it and always wants to throw it thinking they will chase and they won’t. He needs to learn to work off the fastball and how to pitch. He gets beat too often than he should on bad hung off speed pitchers and just bad pitch selection.
That was horrible camera work on that last foul ball
Posada has to be a good catcher. Any other catcher would’ve bounced Joba on his head by now.
yankees have no 3000 hits people,
Tarheelyank August 16th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
Again. Settle down with the Joba over reactions. He’s young and learning. Chill-out.
Today he’s hanging his slider. let’s see if he can adjust.
What has he learned this year? We been waiting for him to adjust all year!
Yes, if you can command it consistently. If you can throw 96 though, you can get away with a lot. When Joba was in the 8th inning role, he was consistently throwing 96-97-98, even 100. He was almost unhittable, with a nasty slider.
To me, the dropoff is significant and it hasn’t really been explained. Other young pitchers have gone from the bullpen to the rotation without a 6-7 mph dropoff.
yeah i do not get the posada hate….he is a lousy fielding catcher….yet swisher is probably the worst outfielder I have ever seen and people love him…I dont get it..
Nice work now he just needs to get Guttierez out
since the All-Star break:
Washington Nationals: 16-14
Boston Red Sox: 12-17
Seriously, why the heck are people complaining about Posada,or anything really? This team is on fire. Mostly everything is just peachy. If we lose the game today( which mind you, we are currently winning), its not a big deal.
wish this version Griffey would have showed up October 1995….
Hey everyone whos been a better manager this year Ron Washington (rangers) or Don Wakamatsu (Mariners)
I think Washington
Now this is the Joba I like. Throw hard.
Joba hit 97..but he overthrew so =/
97 :jawdrop:
NYY626
August 16th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
Seriously, why the heck are people complaining about Posada,or anything really?
FOR REALS
FAIL
I wonder how soon the Yanks will go to Aceves……it’s too early now, but there’s a very good chance AJ will give us at least 6 or 7 innings tomorrow and Ace won’t be needed.
In the playoffs, I honestly don’t see how Joba can start in a 5 game series. Those 3 games right after the ASB look like aberrations at this point……the Yankees won’t have time to screw around in October.
He may be young but he is frustrating sometimes!
Phil Hughes as a starter threw about 91-92 on a good day. As a reliever he hits 94-95.
Joba is hitting mid-90s with his fastball. For example, gameday has the first three pitches to Gutierrez and 96, 97 and 97. He has not “lost” a lot of velocity. He’s not going to throw 99 as a starter.
What was that!? 0-2 fastball down the middle?
Hairston wouldn’t have thrown him out anyway. Melky might have, but not Jerry.
Why is Joba struggling so much,he’s scaring me today!
Hairston would have had him dead at home.
Time to bring in Gaudin. Joba is throwing absolute batting practice to a terrible lineup. He is getting beat on meatballs.
NYY626:
If Joba struggles now against this Mariners line-up that even Sergio Mitre gives up 1 ER against….then why is it not a problem? Joba has been mediocre this year, great sometimes, good others, horrible others, very inconsistent. Which will he be come October?
stop throwing the ball down the middle
ugh… Joba looked so good early on!
I would let Aceves start the 6th.
Rob B
Hughes sits at 94 as a starer.
End the inning with Hannahan, and it’s all good. Okay, Joba?
wow he is absolutley terrible
Off topic but did any team pick up the Big G after Oakland released him?
He’s probably done, bummer, one of my favs
long live the golden thong !
That’s just bad pitching by Joba. A terrible 0-2 pitch.
I love that Pete started the game post with a plea for no complaints.
Like that was ever going to happen
time to get someone up in the bullpen
Continuing to fail.
Good job.
he’s hanging pitches today
location, location, location!
Ok there goes the lead Joba can’t get too angry at himself…just work through this and the Yankees can come-back
Well this is not good.
Or not.
I can’t believe Girardi is leaving him there this long. He is throwing garbage right down the middle.
Horrible job by Joba. He has no idea what to do out there and continues to make mistake after mistake.
Better get him out of there. He can’t do anything to help them today.
he’s throwing strike one but he doesn’t have his slider today
I feel exhausted every time when I watch Joba pitches, no matter he wins or loses.
Rob B, we must have been watching a different Phil Hughes. The 91-92 Phil Hughes was when he wasn’t healthy; this year, he was sitting 92-94 and had fantastic stuff. His K/BB ratio was ridiculous…….
>I can’t believe Girardi is leaving him there this long.
>He is throwing garbage right down the middle.
Well, he ain’t starting for a while after this.
What in the world is Girardi waiting for??? He is getting beat by .200 hitters get him out of there..
and now we’ll get the same “My stuff was great” “IDK what happened” routine in postgame.
Hey guys please help me out here I’m thinking: Who were the 6 losses against since the break?
At least 2 vs. Toronto….then what else? too lazy to look it up
Can we give Joba 18 days rest?
lets score some runs, we can’t shut them down every game
“Ok there goes the lead Joba can’t get too angry at himself…”
Isn’t that the problem? Joba DOESN’T get angry at himself. Remember he’s only 23 and still learning…as we’ve been told ad nauseum.
SJ,
I thought we didn’t have to win this game?
Okay, bats. Let’s go. Didn’t Alex hit a whole bunch of homeruns here before he was young and stupid?
As the league sees Joba more and more they are more comfortable with his stuff. He certainly has good stuff and “starter” material (even though I strongly believe he will be a bullpen guy for his career – if its with the Yanks) but it has certainly tailed off recently.
I remember Joba striking guys out with his slider – guys couldn’t hold back check swings. The 98 mph fastball with the 87 mph slider was just devastating. Now he’s throwing his fastball at 92-94 and its easier to recognize the slider. Not to mention he doesn’t throw the slider for strikes.
Talk about his good record and low ERA all you want. When Joba has 1 2 or even 3 good starts in a row people go nuts about those of us who want him in the pen. Well, the majority of the time “5 inning, 100 pitch, 3 runs Joba” shows up. I continue to believe that Hughes will develop into a better starter which would make Joba a #4 for us for the next few years. Joba will lock down the 8th inning role in years to come.
Just my opinion. I hope Andy can keep pitching like he is so Girardi has him ahead of Joba in the postseason rotation. I’d be very nervous if Joba were on the mound for Game 3 if a series is tied at a game apiece.
we lost to the White Sox 3 times
1-run game. no big whoop.
# Brandon August 16th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
NYY626:
If Joba struggles now against this Mariners line-up that even Sergio Mitre gives up 1 ER against….then why is it not a problem? Joba has been mediocre this year, great sometimes, good others, horrible others, very inconsistent. Which will he be come October?
________________________________________________________________
We all understand that Joba has been inconsistent this year. Its just annoying to read these negative comments because everyone on this blog was kissing his butt when he shutout the Rays for 8 innings. Maybe its just me but I can’t stand the “what have you don’t for me lately” mentality, especially when this team has been pretty amazing.
Ugh………..good job, Joba. Aceves MUST be brought in – we’re still in this (though I would love a few more runs against this guy), but if Joba stays out there, we won’t be. Unbelievable how bad he’s been…….no progress whatsosever.
Duh, Brandon. 3 against the White Sox. If we played Tampa after the break, then 1 was against them.
yanks will win..no negativity here….joba pitches ugly though…
Talk about a recession…I guess a 7 1/2 game isn’t what it used to be.
Well, David Wright is on the DL…..at this point I really feel bad for the Mets
“Better get him out of there. He can’t do anything to help them today.”
I disagree here, early in the season I’d pull him, right now his job get into the 6th or 7th inning. It’s time to take the diapers off of him.
He simply doesn’t know how to pitch. Only started pitching when he was a senior in high school. Only 2 years of college I believe. and only 90 minor league innings.
I don’t ever want to see a starting pitching prospect in the bigs before they’ve thrown 130 minor league innings.
Alex hit those homeruns at the Kingdome, which has since been imploded.
Tampa BAy, Oakland, Toronto and white sox 3 times
He’s young but he’s “not learning”.
If he was, why is he making the same mistakes over and over.
This ain’t brain surgery. Everybody can see what he does.
He’s getting lit up by the worst offensive team in baseball.
That’s not something you want to see from someone looking to be a starter in the post-season.
There is no logical reason why he didn’t attack hitters today. None.
He knows he has the next 8 days off. Just attack and empty the tank. Instead, he got into “cute” mode again and got drilled.
Its not about this game. Its about, do you trust this kid to pitch in the post-season when he is this stubborn?
I sure as hell don’t.
I know one thing, he pitches like this in a post-season game and gets lit up, nobody is going to be preaching “patience” for him.
Its far enough in the season to where he should be better than he is. No excuses.
he has got of lot of growing up to do….he has got to limit his walks..
should have started Gaudin today….
Let Al come in for a couple still right there for the taken.
Take the diapers off. Make him throw 7, if he gets blown out, it teaches him a lesson.
uh – Posada has seen 6 pitches in 3 abs…
Betsy
August 16th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Ugh………..good job, Joba. Aceves MUST be brought in – we’re still in this (though I would love a few more runs against this guy), but if Joba stays out there, we won’t be. Unbelievable how bad he’s been…….no progress whatsosever.
—————————————————————
He has given up 7 earned runs in his last 50 innings prior to today…..
posada bashing begins
# Betsy August 16th, 2009 at 5:39 pm
Rob B, we must have been watching a different Phil Hughes. The 91-92 Phil Hughes was when he wasn’t healthy; this year, he was sitting 92-94 and had fantastic stuff. His K/BB ratio was ridiculous…….
________________________
Yes, I was basing my comments on Hughes work as a whole, not just this year. He really, IMO, didn’t pitch enough as a starter this year to adequately judge his average velocity as “improved”. I don’t know if 6 starts is enough to do that. If the 92-94 range is normal for him, that certainly is a good thing.
Joba, I think, sometimes holds back too much on his fastball as a starter. Perhaps he is afraid of tiring himself out too fast if he lets it go too early. Just a thought. Don’t know if there is any truth to it. We know he certainly is capable of still throwing high 90s.
3. Johnny Damon has become a completely different hitter at age 35, and the obvious explanation is that he has made a swift adjustment to Yankee Stadium III. After year after year of hitting more groundballs than flyballs, Damon suddenly has become a big-time flyball hitter. He is lofting (and pulling) just about everything — not a bad idea with the shorter porch in the Bronx. Once a threat with his legs by beating balls on the ground, Damon has adopted the hitting profile of such sluggers as Prince Fielder and Russell Branyan. The highlights:
• Damon is hitting fewer grounders and fewer line drives, but hitting flyballs like never before in his career — a tactic that also explains his career-high strikeout rate.
• Damon has hit 22 home runs this year: 15 of them at home and 19 of them to rightfield.
• Damon has hit 15 homers in 57 games at the new Yankee Stadium. That’s already more than what he hit in the previous two years combined at the old Yankee Stadium: 12 homers in 137 games.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c.....?eref=sihp
“Ugh………..good job, Joba. Aceves MUST be brought in – we’re still in this (though I would love a few more runs against this guy), but if Joba stays out there, we won’t be. Unbelievable how bad he’s been…….no progress whatsosever.”
progress with young pitchers is not linear…its not like this is uncommon for a young pitcher to struggle like this…we saw it with hughes too…a good game or two followed by some bad ones…results dont mean progress
m
I totally forgot about that series haha thanks and yeah the 1 against the Rays.
Nyy26
The excuse that he’s been doing fine this year is not acceptable anymore. Yeah the Yankees are winning games but they can’t just win in october its not like it just happens. They need good pitching and Joba isnt giving them that lately. I am confident that he can….but he can’t just keep going 5 IP 4 ER and getting wins and saying it’s fine. He needs to realize its not fine to just win and pitch badly. Cause eventually he won’t be winning if he pitches badly. I agree it’s great and things are great….but you have to be fairly concerned about him
We will win this game
Joba doesn’t know how to pitch? I think that’s a fallacy.
And if he doesn’t know how to pitch, then he should listen to Eiland and the catchers.
uh – Posada has seen 6 pitches in 3 abs…
===========================
yuck
NYY626, no not everyone was kissing his butt when he pitched great for 3 games. Look, this isn’t about how great the team has been playing lately, or even if we lose this game, which would not be that big of a deal. It’s about the frustration of watching a guy with so much talent pitch so horribly, and be so inconsistent. And it’s about thinking ahead to the postseason, when he would be pitching against a good team, instead of getting knocked around by a mariner lineup, half of which should be in Triple-A. I mean, supposedly, this is our #3 starter, and more than half the time he pitches like Sergio Mitre. It’s mystifying.
“Take the diapers off. Make him throw 7, if he gets blown out, it teaches him a lesson.”
That’s my thinking here, especially w/ a 7.5 game lead. I disagree he won’t learn anything we weren’t saying that 2 starts ago after the break.
SJ44
August 16th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
There is no logical reason why he didn’t attack hitters today. None.
He knows he has the next 8 days off. Just attack and empty the tank. Instead, he got into “cute” mode again and got drilled.
—————————————————-
I’m only watching on gameday, but the Gutierrez hit was a 96 mph fastball. The whole sequence was challenging with 96-97 mph fastballs.
The Hannahan hit was also a fastball.
Did he not just get beat?
Good move bringing in Aceves
Dutch,
Ha. Thanks for that.
Well there goes that, go get’em Ace.
YESSSSSS NO MORE JOBBER
Yanks are def coming back…
I’m just saying…why hate on Arod so much in Seattle? He gave them 4 or 5 fairly priced years of great hitting and they now hate him for it? He left to get money…thats what hitters do….don’t be surprised if Felix Hernandez is gone in 2011 or 2012 and I bet they don’t boo him
Aceves could have been had by any major league team… The international scouts deserve all the credit for his signing.
joba didn’t have his slider. is happens. joba still a 5h starter. is not his fault yanks don’t have a 3rd starter
seems we need to send Joba to Nebraska once a month, the 8 days of rest seem good as any for him to take a little time off again, it worked wonders when coming out of the All-Star Break…
Earlier, somebody make the comment that you can get away with a lot more when throwing 96-97. Yeah, Joba threw 96 to Gutierrez, but it was right over the middle. You can’t get away with that to a major league hitter.
It’s not all about velocity. Like in economics, the most important thing in pitching is location, location, location.
The M’s are just hitting everything today.
Aceves looks very hittable today
What’s hard to understand is why Joba would remain stubborn about how to pitch when the results are consistently so good when he’s in attack mode and bad when he gets cute?
C’mon Ace, keep this a one run game.
He didn’t have his slider. Uhh, ok, how many games this year has he pitched like this? All but what, 5 or 6 starts? And that’s your answer?
need Aceves to work out of trouble now
this is such a terrible lineup,,im not worried
Branyan scares me
Looks like going to Ace was a great idea
I’m so glad Aceves replaced Joba. He’s doing so much better.
I know this sounds crazy….and I am not neccessarily saying its a good or the right idea….but why not send Joba to AAA? Controls his innings….they have Russ Ortiz, Mitre, Gaudin, Aceves all ready for the rotation (if they stretch Aceves out)….put Joba in AAA for a month or so call him up when you need him in September or when the AAA season ends….put him back into the rotation….big wake up call….im sure the Yankees can hold the lead to 4 1/2 or 5 1/2 in the division while hes gone. In NO WAY OR FORM am I saying any of those pitchers are better….but at this point he needs a wake up call….he did pitch great for a little while there…..or why not send him to Nebraska for the week he doesn’t pitch? He needs Girardi to stop saying hes doing fine…..he’s not protecting him he’s hurting him by doing that
Its the right move to pull him. He’s not learning on the mound so, let him learn from the bench.
This isn’t about this game. This game is meaningless.
This is about Game 4 in the post-season.
Do you trust Joba Chamberlain in Game 4 of a post-season start? That’s what this is about.
Its about being able to trust him when the starts matter again.
Right now, he’s taken 2 steps back again.
Maybe he’s tired. Perhaps he got full of himself again after his first 3 starts after the ASB. Perhaps its a little bit of both.
Whatever it is, getting lit up by an offense this bad, making the same mistakes he made earlier in the year, is showing that he isn’t learning anything.
That’s disappointing.
Maybe the 8 day break allows him to get his head out of his butt again and become more productive.
don’t throw him any more fastballs
come on Alfredo sauce
Joba looked good (aggressive) until that one-out walk in the third. His head was bouncing to the music before the trouble started. Where was his head at? Was he on cruise control? Certainly looked that way.
“What’s hard to understand is why Joba would remain stubborn about how to pitch when the results are consistently so good when he’s in attack mode and bad when he get cute”
He has his head up his rear end. Arrogance I guess.
Send Joba to AAA…..huh?
joba is a 5th starter, thats what 5th starter do. dom’t blame joba cause the yanks don’t have a 3th starter
There we go. Strikeout.
Now we just need 1.more.out
Now we get to find out if Aceves can do better than Joba and get that elusive 3rd out without a run scoring.
SJ44 I couldn’t agree any more
the look to third and throw to first works in little league
Ace fastball outside corner high
Greg I know how ludicrous it sounds….but he needs something
“Maybe its just me but I can’t stand the “what have you don’t for me lately” mentality, especially when this team has been pretty amazing”
Exactly and no it’s not just you.
Joba has started a grand total of 34 games in his career. 14-5 era of 3.
This year 23 games 8-2 3.82.
He’s 23 and Yeah people on this blog over react
The Angels just scored 9 in the top of the 13th.
Ace better throw the ball up. Lopez loves the ball down..
i am not a huge fan of joba, but all starters have bad outings…move on…lets focus on winning the game..
“joba is a 5th starter, thats what 5th starter do. dom’t blame joba cause the yanks don’t have a 3th starter”
They have a 3th. What they don’t have is a 4rd.
that 3 to 2 sloder to hannhan was puzzlingin the second was puzzling
Brandon
August 16th, 2009 at 5:58 pm
Greg I know how ludicrous it sounds….but he needs something
———————————-
I know he didn’t do well but he has given up 7 earned runs in the last 50 innings…..he is not an ace yet but despite today he is making progress
Ace has very bad location today..Especially on that last pitch..
This year 23 games 8-2 3.82.
He’s 23 and Yeah people on this blog over react
Its not always about the numbers tho..People on this blog want him to progress as a pitcher. We dont want him to be a flash in the pan burnout…These numbers are skewed, he has won games but the Yanks have scored him a ton as well….He has only pitched into the 7th inning four times out of his last ten…He needs to work on command and this will come in time…People on this blog want Joba to be a complete pitcher.
You have to credit the Ms for good pitching – except for the first game, their SP have done a good job.
Ace is struggling today – even if he gets out of this, I’m not sure we want to push him. Who else is available?
i consider andy more of a 4th starter
tough at bat here
Joba takes 2 steps forward and then finds a way to take 3 back
“Do you trust Joba Chamberlain in Game 4 of a post-season start? That’s what this is about.”
To be fair, Joba would still be a good #4 starter. Is he worse than Porcello, Buchholz, Santana, or Nippert? I don’t think so.
And despite his inconsistencies, he does always give the Yankees a chance to win. Burnett and CC have had just as many, if not more, starts where they gave up 5+ runs.
My concerns about Joba are mostly for the future. For this season, I think he’ll be fine as a #4 starter in the postseason. Of course, that’s assuming everyone else stays healthy AND Pettitte continues to pitch well, which isn’t a given.
id like to see joba pitch a full season (200 innings) as a starter in the majors before we make full blown definite proclamations on whether or not joba can be a good starter…
Greg I realize that but if he says/girardi says he did well today I am going to flip….its unacceptable the attitude….not the pitching….the attitude
Put him away…
looks like Joba needs another vacation to Nebraska
Mariners foul alot off
“uh – Posada has seen 6 pitches in 3 abs…”
He’s trying to teach Joba a lesson about pitchers putting away batters more quickly.
Bravo AL!
I’m not complaining per se. It’s just that Joba could be THAT much better if he heeded advice and instruction.
Through 5 innings, Joba gave back the lead twice. He hasn’t gone deep into games, even today when he was on a terrific pace early on. There are things he can improve on to make himself a better pitcher, and in turn help the team.
Way to hang in there, Aceves.
That took forever
Great play….guys do you think Wang’s foot injury caused his struggles caused his shoulder injury or what caused what? Can he be an MLB starter again? Thoughts?
“Joba takes 2 steps forward and then finds a way to take 3 back”
That sounds like his sobriety test.
That was a battle. I’m just glad Aceves was able to get Lopez out. Being down 1 is a whole lot different than being down 2 or 3.
12 pitches in this at bat…wow that was a duel
ok – so the pitcher has been sitting forever – can someone take advantage of that?
Brandon
August 16th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
Greg I realize that but if he says/girardi says he did well today I am going to flip….its unacceptable the attitude….not the pitching….the attitude
————————————–
Brandon, that’s not attitude, that’s just a manager not wanting to tell the media that his 23 year old pitcher stunk today….what is more important are the private conversations between Eiland, Girardi and Joba……you shouldn’t do your coaching thru the media
That duel ended with the most pathetic hack I’ve seen in a while.
wang shot
Mitre and Joba back is hard on fans.
Ace takes 27 pitches to get out of the inning.
The problem with having a 6 man rotation is that the bullpen is one man short.
Besides Hughes, every reliever has pitched at least once in the past 2 days, and most of those innings have been 20+ pitches long.
Girardi almost has to burn Aceves for another inning because there’s no Tomko or Gaudin to eat up multiple innings.
# Brandon August 16th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
Greg I realize that but if he says/girardi says he did well today I am going to flip….its unacceptable the attitude….not the pitching….the attitude
)
________________________________________________________________
Girardi isn’t going to publicly throw one of his guys under the bus, and I fully respect him for that. Nobody knows what goes on behind closed doors ( which is unfortunate because I am dying to know what happened at kangaroo court
Dogs are allowed at the stadium in Seattle??
Can we get some singles please? It’s painful watching every hitter hit a weak pop up.
this ump is inconsistent
No way that pitch was a strike. Just like it wasn’t to Arod earlier..
Cano pinch hit?
lol..nice way to increase your hitting streak
first pitch robbie strikes again
Finally!
Nice practice swing, Robi!
cano on fire….
Yanks really should bring up Melancon and send Pena down until Sept. The bullpen is very short of guys to use when they aren’t ahead in games. Gaudin can’t be used because he has to start just like Mitre. Aceves usually gets used for 2-3 innings at a time and then isn’t available for days at a time.
whats the point of giving a guy a day off when he gotta pin ch hit. does 6 innings really matter.
so Girardi’s prioritizing winning the game over getting guys rest
I was wondering the same thing about the dogs.
Too bad Hairston wasn’t on base like he should of been..
Jeter strikes again. Amazing year.
It’s funny watching Cano and Jeter get all these cheap hits because they’re kind of competing against each other for the best BA on the team.
i got no bef with that. but if days are off important why not give them full ones off. jeter mr bloop today
Damon is not picking up the ball at all today
HR Damon?
Damon not picking the ball up.
Darn
Looked safe to me.
Damon’s getting really slow. I can’t remember the last time he got an infield hit.
Let’s go, Damon.
I think you guys are making too big a deal out of Robi pinch-hitting after having most of the game off. That’s what the bench is for. And Robi’s on the bench.
What an ugly swing, Damon. Twice. Dang. Almost beat that out.
Nope.
OH COME ON Damon.
chump at bat.
shucks..
lol Greg Zaun
I thought Damon definitely had that beat out..He is a slow man now..
The youth excuse can’t keep being used on Joba.
If “youth” is the issue, then he can’t be on the post-season roster because he’s “too young”.
Can’t have it both ways.
He makes it WAY too hard on himself on the mound.
This is not exactly an offensive juggernaut he faced today he spit the bit.
Young? Yes he is.
However, he has to show some signs of consistency. If not, he can’t start in the post-season.
That’s what its about now. Its now about anything else.
If he wants to be a successful starting pitcher, he has to make adjustments.
Thus far, he has shown an amazing unwillingness to do it.
Why? No idea.
i thought jerry said the angles were easier in cf…guess not
Damon is having an awful day…
If Joba doesn’t improve, I don’t know how you send him out there as a 4th starter in the playoffs…..
Rob B, Phil never sat 91-92 in his career, it’s just that he’d lost 2 years due to injuries. I think this year he’s finally healthy and pitching with confidence…..He doesn’t throw as hard as Joba, but he doesn’t have to because he’s got such good command and late life on his FB.
Games not over yet, but they’ve played listless baseball. Four game sweeps are hard.
Aceves has looked awful. EVERYTHING is up, and extremely hittable.
put in Brian Bruney
This game is making my head hurt. Come on Alfredo Sauce
welp, that’s ball game.
TylerKepner: Everybody on the left side of the infield right now had a father who played in the big leagues: Cano, Griffey, Swisher. CF Hairston, too.
—————————-
cool
SJ, what would you do with the 4th starter spot if it’s obvious that Joba isn’t going to work? Of course this is extremely premature as the Yanks would have to get past the first round first, but……might as well start thinking about it. I don’t see what options we have – start Aceves? That won’t work – unless he starts stretching out now. Phil can’t start……I’m not sure we have other options.
Damon is not slow. btw he’s 35 years old no one on the Yanks beats that out except Brett Gardner
It would be nice to get Ace out of this game. Save him for the next couple of games. Too bad they have no one to pitch..He has nothing today…
I would probably walk him to set up the DP.
where was the attempt
Aceves has been VERY up and down for the last few weeks……and since his injury, it’s been more obvious. His last two outings were terrific, but before that, not so good…….and now this. He’s not the same pitcher he was in the first half, that’s clear.
The results of this game matters little to me.
They won the series and the Red Sox lost. The game per se is meaningless.
Its about being able to find out whether or not Joba can be counted on in October.
Its a real issue.
Between innings limits, stubborness, and just plain dumb pitching, its an issue.
That’s what I take out of this game. The staff still has a LOT of work to do to get Joba ready for October.
The Texas start in 8 days will tell us a lot.
If he can’t get it done in 8 days, they are going to have to review their plan for Joba.
You can’t put a kid out there in the post-season who has no idea how to pitch.
In the post-season, its not about “potential” or “upside” or any other scouting terms.
Its about putting your team in the best possible position to win.
In his last 3 starts, we aren’t seeing that from Joba and that’s a problem.
I don’t know — I figure at some point the Yankees are going to lose…I prefer it be a game like today and not one at the end of the year.
and they still have a chance here
90% of Joba’s pitching problems are between his ears.
this is aceves’ norm imo
lol we are getting beat by “fister, i barely even knew her”
Ace!
One more out, please.
46 pitches. I guess he’s unavailable for a few days now.
Past a diving Jeter August 16th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
lol we are getting beat by “fister, i barely even knew her”
No lie i was thinking bout sayin that but I didnt know if it was appropriate…having seen it…it def is
Hit a guy batting .100 with the bases loaded. Not good.
He’s practically at 50 pitches. Time for him to leave.
Yikes
o that was very bad Ace..no bueno
Wow. If getting out of the inning would’ve been a lift, then what’s hitting the #9 hitter going to do?
Game’s not over yet. Unfortunately, neither is the inning.
what was he throwing that ended up hitting 2 guys? hopefully it’s enough to knock off using that pitch today.
“Aceves has been VERY up and down for the last few weeks……”
He hasn’t pitched in 6 days.
Good lord, Aceves. Just…wow. That was miserable.
And now whoever comes in inherits that mess, and if they make one mistake, it blows the game open. Just an awful outing.
My guess is, pitching him for 4 innings, and then sitting him for six days was a mistake.
In his last 3 starts, we aren’t seeing that from Joba and that’s a problem.
———————————-
We can only hope they get him going for the playoffs…he will be the number 4
If they can photoshop a Yankee cap onto Gaudin, can’t take the pelt off his chin?
Ichiro o lord
Betsy,
That’s what the last 6 weeks of the season is for.
If Joba keeps pitching like this, I use Aceves as the 4th starter in the post-season and put Joba in the bullpen.
One thing about Ace. He knows how to pitch.
Joba, and this is a product of age, stubborness and inexperience more than anything, doesn’t.
In the post-season, you pitch like Joba did today, you give up 8 runs. In a short series, that’s a killer.
We have 6 weeks to find out who can pitch Game 4. Let the battle begin.
2 HBPs in 1 inning?
no he pitches Gaudin….
the man who should have started today. what was the rationale? Gaudin and Mitre back to back would have been tough on the bullpen? And what? Young punk “I Know Everything about pitching” Jobber isn’t death on a bullpen?
and……………………..done
Past a diving Jeter, I elected not to go there but I’m glad someone did.
Tiger is down a stroke going to 17 for those who are looking for more compelling athletic drama to watch.
Just one of those games.
Joba=Jeff Weaver, lots of hype, youth, flashes of brilliance, crappy attitude and inconsistency
Yes, Aceves would definitely be trustworthy in the post-season. Problem is there’s only so many slots, and they’ve already rolled the dice with Joba.
The only problem that Chamberlain is having is the stubborn streak that comes and goes about every other month. He’ll be fine come playoff time. Aceves comes in to games and usually gets the top and middle of the order. He’ll also be ok. I only have concerns about Rivera and that’s only due to his age. He’s more susceptible to aches and pains, now, but, I’m not to the hair pulling stage that some are.
Even if Joba were great vs. Texas and was very good down the stretch in “meaningless” Sept games I still don’t trust him.
The only thing consistent about Joba are his inconsistencies. I think it was Jeter who described last year’s team as “consistently inconsistent.” Same holds true now for Joba.
In a big Game 4 with his emotions going crazy (1st postseason start) I would expect Joba to be wild.
Hopefully we win the AL’s best record and choose the series that gives us an extra day off – to rest Mo and allow us to use AJ & CC twice – no Joba till ALCS.
Anyone in their right mind thing they’re gonna come back from this?
Tex makes that play without question.
This is just one of those games.
Game over. saw that coming.
Oh well. We were due for a clunker at some point. Not likely, but it would be fun if we come back and win.
Gaudin should remember – you only get one chance at a 2nd impression.
Bad day all around and if there is a day you can afford to lose a game, its this one.
In defense of Ace, when you haven’t pitched in 6 days, you aren’t going to be sharp.
They won the series and that’s all that matters.
They gained a game in the standings this week and its onto Oakland.
The bigger picture is about the #4 starter in the post-season. That’s up for grabs.
Well, you knew the Mariners would come out fighting.
very gross game
No, Aceves is a good long man but I would use Robertson/Coke, Hughes, Mo to close games. Aceves only if starter cannot give legnth.
And thankfully Mitre showed he could serve as a #5. Guadin stinks!
all around terrible game….lets just move on and play Oakland
all these runs with 2 outs
FML
guess it’s a good thing after all that Gaudin did not start this game.
Yanks were due for a clunker. AJ and CC coming up the next 2 games.
Nice to have 2 aces back to back.
It’s ok – a loss won’t be so bad, 7.5 up buys you some breathing room.
on the iPod – Mama said there would be days like this (Shirelles). But thankfully not so many like this.
seriously you shouldnt blame Gaudin, the guy inherited a terrible situation, bases loaded, 2 outs, thats some pressure..he will be ok..
at this point just PLEASE save our pen and give us 5 outs, Gaudin, jeez,
Why would you start Gaudin today? Isn’t it better to start Joba today, give him 8 days to rest, and have him ready for Texas? Seems to me that’s the logical thing to do.
If Joba can’t do his part and pitch a good game against a bad team, that’s on Joba and not on Girardi.
did Swish 4get he was playing first…or???
So that was bad.
Be advised, anybody whining about this loss or predicting it’s a sign of impending doom is either a troll, a dope or both.
Please ignore them.
Well, we were already losing. But plunking guys back to back was the killer. Well, not really. But sorta. Thank goodness, Boston lost today.
if my math is correct, even if we lose everything from now through playing boston, and boston wins every game, we will still be in 1st
Ofcourse extra runs were given up because of 2 players playing out of position..
So why is Tex DHing again today? Didn’t he just DH a few days ago? I didn’t know 1B need that much of rest..
I don’t care if we’re playing against Mariners or Red Sox. A win is a win, and we will need every win down the road. It just seems to me that Girardi is really getting in love with this rest-a-star-a-day lineup..
Even if you play .750 ball you are going to lose 1 game out of every 4.
This isn’t a big deal. Just part of a long baseball season.
3 out of 4 from Seattle is more than enough.
Boston has already lost so this game won’t hurt them too much.
Aceves just looked rusty from disuse. He didn’t seem to have his curve ball today.
And give Fister credit – he pitched well. He uses his height effectively.
Take 3 of 4, sweep the A’s, go rollin’ into Boston. Not gonna win every game on the road…
The Yanks are absolutely nuts if they think Gaudin will give them 5-6 innings on Wed. He is a 1-2 inning guy and that is all. Time to bring up Igawa.
Kevin, you bring up a good point. Tex is DH’ing because Matsui is out. But defensively, the best way to go would be Posada DH, Molina behind the plate again, Tex at 1B.
i cant get too upset over this game… 7.5 game lead even if they lose…im fine with that..im more upset joba pitched bad because long term thats more important than this single game today…
aj on the mound tomorrow…too bad its another 10 pm game…
Gosh, these Yankees do everything right. Once they realized they were going to lose, they had the decency to make sure it wasn’t a heartbreaker.
What I like about Yankees losses is it seems like a sneeze – all the bad stuff comes out at once and then back to normal.
(Not that they’ve lost yet, but it seems like)
Tiger and Yang both bogeyed the 17th… Yang with a 1-stroke lead heading to the 18th tee.
I just finished with NetGear tech support, fixing the problem with the router in our house; only took, oh, 4 hours and 45 minutes, including about a half dozen times I got disconnected. But, I got Internet access back and wireless access, to boot.
And I turn on the Yankees, just in time to see our previously impermeable bullpen blow up.
Time for a glass of wine (BIG glass) and a few thoughts
1. If I was going to miss a game, at least it was a stinker.
2. They were due. Shouldn’t detract from what they’re putting together. And, besides, the game isn’t over. But if they go on to lose, you knew rationally it wasn’t going to continue. Winning 3 of 4 ain’t bad.
3. Joba is inconsistent. What a shock. Young pitchers usually are inconsistent. Just ask Tampa about Price, or Detroita about Porcello. Think either of them want to trade those guys? If Joba is still pulling this stuff next year, then we can talk. Until then, get real.
4. The ‘pen was due for a breakdown. They’re not all Mariano. A little touch of reality.
5. I’m going to grill a steak. Rib eye.
6. The game’s not over. “Ya gotta believe!”
Igawa as an alternative to Gaudin?
I need Excedrin Migraine.
Joba hit a rough patch his last couple of starts. Thats going to happen for young pitchers. The problem seems to be his command he is not hitting his spots.
Oh well the yanks were due for a bad game. They have been pretty much unbeatable since the allstar break.
“Time to bring up Igawa.”
time for a Lohud sobriety check…..
No reason to complain about the big picture. Yanks have established a nice cushion in the division and still have a lead on the Angels. We also have a big advantage in next weekend’s pitching matchup at which point we might officially bury the Sawx.
SJ is 100% right though about Joba. Joba has regressed and as I said in a previous post – Joba is consistently inconsistent.
I cannot trust him in the first round of the playoffs and hope with the best record in the AL the Yanks will recognize the ability to use AJ and CC twice.
They have no choice in the ALCS but we can worry about that when we get there. Right now we are positioning ourselves for round 1 of the playoffs. And right now, Joba is making a strong case as to why he should be pitching out of the pen in that series.
HOLY COW EVERYONE TAKE A CHILL PILL!!! the yanx were 23-6 after the break coming in to today, THEY WERENT GOING TO WIN EVERY GAME, its not joba’s fault or anyone, the Ms wanted it more, and HELL!! the games not even over yet! everyone needs to chill and just watch the game instead of complaining bout it….
“But defensively, the best way to go would be Posada DH, Molina behind the plate again, Tex at 1B.”
If you have a huge lead in the division – you use it.
And you use it by resting your players.
If they can put a couple of games on their lead from here I’d really like to see Girardi given the team a break in September once the rosters are expanded.
And that means resting Alex alot and by giving CC and AJ some short starts of like 5-6 innings.
They have the biggest lead in all of baseball.
The goal is to win the world series – not to be the 2001 mariners.
I’d give Russ Ortiz a chance..yes Russ Ortiz the one from Atlanta not Baltimore
To have anyone but joba be the 4th starter in the playoffs would be idiotic. In the playoffs it’s all about win loss and joba is 8-3 in his starts this year (counting today assuming they lose) and 16-7 in his starts this year overall. We’ve seen Ace pitch as a starter and he hasn’t been amazing if people recall.
Gaudin isn’t a problem and Kei Igawa certainly isn’t a solution.
The outcome of this game is meaningless.
The issue, and one we will have to see over the next 6 weeks, is Joba.
Can he be trusted to start in the post-season? That’s what we have to watch.
The rest of today doesn’t matter. The Yankees are in great shape right now.
Hey, at least we didn’t have to stay up past midnight to watch them lose…
I’m so chill, I’m ice.
The idea is to win series, and they have. The way I look at it is this is the “Mitre” game – the one the were “supposed” to lose.
Either SJ or CB diagnosed Joba’s problems correctly IMO. He turns into a different pitcher when men reach base. Not a big deal really. Wang did it, Hughes did it as a starter until after Baltimore.
But, if that’s the case, then Joba’s the one who has to get tough now.
outside of cc,burnett,pettitte joba is the best option until someone proves otherwise.
joba will be fine
i would of sure loved to see how hughes would be doing if left a starter
Season over.
its fine to suggest the yankees cant trust joba starting a playoff game but why should they trust him coming in for relief then?…he can still walk people and give up hits as a reliever and they can be equally damaging or even more-so than if he was starting…personally i still hold a lot of faith in joba and i cant think of a good reason not to..his biggest mistake was being too good too soon and now when he goes through the normal struggles of a young pitcher he seems like he stinks..
Too many sub-optimal pitches were thrown today.
Tom in NJ -
LOL
Yes, at least the Yankees had the decency to reward those of us who stayed up late with the wins!
Our lead is about to shrink from 8 games to now only 7.5.
I don’t think I can handle it.
The Yankees won a series in Seattle for the first time in, what 4 seasons?
And now the Yankees will never win another game ever again. Sigh.
(and because it’s the internet, /sarcasm)
CB,
I thought Kevin brought up a good point about Tex DH’ing again. Why not let Posada DH? He’d get a 1/2 day rest. Posada needs the most rest I feel.
Joe – everyone is chilled – you gotta relax young man.
And the game is over – it’s 9-3 in the 8th. And that’s ok. And fans can comment on Joba.
This was not about the Mariners wanting it more. This isn’t football or basketball. This game was about Joba’s inability to throw strikes, maintain a lead, get ahead of batters, etc etc.
This game was one of several tests between now and October for Joba. He aced his first 3 after the all star break and he has failed his last 3. To be a #4 starter in the postseason I’d rather see him battle through 7 innings consistently than dominate 3 games and be awful in the other 3. Andy Pettitte is a classic example. He doesn’t always have his best stuff but he always battles and he is a pleasure to watch and root for. Joba is the opposite.
Eh, can’t win them all. Listening to the game still, but I’m actually watching this golf stuff now. Not bad
“Igawa as an alternative to Gaudin?”
Gaudin had a 5 era pitching in a giant ballpark in the NL. Why would you expect him to be any better in the AL? It wouldn’t kill them to give him 1 start, the Yanks have no other options.
We leave Seattle 3-1, I’ll take that. Good series for the good guys, on to Oakland. Shouldn’t be any complaining from Yankee fans.
“i would of sure loved to see how hughes would be doing if left a starter”
That’s going to be the thing you’re going to wonder about in the post season.
His starts before he went to the pen were dominant.
The value of a non-closer in a playoff series is uncertain.
In that 4 game sweep of boston – which was as close to a playoff series as it gets in the regular season – Hughes threw 2/3 of an inning. That’s it.
O god they made that 15 inning game a classic
The yanks won the series, and as long as they continue to win series they will be in great shape. So who cares what happens in this game. The yankees can win the next series and go into Boston trying to take two out of three.
All they need to do now is get Chamberlain on track.
I’m trying to think of who Fister reminds me of as a pitcher…..Tall at 6’8″ and relatively soft tossing right hander. San Diego’s Chris Young is the one that comes close.
Here’s the good news..
At least we don’t have to see Joba for another 8 days
Yang is squarely in the driver’s seat… has a makeable birdie put to clinch and Tiger is off the green in the deep stuff…
Good thing the post season doesn’t start next week. Joba would never make me feel comfortable on the mound in a big game. You never know which one is going to show up.
I can’t wait to see what Hughes can take back to the rotation. I know he’ll lose a tick or two. But I want to see if he’s just as aggressive when he goes back to starting.
They should’ve swapped Hughes and Chamberlain. But noooooooooooooo.
If you don’t trust him as a starter or relief pitcher, then you leave him off the post-season roster.
Which they aren’t going to do.
One thing Girardi does very well is make it clear what his intentions are to the players.
Let’s be honest, Joba Chamberlain as a 4th starter, when he pitches like he did today, is a post-season disaster in waiting. That has to change in the next 6 weeks.
He has 6 weeks to show he can make that start.
When you have the biggest lead in baseball, are playing great, and are 30 games over .500, you have this luxury.
He has 8 days off. Hopefully, he treats it as another ASB, gets his head out of his butt, and comes out more aggressive and smarter in his next start against the Rangers.
IIRC, this is the first series Yankees have won in Seattle in about 3 or 4 years.
To that end, this was a job well done this weekend.
GreenBeret7 August 16th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
I’m trying to think of who Fister reminds me of as a pitcher…..Tall at 6?8? and relatively soft tossing right hander. San Diego’s Chris Young is the one that comes close.
Maybe a Mark Hendrickson
“I thought Kevin brought up a good point about Tex DH’ing again. Why not let Posada DH? He’d get a 1/2 day rest. Posada needs the most rest I feel.”
That wasn’t his point though.
His primary point was that Girardi was resting the starters too much.
His point was that Girardi was “falling in love with this rest-a-star-a-day lineup..”
Which is ridiculous, especially when you have a commanding lead.
If you want to say rest Posada that’s fine too. I do think Tex needs a day or half day off.
But Girardi is doing this right. He should be resting his starters.
I hope he can do that with CC and AJ.
boobie
August 16th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
To have anyone but joba be the 4th starter in the playoffs would be idiotic. In the playoffs it’s all about win loss and joba is 8-3 in his starts this year (counting today assuming they lose) and 16-7 in his starts this year overall. We’ve seen Ace pitch as a starter and he hasn’t been amazing if people recall.
————————————————
Yep you could get the dominant Joba in the playoffs too. The one that shut down the red sox last year and the rays & tigers this year. One thing about Joba is even if he does struggle he still keeps the team in the game. Starting Aceves over Chamberlain in the playoffs is just silly.
everybody was ripping joba & then he had a run where he looked like the best pitcher in baseball.
he will be fine.
his mechanics are out of wack
carefull what you wish for
This team is doing great. Yankee fans should not complain because even during the chapionship years the yanks would lose games. You can’t expect your team to win every game, and the Red Sox lost the season series to a crappy Mariners team.
“Y.E. Yang? Y-E-S!”
The next time anyone complains about John Sterling, I’m punching them in the face.
A very useful cold dose of reality.
Yang had a rooster on his shoulder, Tiger never had a chance.
How about DH’ing Damon when Gardner returns? I’d hate to risk losing Damon to injury. We can’t afford to lose his bat.
Posada was no help at all today,every at bat out,behind Arod.
I hate for the YANKEES to be beaten like this,to a pulp.
PL
August 16th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
GreenBeret7 August 16th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
I’m trying to think of who Fister reminds me of as a pitcher…..Tall at 6?8? and relatively soft tossing right hander. San Diego’s Chris Young is the one that comes close.
Maybe a Mark Hendrickson
————————————————————
Hendrickson’s a left hander.
“IIRC, this is the first series Yankees have won in Seattle in about 3 or 4 years.”
Pretty sure it was all the way back in 2005.
Very long time.
It was a terrific series.
They’ve expanded their lead on Boston by a full game since the sweep – can’t ask for much more than that. That’s the big story.
Not only have they solidified their gains from the boston sweep they’ve expanded them while knocking off 7 games from the schedule.
Chamberlain is a number 4 starter. What number 4 starter going into this postseason has a consistent track record ?
Some of you guys need to chill out !
At least we didn’t lose any ground.
SJ, the problem with that is that if Aceves is not stretched out to be a starter, then how can he be in any kind of competition with Joba? Aceves is going to pitch 2 innings, maybe 3 at a time………he won’t be stretched out enough to pitch.
Just a bad game overall – it happens, and it was close late, it’s not like it was a blowout the whole game. The Ms for the most part shut down the Yankee bats – team slump or just good pitching? I guess we’ll see in Oakland – but 3 out of 4 is really more than I could have asked for.
I don’t know how Phil would have done had he remained a starter – I’m sure would have had his ups and downs. If I start playing “what ifs”, I’m going to drive myself crazy, lol. CB makes a great point – that Phil hardly pitched against Boston (though I think that was more by choice than lack of circumstance. He had chances to pitch, but Joe used him oddly – the game before the Sox series and then for 1 batter in the 15 inning game).
BryanHoch: Brett Tomko scheduled to start for the A’s tomorrow … should be interesting
BryanHoch: Brett Tomko scheduled to start for the A’s tomorrow … should be interesting
GreenBeret7
“Hendrickson’s a left hander.”
As far as stuff tho they are similar…right?
Lets me guess we will get the same post game comments from Joba like usual. They are great hitters, they have great at bats…
hugh
All teams have games like this. Even the yankees in the 90′s
GET OVER IT !!!!
Some more good news about this loss..
At least they won’t make another Yankee “classic” that nobody really watches anyway of this game for Jeter’s record since they lost.
Speaking of these “classic” games, who in their right mind is going to re-watch that 15 inning, 5 hour + Yankee-Boston game?
Nothing wrong with his mechanics.
Joba was cruising. 7 up, 7 down. He lost his focus, enjoying himself as he bopped to the music.
It starts with what’s going on in his head.
Even in the 5th, he walked Hannahan on 4 straight fastballs. But it was almost petulant like, “Fine, I’ll throw the f’in fastball”.
If Peavy can make an impact I think the ChiSox have the best 1-4 rotation for the post season.
Buerhle, Peavy, Danks, Floyd
The Tigers would be tough too
Verlander, Jackson, Porcello, Washburn
Girardi has been fielding good enough teams to win every game. If September rolls around and they still have a sizable lead, I expect to see similar lineups on a pretty frequent basis…especially during the last two weeks.
It will do them no good to field the regulars every single day, cakewalk to the playoffs, only to flame-out again. This is the time of year where guys like Damon are going to need as much rest as they can. Obviously, the same goes for ARod. If you can give Tex a 1/2 day, then so be it…It should pay dividends at the end of the season and into the first round.
I’ve seen this team have to play full throttle in September too often only to get thumped around like rag dolls in the playoffs. August and September are grueling months…it takes a team with tremendous depth to survive these games and make a push in the playoffs.
Thankfully, this team has more depth than its had in years.
They’re going to be fine. More than fine.
Also, I forgot that Ace hadn’t pitched in 6 days. You guys think it was really just rust we saw out there, that nothing appears wrong with Ace?
M, Phil has always been a confident kid. He lost some of that confidence due to his injuries, but I really have no doubt about his quality as a starter. I do think he’ll have some ups and downs….related to his sort of stunted development this year (though, I do agree that gaining the confidence of getting ML hitters out is a huge deal……). I assume he will pitch winter ball to get his innings up AND to work on his change.
My gosh. With some of the commenting here you’d think they just lost 12 straight.
PL
August 16th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
GreenBeret7
“Hendrickson’s a left hander.”
As far as stuff tho they are similar…right?
————————————————————
I was looking for style comparison. It’s hard to find a pitcher that throws that soft and is so tall that throws over the top. Hendrickson is a 3/4 lefty and Young is somewhat lower than Fister and higher up that Hendrickson.
Whatever it was, nobody was hetting very good swings at him except for the one Swisher at bat. Even Jeter’s three hits weren’t exactly crushed.
The game is over and done with, but Joba’s bopping on the mound? That was definitely showboating. I’ve never seen any pitcher do that. That’s like celebrating in the dugout, only to end up losing the game. I’m not surprised the Mariners came out swinging after seeing that.
Zach in Port Jeff.
I agree about the Yankees depth and balance. But the one thing that troubles me is the fact that Jeter is the only hitter who goes up there looking to make contact every single time.
Cano is a great contact hitter but he will swing for the fences in certain situations and often in the wrong situation.
I’d wish we had 1 or 2 more hitters in this lineup with a devoted approach to strictly swinging to put the ball in play. I hope this current group of sluggers will adjust for the quality pitching they will face in the playoffs.
Alls it takes is one short series.
m
August 16th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
The game is over and done with, but Joba’s bopping on the mound? That was definitely showboating. I’ve never seen any pitcher do that. That’s like celebrating in the dugout, only to end up losing the game. I’m not surprised the Mariners came out swinging after seeing that.
—————————————–
I’ve seen him do that a couple of times. He did that in starts he was pitching well in. I dont think thats a big deal.
“I hope this current group of sluggers will adjust for the quality pitching they will face in the playoffs. ”
They get on base more than any other team in baseball.
They have a team OBP of .358 – that is great.
The notion that this is just a team of “sluggers” is not true.
JFK,
Really?
And I don’t see other pitchers do it. They’re very careful about not showing up the other team.
I guess it’s no big deal, but it’s still a 100x worse than a fist pump in my book.
m -
What are you talking about – Joba bopping on the mound? I was in and out today.
The notion that this is just a team of “sluggers” is not true.
—-
And yet 1 hitter out of 9 goes up there simply looking to put the ball in play every single time.
And just because they walk at a high rate in addition to hitting HR’s doesn’t change a thing. Sluggers can be patient hitters. In the playoffs they’re going to have to put the bat on better pitches. For this you need a Jeter-like approach from every hitter in the lineup and not just one.
Doreen,
I didn’t see the “dancing” the others saw, but the head was bopping to the beat of the stadium music. Like someone who’s cruising around in their car, with the heavy bass going?
But no, it wasn’t a happy hop. And he wasn’t doing it after he allowed his first baserunner.
Is there any pitcher in baseball more scrutinized than Joba?
Doubt it. And I don’t think it’s even close.
I’ll worry about the postseason in October. Until then, I’m going to enjoy watching this team win over the next 6 weeks.
Betsy – why do even question if something is wrong physically with Aceves?
He had a bad game Betsy – isn’t the end of the world. He is our long man and so far this year he has done a fantastic job at that. He did a nice job pitching around 2nd and 3rd – outs to come back and have 2 outs with the bases loaded and no runs. He made a bad pitch to hit a batter and that opened the flood gates. Gaudin allowed some inherited runners to score as well to make Aceves’ line look even worse.
But that’s fine. The bottom line here is that Joba has been bad or mediocre more often than he has been good this season. He has had about 5 or 6 really good starts, 5 or 6 really bad ones, and the rest were just mediocre. No one is asking him to be dominant every time out.
What we are looking for from Joba is 3 things:
1. Growing up
2. Improvement
3. Trusting his stuff/his catchers and attack the hitters (no nibbling) – and throw strikes
If he does #3, #’s 1 and 2 will follow and he has potential to be great.
The problem is we all don’t care about his potential once he steps on the mound in the playoffs. He better start growing up fast.
m -
Before the game? Before the innings started? At the start of every inning until the baserunner?
(Now, I’ll have to watch the replay and/or skim the posts from earlier today!
)
Bret, I don’t get the criticism of the lineup……..
When Joba heard that Toronto wanted him,he was lights out on the mound.Trade deadline passed and he went back to knocking heads,with Posada go figure.
Being up 8.5 would’ve been great,but the Yankees didn’t lose any ground today.
Be Happy about this……
The RS fell out of 1st place for the wild card.
I was eating dinner and watching golf with my parents, so I missed the latter part of the game. I wasn’t aware Gaudin came in and blew up…………hmm, too bad.
Cant win em all. Sweeps are great but….I’d take 3 wins in a 4 game series every time.
Betsy,
Only 1 hitter out of 9 has an approach that I feel is conducive to hitting good playoff pitching and advancing deep.
The others will need to adjust there approach for the postseason IMHO.
They can do it. It’s possible.
But I wish 1 or 2 more hitters in the lineup had Jeter’s approach which is to consistently put the ball in play.
“And just because they walk at a high rate in addition to hitting HR’s doesn’t change a thing. Sluggers can be patient hitters. In the playoffs they’re going to have to put the bat on better pitches. For this you need a Jeter-like approach from every hitter in the lineup and not just one.”
They have the second best team batting average in all of baseball.
They have a .279 team batting average.
It’s not just walks at all.
Amazing how you can have the second highest team batting average in all of baseball when only “1 hitter out of 9″ is looking to “put the ball in play every single time.”
BTW Jeter has one of the higher walk rates in all of the AL this year so he’s clearly not trying to “put the ball in play every single time.”
Every one including SJ think Joba is nibbling.
I am not so sure.
Why would he do that intentionally in so many starts.
My gut feeling is that he does not have conrol of his pitches and he does not know where they are going. It is the same reason why he leaves pitches in the middle of the plate with 0-2 count.
The good thing is he proved that he can overcome it with his three starts after the ASB. Hopefully, he will regain that control.
Bret the Hitman August 16th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
—-
And yet 1 hitter out of 9 goes up there simply looking to put the ball in play every single time.
And just because they walk at a high rate in addition to hitting HR’s doesn’t change a thing. Sluggers can be patient hitters. In the playoffs they’re going to have to put the bat on better pitches. For this you need a Jeter-like approach from every hitter in the lineup and not just one.
————-
Why are you whining?
You do realize that the Yanks have scored the second most runs of any road team in the AL?
They’ve beaten good teams this season if you would bother to notice.
Bret,
At this point in the season, the Yankee offense is what it is. Do they always play great situational baseball? No…but its been much better than past years, especially as of late. Also, we have to remember that the offense isn’t built around always playing great situational ball…in a general sense, this offense is built to bludgeon opposing pitching…the fact that they have shown the ability to play some small ball, hit in the clutch, and move runners over is gravy.
I do agree that they can get homer-happy and swing for the fences, especially when they are at home. I’m not sure how Girardi can counteract that. Its hard to tell your players to stop hitting homeruns.
If Gardner can keep the ball on the ground, he may become the player that you’re talking about.
Man, from looking at a replay, that Pena is speedy.
Matsui update
Franco,
That’s fine for the regular season.
I want to see a Jeter-like adjustment for the postseason.
No swinging for the fences – period.
Bret the Hitman August 16th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Franco,
That’s fine for the regular season.
I want to see a Jeter-like adjustment for the postseason.
No swinging for the fences – period.
———————-
They have 8 players on the team with 15+ home runs. They are going to be swinging for the fences because that’s part of their game.
This team can win playing small ball, too.
Zach in Port Jeff,
Thank you for your post. I’m glad I’m not imagining things. The situational hitting. The RISP. Those are stats that rear their ugly heads in a short playoff series. If you score runs in concentrated bunches with large gaps of low production in between, you run the risk of one of those large gaps transpiring over a 3-4 game stint in the postseason.
It’s my only concern.
I hope Gardner can be that one extra contact hitter. I will feel much better about winning the whole shebang.
I hope they take Jeter’s lead.
Hmm, someone on another board raised a good point. If Gaudin is going Wednesday, how come he pitched today? Was today his throw day? How many pitches did he throw? Sounds like he was awful, which is not very encouraging…..
Franco,
I agree this team can play small ball and I just hope they can really dedicate themselves to it in the postseason. That’s all I ask.
Bret, I know what these guys have done in playoffs past (recent, that is) and it hasn’t been good…..BUT, this year? They’ve been unbelievable. I am a born and bred pessimist – and I surely don’t think the Yankees are a lock to even get out of the first round. However, this is an amazing offense (though granted they can all go into funks at the same time) – they have beaten some awfully good pitchers this year. They’ve won blowouts, they’ve won close games, they’ve come back multiple times and they’ve come back late in games…….Tex has 30 HR, no one else has that much, but they may end up with 8 guys with 20 HR -that’s a remarkable stat.
Bret the Hitman August 16th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
Franco,
I agree this team can play small ball and I just hope they can really dedicate themselves to it in the postseason. That’s all I ask.
—————
All I care about is winning. I don’t care how they score runs.
But you’re not going to have a bunch of power hitters with 20 + homers on the season bunting, sacrificing, and stealing bases like the 1985 St. Louis Cardinals.
That’s not the kind of team they assembled.
It’s a group of power hitters that take a lot of pitches and hit a lot of home runs.
Betsy,
Throw the HR’s out the window. They are a rare occurrence in the postseason.
If they go in swinging for the fences it will be their undoing.
I still don’t know what a sub-optimal at-bat is qualified by, much less a sub-optimal pitch.
But the way I see it. If .300 is considered an optimal batting average, then there is .700 of sub-optimal at-bats for each very good hitter. Multiply that by the entire league and taking into account the many that don’t have .300 averages – well then thats an awful lot of sub-optimal at bats that are happening each day of the baseball season.
It boggles the mind.
Just a bump in the road. Winning 2 of 3 in Oakland and Boston makes it a successful trip.
Joba needs mound maturity.
Gaudin came into a bases loaded situation with zero margin for error. He didn’t seem all that sharp. *shrug*
Bret the Hitman August 16th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
Betsy,
Throw the HR’s out the window. They are a rare occurrence in the postseason.
———–
Of course. Nobody hits homeruns in the postseason.
This team will go as far as their starting pitching will take them. I’m not concerned about their offense or their ability to score runs against good teams.
Saw this coming a mile away. Series won. Facing a guy who can’t get minor leaguers out ( more than a hit per inning down there). No way they were going to win. Now if they had been facing King Felix? Np.
New mobile site is pretty awful. First the RSS feeds were clipped articles, now the mobile site’s main page consists of clipped articles and my having to reload the main page every time I want to view another article. Yay.