Today in The Journal News
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Sep 02, 2009 
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Nick Swisher homered again and of course it was on the road. His blast — and four others — helped the Yankees overcome the Orioles and an A.J. Burnett stinker.
Mike Dunn took a twisty road to the big leagues. This notebook also has updates on Sergio Mitre, Brett Gardner, Derek Jeter and the other roster moves.
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Two loyal readers blogged about attending our outing in Scranton on Sunday.
First off we have Christina from Al Leiter’s Bullpen Catcher. Her report includes plenty of photos. Fortunately, none of me.
Rebecca from This Purist Bleeds Pinstripes also has a report.
Rebecca, Christina and Brent at one point did a three-person roll call of the players. Now that is dedication. That could have used the help (and voice) of Bald Vinny.
Thanks to Rebecca and Christina for their reports. If anybody else out there blogged the outing, let me know.
Glad that you all had a great time on Sunday. I will try and make it next year.
Prior to Tuesday night’s game, Rodriguez declined to discuss the specifics of the morning assembly.
“One of the things I said in spring training is I wanted to turn a negative into a positive, and I meant that,” said Rodriguez, who has admitted to using steroids from 2001 to 2003 while with the Texas Rangers. “And then the other thing I kind of vowed to myself is I wanted to play more and talk less. So that’s that.”
http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/.....k-to-kids/
Here’s a freak stat for you: Since the 12th of June, Mariano Rivera has exactly driven in as many runs as he’s allowed: one apiece (freak stat via Cazzball).
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/swe.....odles.html
Alex, is that you?
Seriously, good for him.
My family and I had a great time in Scranton on Sunday. Again, you snubbed me when I tried to talk to you, but I am getting used to it.
Thanks for sharing, girls! Christina – great pictures.
Maybe next year for me, too, Fran. 
Did anyone see Ellsbury’s catch during that 8th inning against the Rays last night. Shucks. Definitely a game-saver.
As long as our Yankees keep winning, it doesn’t matter.
I was really hoping the Rangers would sneak in there to mix things up a bit. Oh, well. Still, there’s 30 games to play…
AJs verbal outbursts are being too disected. First people thought he was yelling at Jorge and now the O’s think he was yelling at Pie.
http://www.nj.com/yankees/inde.....a_bit.html
Sounds like it was a fun outing, wish I wasn’t so far away. Enjoyed yor pictures Christina.
I think the “talk less” strategy is a good one for A-rod!
Ridiculous, Pat……..AJ’s an emotional guy and everyone wants to think the worst of him when he yells at himself. Whatever – I don’t care what the Orioles think.
the hinske hr call,hinske with your best shot.
did it come from this blog??
it had to have.
who are the Os to talk anyway…remember Aubrey Huff’s fist pumping HR off Joba
I know it’s a hot topic this morning to lament about Burnett’s erratic pitching and what it will mean come October is a popular story this morning but the real hidden story is how is Carsten Charles going to fare in the playoffs? Is anyone worried that the man has given up 20 runs in his last 19 post season starts over the past 3 years? He worries me more because most people – especially now with Burnett faltering – are considering it a given that CC will dominate in the playoffs but his track record tells a different story.
Anyone who thinks that starting pitching is going to be a factor in the 2009 playoffs is fooling themselves. I think these playoffs are going to be a slug-fest and the teams that prevail will be the ones with the bullpens that can best stop the bleeding. I like the Yankees chances because they have the best hitting/relief pitching combo of any team going in.
So how many fines will be handed out for last nights game?
AJ for blowing the lead a few times. Jorge for forgetting how many strikes he had. And our good ole’ buddy Nick Swisher for his shirtless interview. I’d like to see Nick get a few more fines for that one.
“Did anyone see Ellsbury’s catch during that 8th inning against the Rays last night. Shucks. Definitely a game-saver.”
Yeah, that was a nice grab. Even though he’s a crap weasel, you have to give some credit to Papelbon for that save. 3 run game, bases loaded, no outs and the next six in the order are BJ Upton and 5 all stars. To give the Rays nothing there and pretty much put an end to their postseason hopes was fairly clutch.
Jennifer- 2nd night in a row for a Swish shirtless interview.
Rex- sooner or later Pap is going to pay for all the men he puts on base, I am surprised the Rays didn’t.
Rex -
Yep. Gotta give props when they’re due.
“Rex- sooner or later Pap is going to pay for all the men he puts on base, I am surprised the Rays didn’t.”
Kate:
He has paid a few times. But last night he retired all six batters he faced. It was Okajima, who has now allowed the 7 batters he’s faced to reach base, who loaded ‘em up.
The Ghost –
I disagree. Bad starting pitching wears down a bullpen, lowering their effectiveness. If CC, Andy and AJ don’t pitch well in the off-season, the Yanks are deep trouble.
In 2005-7, the Yanks slugged their way to the post season, but once they got there their offense was neutralized by good pitching and their pitching couldn’t match up. I’m not generally panic-ridden but in this case there is lots of cause for concern.
so no Pap tonight and Garza usually pitches well against the RS, especially at home.
“I know it’s a hot topic this morning to lament about Burnett’s erratic pitching and what it will mean come October is a popular story this morning but the real hidden story is how is Carsten Charles going to fare in the playoffs”
Don’t know how hidden it really is. Not exactly a secret he’s struggled some in the postseason. Who knows how it will play out this time around? I do think that not being asked to carry a 250+ inning workload will work some in his favor, leaving him a little more fresh for postseason play.
didn’t CC pitch a few games on 3 days rest last time? He shouldn’t have to do that here.
I have to admit, trying to do the roll call with just three people in an eerily quiet field proved to be much more difficult than I anticipated… especially with my initial “YOOOOOOO COLIN!”.
Juan Miranda was the only player who didn’t respond. Colin Curtis responded late, responding at the same time as John Rodriguez. And then there was Cody Ransom… I think we hit a sore spot due to his half-hearted half-Jeter-like glove flip response. Maybe if he played better, he wouldn’t have just three people chanting his name…
“Here’s a freak stat for you: Since the 12th of June, Mariano Rivera has exactly driven in as many runs as he’s allowed: one apiece (freak stat via Cazzball).”
Rishi,
John and Suzyn gave that stat on the air yesterday. They were told it by the blogfather himself, Pete.
Ozzie says the W. Sox aren’t waving the white flag with their moves. Contreras wasn’t going to see a pitching mound for the rest of this year and they have other players who can DH.
They’ve got a series with the R. Sox this weekend where I would like to see them prove that.
upstate kate
Really? I missed the night before than.
Nick getting hit with major fines than. Probably also fined for not hitting hr’s at home.
Hilarious! http://thesportshernia.typepad.....pitch.html
Christina, nice pictures. I’ve never been to your blog before, so I scrolled around. That post about your tour of the Louisville Slugger factory was very interesting.
Thanks.
Jennifer- Swish will probably also be fined for the time he posed drinking chocolate milk from a bottle that had a picture of him on it…he is always entertaining.
“When Beltre came up for his first at-bat, the theme for Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” was played, a gesture from Ken Griffey Jr….”
http://seattletimes.nwsource.c.....tes02.html
“Anyone who thinks that starting pitching is going to be a factor in the 2009 playoffs is fooling themselves. I think these playoffs are going to be a slug-fest and the teams that prevail will be the ones with the bullpens that can best stop the bleeding.”
True and untrue. I think the expectations for these guys are a little high, like they need to throw a shutout every time they step onto the mound. They just need to be able to hold a lead, whether it’s 2-1 or 12-11, and get the ball to Hughes in the 8th and Rivera in the 9th.
the playoffs will be a bit different.
they won’t necessarily need complete game shut outs, with hughes, joba, mitre and gaudin in the pen (joba for the 1st round). That is a lot of starters who can step in and it wont be the same as blowing through an average bullpen.
vin
September 2nd, 2009 at 9:18 am
“Here’s a freak stat for you: Since the 12th of June, Mariano Rivera has exactly driven in as many runs as he’s allowed: one apiece (freak stat via Cazzball).”
Rishi,
John and Suzyn gave that stat on the air yesterday. They were told it by the blogfather himself, Pete.
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Thanks for the heads up – I got it off espn.com
Nice Guy,
my point is that there really isn’t any dominant pitcher going into the playoffs so I’m going under the assumption that no starter will be able to just “turn it on” and dominate come October. Of course that’s a big assumption. Pitchers like Beckett/Verlander/Sabathia/Lackey/Lester etc all have the ability to dominate but it’s been very rare for a pitcher who hasn’t dominated the regular season to dominate in the playoffs since the talent is much more diluted in the reg season. So that’s why I’m predicting a slugfest and as you said the bullpens will be severely stressed but I consider the Yankees bullpen to be the deepest in terms of talent and combine that with the fact that CC/Pettitte’s ability to eat innings while keeping the team in the game during an ineffective starts that will put less stress on the Yankees bullpen than others.
I’m expecting one of the more entertaining post seasons this year due to the lack of dominant pitching and overall parity in talent between teams. It’s going to be a marathon and the back of the bullpen and the bench are going to decide many games. I feel good about the Yankees chances.
Anybody know why my post suggesting AJ should be working with another catcher was pulled?
Does your opinion have to jive with Pete’s in order to remain up on this board now?
AJ w/Posada: 4.96 ERA
AJ W/O Posada: 3.38 ERA
Baseball is a sport that MUST be judged on the overall, rather than a few performances. Overall, there is no rational reason to force Burnett to work with Posada.