Wrapping up the workout
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Oct 06, 2009 
Print This Post
| 
Email This Post
You have to give the Yankees credit, they gave us more information today than we might have expected.
The upcoming rotation is set, Jose Molina is catching A.J. Burnett, and there’s only one roster spot that remains up in the air. There was nothing was especially shocking about the news, but at least it’s concrete information from a day that might have been little more than stock quotes about waiting to make decisions.
The last roster decision revolves around a third catcher (Cervelli), a second pinch runner (Guzman) or an 11th pitcher (perhaps Marte is the guy on the fence as a second lefty). The Yankees can carry two of those three, and when Joe Girardi was asked about carrying the second pinch runner he said, “That would depend on 10 or 11 pitchers,” which suggests Cervelli will make the postseason roster, leaving the final spot between Guzman and a pitcher.
We’ll know the final decision sometime tomorrow.
Speaking of tomorrow, we’ve pushed the live chat up to noon because Sam and I need to get to the stadium earlier than expected for Girardi’s pregame media session. Also, tomorrow we’ll have John Flaherty’s analysis of the pitching matchups.
See you then.
Update: Twelve innings. Are you kidding me? If you’re a Tigers fan, how do you feel about Ryan Raburn right now? That was a nice throw to keep it tied, but he really botched that lead-off base hit. By the way, as I’m typing this, Don Kelly is hitting for Detroit. I believe I voted for him for the International League all-star team three months ago.
Update: Fernando Rodney had pitched two innings only three times this season, and never more than two. He might have pitched a bit too much tonight.
Gardenhire is lost…you have to go to nathan to start the 8th…absolutely terrible managing…and where is darling and his great analysis? not even a mention of it
repost:
Just thought of a new LoHud game idea (I apologize if it’s been discussed before):
Yankees Post-Season Record Predictions.
There’s plenty of combinations and people will be getting eliminated after every game. We’ll have to really go out on a limb, instead of taking the Sterling route of “You can’t predict baseball. You just can’t.”
I’m too lazy to organize this, but I nominate Erica or Trisha. They’re obviously the most qualified. Anyone else want to play?
kudos to other posters in previous post who mentioned same point i just did, i just came to the site and clicked on newest post…brutal managing
Thanks Chad, welcome to the jungle!
Tigers won.
So are we going to get the extra innings we want?
Repost from last thread:
Once again conventional wisdom is doing a hatchet job on a manager and his teams chances to win.
In a very tight game with everything on the line the Twins finally take the lead.
And it’s very clear that the game is likely going to hinge on what happens in the top of the next inning. There’s just very little doubt. The tigers are a extremely poor hitting team and the only area that the opposition has to worry about is the middle of their line up – especially Cabrera.
The idea that Gardenhire didn’t bring Nathan to pitch the to the only dangerous part of the tigers order in the top of the 8th of a one game playoff is just hard to imagine. Just very difficult to believe how wedded someone can be to straight jacket thinking.
And it’s once again remarkably ironic that a manager brings his closer into a game not when his team had a lead to protect – but only after that lead has been blown.
It’s so short sighted and cliche it’s just really hard to believe.
Managers don’t have much impact on a game other than deciding which players should be on the field.
It’s remarkable how wrong they get it, especially with bull pens.
Eventually a manager will stop playing up to this silly conventional wisdom and he’ll be hailed a genius and for doing something that was as plain as sunlight all along.
Let’s go defense!
cb…right…and wheres the great analysis from darling that we all hear about??? Brutal
Doreen I hope so!!
Do we know if the players are hanging around the stadium watching the game? The only thing that stinks about this going till today how much can they prepare for the pitcher? They have no idea who is pitching against them tomorrow.
Expectation:
Yankees will be rested and will have the advantage.
Reality:
?
bodhisattva – Destiny Wears Pinstripes
October 6th, 2009 at 8:08 pm
Abdababdaserser
October 6th, 2009 at 7:22 pm
I see the point about Posada not being in the lineup changes the circular lineup aspect. If AJ pitches well because of comfort level, and keeps the hits and runs down, then it loses some of the importance of that 1 batter.
I know it wears them out, but its not like Posada can’t come into the lineup replacing Molina if it isn’t working early enough or if he goes 6 innings. That could end up being 2 or 3 AB’s.
Molina can hit the ball sometimes. Granted it is more likely an out, but he has hit doubles as well. If the other batters in that lineup do well enough it won’t be such a black hole.
I can’t say that I am wild about this move, but trying to put myself in Girardi’s mode of thinking, I would think that he has more concern about AJ doing well than about the offense. It is probably a close thing, but if the starter flops it is more likely that the game is lost, over the value to having one more bat that may hit or see a few more pitches.
========
I accept that AJ is being caught by Molina on Friday.
But you can’t look at Posada’s ABs in isolation. And 2 or 3 ABs are significant, in a playoff game, and a single playoff game is signigicant, in a best-of-5 series.
If Posada hits a 3-run homer in his 2nd or third AB, that’s going to help AJ more than Molina, lol.
But beyond having a switch-hitter with left-handed power in the lineup for 3-5 ABs in Yankee Stadium, with its short porch in RF.
Molina batting ninth means we have a what, .220 RH hitter, in a park that does not favor RH hitters, and who has no power any way – instead of a .270 hitter (Cabrera), who is also a switch hitter.
Posada also gets replaced by Swisher, who is not the dangerous, professional hitter Posada is, and who is not going to provide Cano/Matsui with similar protection.
This is my whole point – people view Posada as an isolated bat in the lineup – but that’s not how baseball works, and it certainly is NOT how our lineup works.
Big play…nice push bunt.
CB, glad you are back, you have been missed.
Wow what hustle from Santiago
Since Houston’s season is officially over that makes Aaron Boone a free agent. If this game goes long enough one of these teams could fly him in for a pinch hit HR, no?
Bad job of managing bullpens by both managers in this game. Miner looked terrible in the 6th but was brought back for the 7th by Leyland. And there’s just no excuse for Nathan sitting while Ordonez and Cabera batted in the 8th when they are the only good Tigers hitters because of Gardenhire’s conventional “closers can only pitch the ninth” mentality.
Ghost…maybe if they get him on a red-eye.
Thanks for the thoughts. Life got in the way for a while.
But the playoffs are here so priorities had to be recalibrated!
Granderson hits for the cycle against Nathan.
wow…he now needs a K and a DP
CB…life got in the way of the blog or the blog got in the way of life?
CB, what are your thoughts on AJ/Molina ? Oh, and it’s nice to see you back – we missed you!
If you are Span and that’s catchable you have to let that drop right?
vin – I’ll be happy to do it, whatever it is. You just have to tell me what you (and others) want on the chart.
If Nathan gets out of this Minny is going to Disneyland
I say let it drop…umless you are Dave Winfield in his prime.
way inside lol
Here are the only players to worry about – Inge, Polanco, and Santiago. Beat those three, you beat the Tigers.
Send Granderson – stay out of the DP
wooow twins
HOLY CRAP!!!
Great play – was he actually out at first? Just?
Wow.
Wow. That was lucky. He looked safe to me.
its simple people:
molina handles burnett psychologically amazingly…meaning, when a call or pitch either doesnt go his way or burnett gets into a jam- molina handles burnett superbly in getting his mind off what just happened and thru the mess…sundays game in TB was a brilliant example of it…posadas demeanor and bullheaded-ness only adds to aj’s loss of control and lack of concentration to what he needs to do as opposed to focusing on whats already happened ….molina also gets calls on the corners/frames the ball 100X better than posada and it is shown by AJ’s strikeout #’s w/ Molina VS Posada…simple people, real simple
Wow!!!!
JOE NATHAN FIST PUMP~~!!!~!
Winfield won a WS in Minnesota didn’t he?
The Tigers suck !
Tie Granderson to the 1st base bag – stay out of the DP
Is Mike going to complain about that fist pump? BTW I think he was safe.
You guys know Carl Pavano pitches game 2 and 5 if the Twins win right?
Or you still rooting for Verlander twice
if that happened to the Yankees there would be 100 posts criticizing whoever was on first getting caught on the line drive…
that call strike 3 on polanco and granderson’s out seem pretty gifted
That bunt play by Santiago brought back nightmares. Reminded me of Joey Cora’s bunt on Mattingly in the ‘95 playoffs.
Rain tomorrow in NY?
Big surprise.
good call by the ump…where is granderson going??
Betsy,
I’m not surprised by the catching situation – the hand writing was unfortunately on the wall – but I am utterly dismayed by the yankees need/ decision to play Molina.
It is literally an absurd situation. That’s the only way to put it – absurd.
The yankees have actively decided to handicap their team and decrease their chances of winning the world series.
It just dismaying why a team would handicap itself the way they are doing.
AJ is going to pitch between 25-40% of all the yankee starts in the post season.
Are the yankees serious about replacing 25-40% of Posada’s potential at bats with Molina’s? That’s just insanity.
This also makes it a near absolute must for them to carry cervelli on the roster becasue they are going to have to be able to pinch hit for Molina. That of course just further handicaps their roster flexibility.
It’s just an all around strategic loss for the yankees, one that will have significant negative ramifications for the team.
ok i’m ready to stop cheering for the twins and start to gear up for tomorrow. the tigers are way less likable than those friendly MN people.
I have no preference who the Yankees play…they are good enough to beat anyone in the playoffs.
Extra innings will be nice…say 15-16 innings.
Mac Daddy October 6th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
good call by the ump…where is granderson going??
Back to Detroit
“Once again conventional wisdom is doing a hatchet job on a manager and his teams chances to win.”
Color me jaded but I really thought this post was going to be about Girardi.
I agree thoroughly. It’s like Christopher Columbus. Time to sail that ship cause the earth is not flat so why shouldn’t you have the best member of your pen pitch to the best hitters.
Imagine Girardi does it this postseason?
Can you say Nobel Prize?
That called third strike to Polanco was way inside. Ball.
mauer walk-off….?
“vin – I’ll be happy to do it, whatever it is. You just have to tell me what you (and others) want on the chart.”
I was originally thinking a simple 3 column chart:
name, # of wins, # of losses
My prediction would be 11-4.
However, maybe that would be too hard to get a winner. Perhaps just a post-season wins prediction contest, but everyone also gives the total number of losses, kind of like a tie-breaker.
What do you think?
Obviously, all submissions should be in before the start of tomorrow’s game.
if the Twins don’t score in the 9th the advantage switches back to the Tigers since Nathan most likely won’t pitch the 10th and the bullpen is pretty used up already.
cb…believe it was you who said molina wouldnt catch a game on the playoffs…if so, shame on you
secondly, have you still not checked posads postseason #’s?? stop treating the guy like hes reggie jackson, PLEASE!!!
What molina brings defensively MORE than makes up for his lack of bat and if it means Burnett has quality starts, ITS A NO BRAINER
CB, when you are going up against a team of destiny like the Twins, you need a good luck charm like Cisco Cervelli on your roster. I predict that will be the silver lining to this debacle.
MG-
If it goes to the 10th, Nathan will pitch it.
darling…HORRIBLE analysis all night…Brutal!
CB, Many of us share the same concern….I’m counting on this babysitting exercise is for the ALDS only….Let him ( AJ ) get his postseason feet wet per say
enter sandman in the 9th in minnesota?
well the guessing is over
molina is catching burnett
i imagine if we are losing posada will replace molina
girrardi keeps harping about the good rythum they are in
girrardi has impressed me lately
very smart man
Come on Lyon
Twins received some nice gifts in the top of the 9th.
For those that want the Twins, do you like bottom of the 9th or giving life to the Tigers in extra innings?
CB, I couldn’t agree with you more…….and there is so much blame to be spread around. I blame mostly AJ……I’m really angry with him and, worse, disappointed. I thought he was better than this. However, I certainly blame Joe as well…..what on earth is he thinking? He actually bought into the idea that AJ pitches better to Molina ……therefore, he’s in essence saying that AJ needs to have his hand held. This disrupts the lineup and (though next year is a long way off), I still feel that this will have serious ramifications in the clubhouse. For now, though, the only concern is going forward in these playoffs. The Yankees are a worse team now than they were 24 hours ago……..a far worse team.
CB…I understand that Jorge is a way better offensive player than Molina, but if with Molina catching AJ is lights out 1 run over seven compared to say 3 over seven with Jorge, wouldn’t that negate his necessity in the lineup?
(report from earlier)
here are AJ’s post ASB stats, all of this is making less and less sense to me:
Date Innings Earned Runs Catcher
7/17 6 3 Posada
7/22 7 2 Posada
7/27 7 0 Posada
8/1 4.2 7 Posada
8/7 7.2 0 Posada
8/12 6 3 Posada
8/17 8 3 Posada
8/22 5 9 Posada
8/27 6 3 Molina
9/1 5.1 6 Posada
9/7 6 1 Molina
9/12 7 6 Molina
9/18 7 1 Molina
9/23 5.2 2 Molina
9/28 6.1 1 Molina
10/4 5 2 Molina
if you throw out the bad start against the Sox with 9 runs in 5 innings (that would never happen in a playoff game where the hook is much, much quicker), here are the numbers:
Innings Runs ERA
Posada 46 18 3.52
Molina 43 16 3.35
when you consider the difference in offensive potential this just becomes a wash and makes no sense. I hope it works and the Yankees win #27 in 11 straight games but this still makes no sense to me based on these statistics.
vin, oh you mean just a Postseason chart. When this game is over I will tell you what I’ve done in the past, including points etc. We’ll do a chart for the DS’s, then one for the ALCS, then one for the WS. I don’t like dealing with scores of games. Too much confusion and too much work.
I think Jim Leyland needs a cigarette.
will they pitch to mauer?
I’m just not cheering for any particular team – I don’t give a fig. The Yankees need to beat either team and if they don’t, they will have to look in the mirror because this will be another in a long line of playoff failures.
If the Twins win, do not underestimate Pavano. I hate the guy, but he’s been great against us this year.
At this point, the only thing I’m hoping for is a marathon into extra innings.
Sorry…but who here has ever put avocados on a hot dog?
Pat M,
I really hope so -especially if they play the Twins.
A huge part of the Twins success in the regular is built on the fact that day in and out the production they get out of the catching spot simply knocks the stuffing out of the production the opposition gets out of the catchers spot.
One of the primary reasons why the yankees handle the Twins so well is that while Posada doesn’t equalize Mauer he does cut the twins marginal advantage behind the plate tremendously.
Playing Molina against the twins does the exact opposite – it radically expands the twins primary strength.
They can’t be serious about playing Molina in all of AJ’s starts.
That’s insane.
We’re in good hands then, Trisha. Thanks!
Should be fun, and hopefully take some of the tension out of our post-season lives.
Facing Joe Nathan is just not pretty.
CB – I think you’re spot on about the decision to pair Molina with AJ, but, I’m sure Joe and the coaches dissected that every which way, and came up their decision. They clearly feel that AJ is significantly better with Molina as opposed to Jorge, and are willing to sacrifice Jorge’s bat for that. Pitching rules.
AJ better deliver on that.
Okay Vin, here’s how it works. Everyone guesses the DS winners. If someone wants to guess game spread that’s additional points. But people can just guess the winner.
DS – 1 point for guessing the overall winner, 1 point for guessing the correct number of games.
ALCS – same, but the points go to 3
WS – same, but points go to 5
Terrific game right now.
Inge saved Rodney’s bacon.
Pat M, I think it’s AJ/Molina all the way………esp. if he pitches well. I don’t see why Joe would change it up……and heaven knows Linus needs his blanket. It’s disgraceful what Jorge is going through. You know, Jorge was never my favorite player – I love him as I love all Yankees and as I esp. love the core – but I really appreciate him now and I think he’s handled it beautifully. If I were him, I would want someone’s head on a platter.
what a play by inge…
I get that people hate this move. But why would people in baseball make this decision and others who work in baseball endorse it?
I’m not questioning the baseball IQ here because it’s clear there’s a ton.
Just saying, that maybe there’s some merit to the decision?
Facing Pavano could be scary ….. he’s got way too much to prove.
Everyone says Joe has final say… no he doesn’t. Cashman does.
Torre had final say in these things, Girardi has to adhere to his GM.
Also – predictions have to be in before the first pitch of the DS in question.
I do NOT take predictions beyond the particular series.
I hope this game goes 25 innings.
How about Nathan for 3…
Extra innings – the Lohud God obviously heard our prayers
Woohoo…..extra innings.
9/1 5.1 6 Posada
9/7 6 1 Molina
9/12 7 6 Molina
9/18 7 1 Molina
9/23 5.2 2 Molina
9/28 6.1 1 Molina
10/4 5 2 Molina
if you throw out the bad start against the Sox with 9 runs in 5 innings (that would never happen in a playoff game where the hook is much, much quicker),
**********************
take out the 6 runs VS baltimore, which was one bad pitch, its not even close…
I would have to think that with Giardi being a big league catcher and Pena one of the better big league catchers of the past 30 years…they might know something about the other part of the battery.
Bonus Cantos!!!!
“but if with Molina catching AJ is lights out 1 run over seven compared to say 3 over seven with Jorge, wouldn’t that negate his necessity in the lineup?”
This would be great if it were true but there’s no way to say this is the case.
There is no correlation between how AJ pitches and who his catcher is.
None.
It’s been that way his whole career.
The catcher does not cause AJ to pitch differently.
AJ is just inherently wildly inconsistent.
But the yankees either through AJ’s prodding or their own majgical thinking have decided that AJ needs a crutch and they are willing to weaken their team in order to do so.
I’ve followed AJ’s career pretty closely. There’s just no tangible relationship between who his catcher is and how he throws.
I would feel a little more comfortable with this decision, if AJ was only pitching one game in this series and not potentially 2. Thats all I have to say, lol.
We’re going to extras. I’m rooting for a 15 inning affair, burn out starting pitchers.
I’m not too greedy am I?
Vader, no I don’t think it negates it at all because you proceed from an assumption that AJ wouldn’t pitch well to Posada. He had two great months with Po behind the plate……he went into a slump and Johnny Bench wouldn’t have helped. That’s nothing personal against AJ – all players slump. When a pitcher does, it’s on him….not the catcher.
I’m down Trisha.
I forgot the Tigers have A. Huff.
Joba’s old fist pumping pal.
Inge just saved the season for Leyland…..GB always has always liked Inge, I see why
People, please answer me this so i know what kind of intellect im dealing with- who is the better Catcher- calling a game, framing pitches, handling pitcher- Molina or Posada????
LEAVE OFFENSE OUT, we know posadas better
OMG – although most are very welcoming, here’s one of the first comments on Pete’s new blog at Boston.com:
DanGould1965 wrote:
Just so y’all know, when the Red Sox played the Yankees, this guy would list Pedroia as “Keebler” (as in Elf) in the lineup.
He’s an embarrassment to professional journalists everywhere.
Nobody here knows what goes in in the clubhouse or the relationship between Jorge/AJ currently.
Those who portray it as the Yankees purposefully weakening their team with no legit. reason are fooling themselves. Why in the world would they want to start Molina, unless they had to?
2+2 doesn’t = 5.
take out the 6 runs VS baltimore, which was one bad pitch, its not even close…
——————————–
how do you load the bases with one bad pitch?
I took out that Sox game because the Yankees came back and took the lead 6-5(?) and kept AJ in the game. In the playoffs he would have been pulled for one of the arms in the pen. The Baltimore game was early and close, there was no need to take him out before the grand slam. AJ’s pitched great games with Posada, all of you who knock Posada’s ability have no clue. He’s not the best defensive catcher in baseball but at least average and the 2nd best offensive catcher in the game.
“We’re going to extras. I’m rooting for a 15 inning affair, burn out starting pitchers.
I’m not too greedy am I?”
Only 15? If they’re not playing at midnight EST I’m going to be as disappointed as Jorge Posada after his meeting with Joe Girardi today.
CB thanks and I was just throwing it out there, with hopes that may be that will be the case.
I am loving these extra innings. I hope it goes 16
“Facing Pavano could be scary ….. he’s got way too much to prove.”
you are kidding right?
CB, I am distraught that the Yankees are allowing Molina to catch AJ. If the series goes 5 and Posada does not start that game I will absolutely lose my mind. How could the Yankees organization allow this to happen? I don’t understand how no one in the organization could see the idiocy of this move. What could they possibly be thinking?
I got given nasty looks at work today because I said I didn’t care who won, just that it went as long as possible, Jennifer.
Good thing I don’t have to be back in the office for a while.
Expanded roster shenanigans
The series starts in less than 24 hours. they kinda have to reveal what theyre doing to this point
“I get that people hate this move. But why would people in baseball make this decision and others who work in baseball endorse it?”
Why did Gardenhire decide that he didn’t need to bring Nathan into fact the heart of the Tigers order?
The Twins should have been AL Central champions right now and on their way to the playoffs.
If they lose it’s primarily on their manager – a guy who has been in the game for years.
I’m rooting for what ever team plays the Yankees, they arrive around 5:00 in the morning.
Pat M.
October 6th, 2009 at 8:39 pm
Inge just saved the season for Leyland…..GB always has always liked Inge, I see why
————————————————————
I would have liked Inge at any of three positions…catcher, 3rd and center field. He’d be an asset at all three. He strikes out a little too much, but, he’s a great late inning power hitter.
Betsy =
The more I think about it, the more I’m not so sure this would be for the duration of the post-season. The 3/5 series is the most “iffy,” so they say, more of a crap shoot, that the other two. If AJ can be especially effective with Molina, that’s a W. It’s a psychological advantage for a particular pitcher in a short series. in a 4/7 series, if AJ is a little shaky with Posada (not a given, but just for sake of argument), it can be absorbed a little better, I think.
But that’s just my thought process right now. And obviously, I have no real clue.
Betsy I love you to death and you are my of my favorite posters here, and you know that’s true. But you have to at least allow for the possibility that Girardi knows more about the situation than you or the others here who KNOW that it’s the wrong decision.
At least allow for the possibility. Joe Girardi wants to win the world series. He knows his team, his players, their strengths and weaknesses, as do his coaches. They will do everything they can to insure they give the Yankees the best chance to win.
Girardi got the Yankees to 103 games. You have to trust that he knows what he’s doing, whether or not it comports with your idea of what should be done.
JMO.
You know that I was adamant all season about preferring the Molina-AJ combination but I was fully prepared to understand and support and decision if Girardi decided to use Posada.
Distraught? Losing minds? Wow. Jump already.
CB,
LOL. How are you? Missed you around here.
I should’ve been clearer. I was talking about the decision to start Molina in the playoffs.
It’s the old, saving the relief pitcher for the highest leverage position that never comes, or just happened, CB.
Well said, trisha.
how do you load the bases with one bad pitch?
I took out that Sox game because the Yankees came back and took the lead 6-5(?) and kept AJ in the game. In the playoffs he would have been pulled for one of the arms in the pen. The Baltimore game was early and close, there was no need to take him out before the grand slam. AJ’s pitched great games with Posada, all of you who knock Posada’s ability have no clue. He’s not the best defensive catcher in baseball but at least average and the 2nd best offensive catcher in the game.
*********
great pitchers even get into jams and if you remember that inning, he walked the catcher- who he had struck out, gave up a ground ball single and a line drive single…my point was you can disect it many different ways and take out what you want…bottom line- molina handles burnett 20X better than posada ever will when aj loses focus
again, if tino + boggs could be benched in 96, then posada can sit for a game or two in a series.
Brandon Freaking Inge.
Okay. Now the twins need to tie in the bottom.
Nice call waving him home.
So now we gotta hope that Minni ties it and it goes to the 11th.
“He strikes out a little too much, but, he’s a great late inning power hitter.”
Good call GB !!
I can’t believe people (not necessarily on this board) are whining about Posada whining. LOL I have no problem with Po saying “it’s not like I didn’t see this coming”. He has every right to be upset……..
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/articl.....Id=rss_nyy
Q & A with SWISHA
Tigers
Wow…Inge
Bad block by Mauer
balls
does cuddyer have anymore magic left in his bat?
http://www.wfan.com/pages/223566.php
Phil Hughes Derek Jeter AlDS preview audio
And now Nathan has been burned, after only coming in after the best leverage position in the game had already come and gone by the time he threw his first pitch.
bodhisattva – Destiny Wears Pinstripes … the trouble with your thinking about the lineup is that you totally ignore the pitching aspect of the game. You have blinders on and ONLY see it in the manner which you want to.
Saying that the lineup is thrown out of all shape by Molina being in over Posada for one game and going on to “justify” it by saying that is how baseball works? Please.
By your logic then wouldn’t the lineup go off the deep end for any time any of the players go into an 0-fer? Posada has had them and the Yankees still were able to win games and series. In fact at some time or another every important bat in the lineup has done that, and series were still won. Many times those games were won.
The lineup is weaker with Molina, but its not like the whole thing will dry up because of one bat like Molina’s. Guess what, THAT is not how baseball works.
I love Jorge as much as any Yankee fan, but Burnett isn’t the only pitcher that he’s had issues with. This is something that’s been an issue for much of his career. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Molina just happened to catch Sabathia for much of the season either. He’s a tough personality and that’s served him well and made him into a Yankee great, but it’s obviously something that’s hard to deal with for some people.
If there’s a rift in the Burnett-Posada relationship, just because Jorge’s a true Yankee doesn’t mean he’s exempt from any blame or criticism.
so it appears none of you have ever checked the actual facts about posadas bat come playoff time?? just believe what you hear and take it as fact?? or since hes homegrown, how dare anyone not play the great posada? hes one of ours!! disgraceful people
DT – OPPC member (blood type – Positive)
October 6th, 2009 at 8:46 pm
“He strikes out a little too much, but, he’s a great late inning power hitter.”
Good call GB !!
————————————————————
Inge mashed that ball. I thought that he had hit it too hard to score the runner. Not the quickest of relays. Both look a little too long to get rid of the ball.
can rodney get 3 outs?
Trish, you know that I totally respect you and I truly admire your optimism……..but I am being honest. I don’t have an open mind on this one……I really, truly think it’s an asinine move (and this is not to disrespect you or anyone else who agrees with the move). When AJ is on, I could be behind the plate – when he’s off, it doesn’t matter. If it helps, I blame Linus a lot more than I blame Joe………..
Joe Maeur is 6’5. He’s huge for a catcher.
Why was he not blocking the plate as Kelly was coming home with the season on the line.
Bad fundamental baseball.
Tricia, I’m starting to get the impression that this is more about gloating than what’s really better for the Yankee ballclub moving forward…..Clearly the team is not as strong under this configuration…..I understand that you campaigned all season for this ( Cervelli as well )however it’ll be interesting to see how the baseball faterinty views this, independent from the many here
I swear I’ve flip-flopped about 17 times over who I’d rather see the Yanks face.
Now I want Minny.
5 minutes ago it was Detroit.
If the Yankees lose in the ALDS they will have to play so badly that it really doesn’t matter which of these two teams they play.
Rodney is going to blow it, bank on it.
twins are going to have a walkoff
just because Jorge’s a true Yankee doesn’t mean he’s exempt from any blame or criticism.
**********************
blasphemy! how could you??
Abdababdaserser,
How did the Red Sox and Phillies ever win their world series without Posada?
CB October 6th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
Joe Maeur is 6?5. He’s huge for a catcher.
Why was he not blocking the plate as Kelly was coming home with the season on the line.
Bad fundamental baseball.
*******
And people kill Jorge for it.
CB -
I agree with you that AJ’s pitching has nothing to do with who is catching him. But the point is HE must think so on some level. And isn’t it just as important in these types of games to try to maximize whatever advantage you can get? I know your stance is that losing Posada in the lineup is devastating to the construction and effectiveness of the lineup. But if AJ is uncomfortable and shaking off pitches and not getting into a rhythm and has an inning where he implodes, it’s not going to much matter. Chances are the other team’s pitcher is not going to be giving up a lot of runs, since it will be the #1 or #2 pitcher for the other team.
You control the game with pitching to begin with.
By the way, over the course of a season, I agree with you about Posada being a necessary cog in the machine of the Yankees lineup. But they have won game without him in there, so on an individual game basis, I don’t think it will be devastating. (Or maybe I’m hoping.)
In any event, it is what it is, and all we all can do is root for the team to win AJ’s start, and 2 more, no matter what.
why swung at ball 3? hmm…
watching that relay by the SS is just another intangible people take for granted with Jeter. He’s the best I’ve ever seen on the relay throw home.
Go Twinkies
CB…he did try to block the plate…great slide…open your eyes
now if the tigers win, what games would verlander pitch in the best of 5?
Dumb dumb dumb.
YES… TEAR EACH OTHER APART!!!!!
Man, this is some game…
are you f’n kidding me?
WHAT
A
GAME
Jin
October 6th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
Here are the only players to worry about – Inge, Polanco, and Santiago. Beat those three, you beat the Tigers.
————————-
Am I right?
Holy twins.
OMG!!! (OF don’t slide next time)
Now, a sac fly to tie this and empty the basis and get an out.
What a terrible decision by Raburn.
Okay maybe the outfielder will blow it for him. I think it will go to the 11th.
Here we go
you gotta walk this guy and set up the double play, no?
Bad play by the left fielder.
anyone see that smooth short hop grab by Inge at the end, that play saved the game
I’m hoping it gets tied and he has to pitch Justin.
“just because Jorge’s a true Yankee doesn’t mean he’s exempt from any blame or criticism.
**********************
blasphemy! how could you??”
Watch out Mac Daddy, or we’re going to fight like Posada and Burnett after a 6 run top of the first inning.
“Tricia, I’m starting to get the impression that this is more about gloating than what’s really better for the Yankee ballclub moving forward…..Clearly the team is not as strong under this configuration…..I understand that you campaigned all season for this ( Cervelli as well )however it’ll be interesting to see how the baseball faterinty views this, independent from the many here”
Pat M, it is HARDLY about gloating. Believe me if I wanted to gloat I would do it up pink. If you want to know the truth it’s about the arrogance I see here in anybody thinking they know more than the Yankees do. But you’ve known that about me from day one.
CB
October 6th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
Joe Maeur is 6?5. He’s huge for a catcher.
Why was he not blocking the plate as Kelly was coming home with the season on the line.
Bad fundamental baseball.
_______
CB, I thought he did a good job of blocking the plate with his leg. You can’t stand in front of the plate without the ball.
If Posada blocked the plate like Mauer did he would be that much better of a ctacher but he never does.
DJ…no way do you walk him! no way! thats the winning run
I doubt the Twins can score. Rodney is just mind blowingly good.
Rodney is not going to throw a strike to this kid
Folks – I’m sorry. Tigers, Twins. Twins, Tigers.
A week from now we will either be laughing at how worried we were or crying about how awful the Yankees played. But I guarantee you it don’t make no difference which team we play.
Mac Daddy October 6th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
DJ…no way do you walk him! no way! thats the winning run
—-
doh – i already thought it was tie game…
Very poor fundamentals in this game. Mauer tries to reach for the throw rather than fully blocking the plate and Raburn makes an awful decision on that ball.
The Tigers are a terrible defensive team and that play there killed them.
“What a terrible decision by Raburn.”
yup.
and where was Granderson on the backup?
if that was a Yankee – posters would be calling for Girardi to pull him from the game… LOL
Why are people rooting so hard for the Twins? I learned my lesson a long time ago ………you play the team that is in front of you. The Yankees are better than both teams, but rooting for a team to win is asking for trouble. We’ve already seen the Yankees get killed by teams the dominated in the regular season.
“I doubt the Twins can score. Rodney is just mind blowingly good.”
his era begs to differ
steal 2nd here!!! make them throw thru
Tolbert to be a hero?
Rodney is literally trying to cause everyone in Detroit to have a collective heart attack.
A sac fly, a ground out and the 11th inning please. I’m begging here.
you can’t load the bases here and put the winning run in scoring position, they will have to play for the DP here.
You can bet your bottom dollar that the way she is sucking up to Girardi is the same thing she must have done with Torre. Until that is, it was not fashionable or Yankee like to praise the all knowing moves of Torre. She’ll turn on Girardi and Molina in due time.
Randy, how do you think this one will end? Think the karma thing will work? (Or will the Yanks be the ones to inflict the karma on them?)
C’mon play for the tie! More innings!
Double play. Here it comes.
I’m calling the double play right now. The clubhouse attendants at Yankee Stadium better make preparations to fumigate Jim Leyland’s cigarette smoke.
Doreen, AJ had his best stretch of pitching with Po behind the plate. If he needs a security blanket, he’s in the wrong business. If he does not pitch well this post-season, I agree with MG – he will get the Whitson treatment and then some. AJ will wish he’d never have signed here.
“I thought he did a good job of blocking the plate with his leg. You can’t stand in front of the plate without the ball.”
Catchers block the plate with their entire body all of the time. That’s why there are serious collisions at the plate. If catchers only blocked the plate with their leg like Maeur did then you’d never see guys try to run through catchers.
Maeur played that like it was the regular season. Probably from habit. And there’s no way during the regular season you want maeur blocking the plate with this body.
But the entire season is on the line.
“Folks – I’m sorry. Tigers, Twins. Twins, Tigers.”
in another hour folks will be rooting for the Twigers.
Go Twins! Give us 2 outs now.
Holy crap!
like I said, Tolbert will be a hero…
TEAR EACH OTHER APART PLEASEEE!!
This game is insane.
except for Inge the Tigers are just awful defensively, Cano would have turned that into a game ending DP in a heartbeat.
WHAT A GAME KEEP GOING
WHAT A GAME KEEP GOING
lol. Poor Rodney. It’s not his fault Zumaya fell off the face of the earth.
Extra extra innings anyone?
brutal play by polanco
No, no, no. Sac fly. Sac fly, Tigers.
Now the have to get the DP. Save the tie. I’m rooting for the tie!!!
Man alive this game is crazy!!!
Happy I’m not one of their fans or I would be puking!!!
Watching Rodney pitch almost makes me want the Tigers to win…. then I remember the name “Verlander” and come to my senses
Get a double play please!!!
Rodney is going to blow it !
posada should be catching but burnett cried like a baby about wanting molina catching & girrardi doesnt want to take any chances
also girrardi knows burnett has no excuses if he gets bombed
reverse psycology
what a great game
go twins
I think the entire city of Detroit is on suicide watch.
I don’t care who wins and I’m nervous.
I just put my gameday audio on Twins radio….
Yeah, no attempt at impartiality here
Pop up would work,too, or K. But DP would be better.
I doubt Rodney can stop the Twins from scoring more. The Twins offense is just mind blowingly good.
cb…keep ignoring my posts…you are wrong, got called out on your molina wont play call and cant handle it…
TEAR…EACH…OTHER…APART!!
“You can bet your bottom dollar that the way she is sucking up to Girardi is the same thing she must have done with Torre. Until that is, it was not fashionable or Yankee like to praise the all knowing moves of Torre. She’ll turn on Girardi and Molina in due time.”
Shelly!
double play
Erica – always OPPC
October 6th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
I just put my gameday audio on Twins radio….
Yeah, no attempt at impartiality here
****
To clarify, its the announcers playing favorites
Unbelievable! I’m on the edge of my seat as though this was a Yankees game…wow
LOL at Yewtube
line drive base hit?
WOW!!!!
11th inning!!! YAY!!!
HOLY F’N CRAP!!!
WOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
What a play!!!
Yes!
this game is ridiculous!
I thought he got in under the tag
CB
October 6th, 2009 at 8:57 pm
“I thought he did a good job of blocking the plate with his leg. You can’t stand in front of the plate without the ball.”
Catchers block the plate with their entire body all of the time. That’s why there are serious collisions at the plate. If catchers only blocked the plate with their leg like Maeur did then you’d never see guys try to run through catchers.
Maeur played that like it was the regular season. Probably from habit. And there’s no way during the regular season you want maeur blocking the plate with this body.
But the entire season is on the line.
—–
I disagree, if he blocks the plate without the ball he either gets trucked without the ball or it’s interference as you can’t block the plate without the ball.He did his best to block the plate with his whole leg. My main point is that Posada never does that.
WHAT A GAME
Love it. Another inning
Redemption
RAYBURN GIVITH …. AND RAYBURN TAKETH AWAY
I don’t know whether I’m
or 
on that double play.
This is unbelievable.
Thank you Detroit for that beautiful double play!
…in other news, boy does Chip Caray suck.
DT – OPPC member (blood type – Positive)
October 6th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
“What a terrible decision by Raburn.”
yup.
and where was Granderson on the backup?
if that was a Yankee – posters would be calling for Girardi to pull him from the game… LOL
————————————————————
Have no idea why they had Granderson playing Cuddyer straight up. He’s pretty much a pull hitter.
The Yankees (wherever they are) must be going nuts!
He was safe
This game is amazing. I feel as giddy as the winning team is going to be after realizing they get to pitch to Jose Molina on Friday.
“I agree with you that AJ’s pitching has nothing to do with who is catching him. But the point is HE must think so on some level.”
If so that’s a really pathetic and a sad knock on AJ as a competitor.
How much heart do you have to handicap your team like that so that you can play the part of the fragile prima donna?
Plenty of people have beliefs that just aren’t true. It’s very unfortunate that the yankees didn’t send a direct message to AJ the second half of the season that he would have throw to Posada because that would be the case in the playoffs.
The whole situation is a real disappointment for a host of reasons.
The linus needs his blanket argument only holds so much validity.
Classic game though woooooooow
this game has me on the edge of my seat…and I don’t care who wins!
Keep those extra innings coming
Didn’t the announcer say base hit?
Classic baseball game…..Bad jump on the tag
WOW!!! One of the best non-Yankee playoff games ever. Power, pitching, defense mistakes….everything.
I’m loving this game ( and loving the fact that the yankees arent involved!)
Keep playing boys……
Oh it is so meant for us to win the ALDS! Wow
What a great play, just a thoroughly enjoyable game to watch. And the longer the better.
But seriously, great baseball being played tonight.
“keep ignoring my posts…you are wrong, got called out on your molina wont play call and cant handle it…”
You’ve got to be kidding me.
“MOOOOOOOOOOOOM, SOMEONE WAS WRONG ON THE INTERNET!”
I’m not so sure of that, but the umpire called him out at the plate. And we’re now into the 11th. Great game. Great plays, and interesting decisions.
no, he was out…barely…Get me new announcer and analyst please!!! carey: line drive, basehit, caught out there..HUH??? these guys are HORRIBLE
in all honesty, after watching this game from the 6th inning on and seeing most of the games both teams played against the Yankees this year, I’m not concerned about the ALDS. Bring on whoever manages to win this game-it will either be a Yankees sweep or in 4.
I would hate to be the one who has to make the Yankee call to MLB as to whether they choose plan A or B
Sings: “This is the game that never ends…”
And I think that is GREAT!!!
GB,
would you like the Yanks to acquire Cuddyer? I think his swing would be perfect for the Yanks. too bad he can’t lead off, but could he bat 2nd?
he was safe !!!!
Carl
October 6th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
He was safe
————————————————————
Wrong again, Carla.
Terrible jump on the fly ball cost them the game to this point
I called it!!
And how about the announcer!
Line drive basehit. it’s caught.
AWFUL announcing by Caray…. base hit?! That was worse than Sterling..
Good for Rayburn, I hate to see a big game lost, I’d rather see it won.
The Twins announcers just said “Both teams should come to New York” LOL
Yep the announcer said “line drive, basehit,caught out there, runner tags!”………..John Sterling announcing???
Yogi says “he was out”
I’m exhausted from passively watching this game.
Bring on the winner!
Fondo they can make the call as early as the want, but the latest they have is an hour after they find out their opponent.
TBS baseball announcers =fail. remember the horrible emotion-less call of the Rockies-Pods playoff game in 07?
Impartial is not a word I’d use for the Twins radio announcers.. i was listening to them on the way home. Too many “we’s” for my liking, lol.
Saying that the lineup is thrown out of all shape by Molina being in over Posada for one game and going on to “justify” it by saying that is how baseball works? Please.
====
Well, it is how it works, and I didn’t just make a statement, I explained how, even setting aside Posada’s personal impact on his own ABs, Molina batting ninth is a downgrade from Melky batting ninth, and how Posada is more dangerous and therefore better protection for Matsui and Cano.
It seems you don’t have a real response for that, and instead want to tell me I don’t understand the value of shut-down pitching.
Not only do I understand it, I also don’t necessarily agree with the premise that Molina’s presence behind the plate ensure’s it in AJ, with Posada’s affect on the lineup as the sacrifice.
That was one of the sickest plays in one of the biggest moments I’ve ever seen.
Agreed that the announcers are doing a horrible job of conveying the enormity of that play.
jennifer
October 6th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
I called it!!
And how about the announcer!
Line drive basehit. it’s caught.
****
And people make fun of Sterling.
No one has said “You can’t predict baseball” yet
“would you like the Yanks to acquire Cuddyer? I think his swing would be perfect for the Yanks. too bad he can’t lead off, but could he bat 2nd?”
Can he get along with Jorge Posada? If he can’t then he should retire from baseball and take up farming.
Jinx? What jinx? »
By Mark Feinsand
Ever since he was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated last month, Mariano Rivera has managed to avoid any unfortunate accidents, keeping himself in pristine shape as the playoffs approach.
Some people are big believes in the SI jinx, while others poo-poo it as nonsense. Someone asked Rivera about it before today’s workout, and the future Hall of Famer apparently falls into a third category – one that has never heard of it.
“The Sports Illustrated what? What is that?” said Rivera, who was genuinely confused by the question. After being told about it, he replied: “I don’t believe it, I don’t care, I really don’t care … We have to go out and fight, we have to give everything we have and make sure we do it right. We have to make every pitch count, every out count, you have to go out there with that mentaility.”
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/blo.....z0TCwHOlMH
mlb couldnt of asked for anything more…great game with some amazing action
Ed – 2009 will be the year of the Yanks
October 6th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
GB,
would you like the Yanks to acquire Cuddyer? I think his swing would be perfect for the Yanks. too bad he can’t lead off, but could he bat 2nd?
————————————————————
Cuddyer in right field over Swisher? In a heartbeat. He’s a defensive stud.
I hope there are no hotel vacancies anywhere within 150 miles of Yankee Stadium.
“I disagree, if he blocks the plate without the ball he either gets trucked without the ball or it’s interference as you can’t block the plate without the ball.He did his best to block the plate with his whole leg.”
Did you see where Laird was originally standing on that last play?
He was directly in front of the plate in the basepath. Now he had to adjust to his left to catch the throw but he was set up to block the plate.
Catchers always risk getting knocked over without the ball when they block the plate. Conversely they make it difficult for the runner to ever reach the plate.
And I never mentioned anything about Posada so I have no idea how knocking him is remotely relevant to what Mauer did.
Kevin – I know, but at this point my finger would have cramps from the wait and indecision
Chip Caray is the trough of play-by-play guys.
For those who believe in “kismet”…
Remember last week when reasonable people on this blog wrote, “I don’t care who wins the AL Central. Just let them go tied all the way to end, have a playoff, and let it go extra innings.”
Maybe this is the Yankees year?
Posada is more dangerous protection than Swisher, that is.
Was that Timo Perez tagging up for the Twins?
I’m just ready for these playoffs.
I can’t wait to see this team perform in October. Whoever they play. I’m excited……going to have to get into work a little early on gamedays so I can leave by 5.
Hopefully this goes another 8 innings lol
Hahaha- The Twins announcers just said “people in New York must be hoping this game goes all night”.
How’d they know?
so if tigers win, verlander would pitch games 2 and 5?
Wow what a dumb *** that twins runner is!! how do you not automatically go back to tag up? If it got past him he scores the winning run easily!
Erica – always OPPC October 6th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Hahaha- The Twins announcers just said “people in New York must be hoping this game goes all night”.
How’d they know?
*****
They are reading this blog!
“Chip Caray is the trough of play-by-play guys.”
He’s the AJ Burnett of Jorge Posada’s teammates.
Polanco coming up. I bet he gets at least a run in.
kph October 6th, 2009 at 9:04 pm
That was one of the sickest plays in one of the biggest moments I’ve ever seen.
Agreed that the announcers are doing a horrible job of conveying the enormity of that play.
——-
that was a TREMENDOUS play. on a shallow line drive – BALLSY call by the 3rd base coach to send him – really aggressive.
this is an instant classic…if this was a yankees game, the blog would be over 5000 posts…
Hope this game ends soon, my 4 hour Viagara is wearing off!!! (Just kidding!)
With both teams using their entire bullpens, is it an advantage to pick the short series?
GB,
I was thinking more of LF if Damon doesn’t come back. utility player would be nice too.
This game is a war of attrition.
cb…go read a book or something…your baseball intelligence is lacking tremedously…
CB, good hitting catchers never block the plate, they always stand in front. I don’t know why that is but I think it comes from the fact that the bad hitting catchers know that their only value is their defense. The Mauers and Posada’s of the world know that no one is kicking them off the team if they blow a play at the plate.
Remember that Houston/Atlanta 2005 18 inning masterpiece??
I hope they recreate that
tremendously
who else can Det throw out there who can pitch????
Angel,
Interesting, no, hardly any pinch hitters so far.
The only negative that could come out of this game is that the Yankees become too overconfident. That’s about it.
twins burning the pen…good…
“That was one of the sickest plays in one of the biggest moments I’ve ever seen.
Agreed that the announcers are doing a horrible job of conveying the enormity of that play.”
It’s still not nearly as bad as Joe Buck’s call of Eli’s escape and “The Helmet Catch” from Giants-Patriots Super Bowl. You’d hear more excitement from AJ Burnett after hearing he’s been paired up with Jorge Posada at the Yankees annual pool tournament.
really – how many arms do they have out there – if this keeps going, no one wants to see position players having to pitch
Erica,
Here’s my motto for the night:
Tear…each…other…apart!!
burn…each…other’s…bullpen!!
# Angel – A tale told by idiots, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing October 6th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
I would feel a little more comfortable with this decision, if AJ was only pitching one game in this series and not potentially 2. Thats all I have to say, lol.
—————–
My thoughts exactly.
at this rate, twins will run out of pitchers by the 13th
No matter how this game turned out, I still really liked the Yankees chances against either of these teams. Now that’s it’s gone at LEAST 11 innings, and both teams have used a ton of pitchers, I’m really loving this. The Twins and Tigers are expending just about all of their energy just trying to make it to the playoffs. Once they get there either team will then be overwhelmed by a more talented, deep, and rested Yankee team.
That being said, this play-in game has been an awesome game, one of the best I’ve watched in a while. Truly a back and forth nailbiter. For Rayburn to play that ball into a triple, then come back and throw that bullet for the double play… impressive
JasonR,
So. Tell us what you think of AJ.
Twins may need to call down Blyleven from the booth if this game goes another couple innings.
Jin October 6th, 2009 at 9:06 pm
Polanco coming up. I bet he gets at least a run in.
——————
Not unless he hits a home run, he won’t.
I’m calling for 25+ innings, with a lot of delays, so that the game ends somewhere around 6 or 7 in the morning. Winners only get a little bit of sleep on the plane to New York and are exhausted for game one.
Ed-
I like that motto.
However, I must chide you on an earlier post. Johnny Damon is coming back. Have no doubts about that
CB (& Betsy) -
I’m just trying to come to some kind of terms with this decision. Perhaps I’m trying to talk myself into “it’s really not that bad.”
Perhaps it’s just a matter of Girardi saw something in the last few starts with Molina.
Yes, it’s sad that AJ didn’t march in there and say, I want my #6 hitter in the lineup getting me runs to work with.” He didn’t.
He’s apparently high maintenance. If he wins and the Yankees advance does anyone care? If he loses, and the Yankees don’t advance, that’s a huge problem. If he loses and they still win, it’s somewhat less important, but it will still be talked about.
I still think for one game, it will be fine.
“The only negative that could come out of this game is that the Yankees become too overconfident. That’s about it.”
That and the very real possibility that Jorge Posada kidnaps Jose Molina and locks him in his basement for a month.
Burning through the bullpens. I likey!
twins have a true home field advantage – that place is nuts…
“good hitting catchers never block the plate, they always stand in front. I don’t know why that is but I think it comes from the fact that the bad hitting catchers know that their only value is their defense.”
Ghost,
I agree. That’s why I said Maeur probably just played it that way from muscle memory and usual practice/ habit.
Under 99% of situations I would never want Maeur absorbing a blow at the plate. Same thing for Posada.
But the season was on the line there and that play falls into the 1% where the play has to be made.
They just said this is only the 3rd 4-hour game the Twins have played this season
How often do we see a 4 hour Yankee game?
Doesn’t matter. The Yanks will still lose tomorrow night.
It may seen that they have all the advantage. But the actual outcome in baseball is always the opposite of expectations.
Tigers will beat Yanks 10-0. Unfortunately.
I’m taking the “Betsy” approach, so I’m really not rooting for either team, but it’s all the same to me if the Yankees can avoid playing in this Cartoon Stadium.
doreen, its not that hard…read my previous posts in this post and you will get it…molina w/ burnett is a no brainer
Ed – 2009 will be the year of the Yanks
October 6th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
GB,
I was thinking more of LF if Damon doesn’t come back. utility player would be nice too.
————————————————————
Cuddyer won’t be going anywhere. He’s cheap at 9 mil over the next two years and he’s one of their major offensive starts, as well as defensive. They might deal Young, but, Young has all indications of being a career dog.
hey folks. it’s sad that bruney’s not on the roster.
Erica,
I’m just thinking about plan B & C, lol.
I actually wouldn’t be surprised if the Yankees did lose Game 1. It happens all the time in baseball – a team wins a miracle game to advance, then fly all night, and win even though they are exhausted.
But the Yanks advance nevertheless, I think.
Expectation. Reality
Get a life troll !
CB, isn’t that the beauty of the playoffs? Every minute weakness gets exposed.
I’m rooting for the Twins all the way. How about everybody else?
Doreen,
Are you saying that Joe Girardi, as skipper of a team that won 103 games, made this decision to soothe AJ’s high maintenance personality?
Rodney again. Leyaland pushing his luck here. He’s near 30 pitches. Verlander got his spikes on?
Is Rodney in his 5th inning?
“I still think for one game, it will be fine.”
I think I’d find it easier looking at it that way, for sure. I just have that little nagging voice that’s telling me thats its potentially for two games, assuming the Yankees don’t sweep – and thats what I think i’m finding difficult to be more cest la vie/laisez faire about it.
I’d probably be taking your stance if AJ was actually pitching the 3rd game.
And then this goes for the next series, wher he will be pitching two games, no matter what.
Jeremy October 6th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
Expectation. Reality
Get a life troll !
——-
just curious, but how many ID’s do you think will pete use now to post here to rip on the yanks?
Pat M, it is HARDLY about gloating. Believe me if I wanted to gloat I would do it up pink. If you want to know the truth it’s about the arrogance I see here in anybody thinking they know more than the Yankees do. But you’ve known that about me from day one.
————————————————————
it is not about knowing anything
there is no way to know
all it is, is hoping,praying ,rolling the dice & giving in to burnetts fragile personality wich might be the right thing to do or not
girrardi is going with a feeling not with cetainty
posada will have one foot on the top step of the dugout ready to come in as soon as it looks like the plan is not working so lets not say posada is entirely out of the lineup when burnett pitches
what a great game
go twins
Ed – 2009 will be the year of the Yanks
October 6th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Erica,
I’m just thinking about plan B & C, lol.
****
LOL.. Okay, but no worries. Stick with the “A” plan
Why is this game not on tv right now in nyc area?
Leyland flirting with disaster.
Can’t we just have a walk-off by the Twins? I’d like this game to be over.
hwd
It is on TBS
wow – leyland has NO FAITH in the rest of his pen…
Twins have gone through 8 pitchers already.
Even with expanded rosters – it’s Manship and starters left.
Assuming the Twins don’t win it here, what does Leyland do later in the game if the Tigers take the lead? Who closes?? Don’t be surprised to see….Verlander closing in that situation.
so would this be back to back years that O-Dog got in an argument with a pitcher?
hwd it’s on TBS
This game is bananas
“Yes, it’s sad that AJ didn’t march in there and say, I want my #6 hitter in the lineup getting me runs to work with.” He didn’t.”
That’s definitely part of the disappointment. AJ’s thrown pies all season. Who cares.
At the biggest moment of the year when team play really mattered AJ didn’t step up and instead implicitly demanded that he be catered to.
And the thing is we don’t know if it will be for one game.
Can they really afford to do this when they face the sox?
And the next game when Posada catches AJ there will be a media firestorm over the issue that both AJ and Jorge will have to answer to over and over.
Swithching catchers later on will draw a great deal of attention but what else can they do other than let Molina make 25-40% of all starts.
As a yankee fan I’ll of course root like heck for AJ and Molina but this is obviously very questionable.
If Mauer hits a walk-off, I’m going to vomit.
“JasonR,
So. Tell us what you think of AJ.”
I have no problems with AJ. Or Posada. Or Jose Molina. Or whoever catches AJ. I have enormous amounts of faith that the Yankees beat the hell out of whoever they face in the ALDS. I just think all this talk and worrying is pretty silly.
We’ll all look back at this thread in a month and have a good laugh. Unlike AJ Burnett and Jorge Posada when they share a cab together. There’s no laughing in that situation. None whatsoever.
12th inning, please
I root for the Yankees in heart. But I bet my money against them.
That way it is always a win-win for me .
I’d rather see Detroit pull this out…not a fan of dome baseball
To inning twelve we go….they can keep on going all night long as far as I am concerned.
“girrardi is going with a feeling not with cetainty”
Pat M, when is there EVER certainty? And I would trust his feeling over the feeling of anyone here, including me. 7 days of the week.
“posada will have one foot on the top step of the dugout ready to come in as soon as it looks like the plan is not working so lets not say posada is entirely out of the lineup when burnett pitches”
And if he comes in I am all for it. The difference here is that as much as I liked Molina and AJ, if Posada was the choice I would be accepting it as what was best for the team because I know Girardi knows more than I do.
the yankees don’t get usually players like matt tolbert .
he’s 27 and just breaking in to the major leagues.
he came up and got that ball through the infield to score that run.
quick story:
he playing third base for the rochester red wings in his first month up to triple a at a game in pawtucket.
i’m visiting my buddy stan cliburn, the manager, and am in the locker room before and after the game.tolbert just looks really young and scared. garza was pitching.
after the game while having dinner with stan and the coaching staff, i listen as they discuss the game and it gets around to tolbert. they didn’t know what to make of him because he was like a fish out of water at triple a, but they said lets just run him out there until he gets comfortable.
kubel had just been sent down and they didn’t get that because they said he had nothing else to learn there.
the point is the twins management develops players. they teach them. they make them into players. the coaching staff didn’t think much of tolbert at first, but he learned the game well at rochester from these coaches who doubted him at first.
and here he is tying up a game for the twins in a totally clutch way.
“Yes, it’s sad that AJ didn’t march in there and say, I want my #6 hitter in the lineup getting me runs to work with.” He didn’t.”
That’s definitely part of the disappointment. AJ’s thrown pies all season. Who cares.
At the biggest moment of the year when team play really mattered AJ didn’t step up and instead implicitly demanded that he be catered to.
**************************************
LOL…Hysterical…LOL…please, stop…getting ridiculous now
Neither team wants to go home…
I love the extra innings…let’s hope they go 20 plus innings.
Good lord, I’m already sick of George Lopez, just from the number of times I’ve seen that commercial tonight.
darrin–it wouldn’t be verlander . he started on sunday. that would be insane.
Just in time to see the 12th! Ha!
I cant leave my office this game is SOOOOOOOOOOO insane to watch…….jeeeeeezus!
You people throwing conniption fits over Molina need a reality pill.
The Yankees will be playing the Tigers or Twins. Jose Molina’s plate appearances will not MATTER. Please save all the vitriol for the ALCS.
I’m calling it right now. We see Verlander in this game.
That is a nice anecdote, but Matt Tolbert isn’t much of a player, he got a lucky hits. It is like Francisco Cervelli walking off .
keithlaw Mauwah! you’re ruinin ouah summah! #mauersfutureinboston
less than a minute ago from Seesmic
Do Giradi and the Yankees know more, or are they just catering to the mercurial tendencies (performances? behavior?) of A.J. Burnett?
wow, Thomas has huge eyes.
darrin, bingo
Darrin
October 6th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
I actually wouldn’t be surprised if the Yankees did lose Game 1. It happens all the time in baseball – a team wins a miracle game to advance, then fly all night, and win even though they are exhausted.
But the Yanks advance nevertheless, I think.
xxxxxxxxxxx
I’m pretty sure it will happen tomorrow. Too bad aj pitching game 2. He should be pitching game 1 instead.
I think we’ll see Leyland before we see Verlander
“Can’t we just have a walk-off by the Twins? I’d like this game to be over.”
trisha-
i think most of us are hoping for twenty two innings.
Valerie – Jim Leyland is insane. Don’t be surprised by anything he does.
“Line drive base hit! No caught!”
Thought I was listening to the Yankees radio network for a minute
CB (& Angel)
I’m hoping it’s on a game-by-game basis, based on which team they’re facing, matchups etc.
I did say (much) earlier that Girardi handed the baseball media a controversy on a silver platter, and that for a team that had relatively few distractions during the season, it sure was an interesting time to create one.
Verlander threw 120 pitches on sunday. no way he comes in this game.
HEY KIDS – before this game is over just saying that if you want to be on the Postseason Prediction Chart please read the rules I posted earlier. I am willing to do it but it is a real lot of work and you all know that I am shaky when it comes to accurate chart keeping!
If you post predictions other than the way I have it set up, I just won’t be taking them.
Thanks for understanding.
“The Yankees will be playing the Tigers or Twins. Jose Molina’s plate appearances will not MATTER. Please save all the vitriol for the ALCS.”
Whoa, someone made a post filled with confidence! It’s like I took a time machine and I’m reading this blog in 1998.
Opps. Do = does…
By my calculations if this game goes 54 more innings I don’t think logistically either team will be able to make the flight to NY for the start of the game tomorrow so they will have to forfeit game one! C’mon 65 inning game!
randy – you sound like a baseball lifer. What are you doing selling antiques, or whatever it is? Why aren’t you more involved in the game?
Damn! Why couldn’t the Yankees have been slotted tomorrow with the 2:00 game?
Trisha – can you repost your rules for those of us just checking in? Thanks1
i hope this game goes 27 innings and both teams use all of the pitchers on the rosters and everyone gets super tired and the winner misses their flight to new york and they have to take the bus.
Chad, Nice first post. Welcome to the show!
Looks like this thing is going to eventually be decided by a couple of September call ups.
Why did Miggy flick his batting glove like that?
Mr. Wife Beater on base.
“Damn! Why couldn’t the Yankees have been slotted tomorrow with the 2:00 game?”
good question.
http://www.retrojunk.com/details_commercial/2639/ Old yankee commercial……
i thought his wife beat him up?
JasonR – don’t confuse my post with optimism. I just believe that Molina’s AB’s won’t be a “difference maker”. Put another way: if Molina’s AB’s ARE important – oy vey.
“i think most of us are hoping for twenty two innings.”
randy,
We’re going to see a classic example of Twins scouting and player development in a couple of seasons with ben revere.
He really looks to be a kid who has a chance to be a guy with limited tools but will maximize every positive aspect of his talent.
That was a great story about Tolbert Randy, thanks for sharing that insight into the Twins system!
Chad will have to update the blog:
Game 1 schedule of events
OCTOBER 6
3:00 p.m. Gates Open to the Public
3:05 p.m. Visitors arrive in NY
3:10 p.m.-4:20 p.m. Yankees Hit
4:20 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Visitors nap
wow…
“i think most of us are hoping for twenty two innings.”
make it 27. that’s 3 games for those 2 teams.
atta boy delmon. kill the chance of a DP.
Tori Hunter would have thrown to second.
Awful play by Delmon Young. Just awful.
Oh gosh.
If the Tigers score, do you really trust Rodney, now in his 8th inning of relief?
IBB.
A Detroit pitcher is going to give up a run in the bottom of the inning so don’t give up hope for a 13th if they score.
Terrible miscue by Delmon Young. He made a very nice play to cut off the ball but terrible judgment throwing to the wrong base.
Here’s Brandon Inge, one of the most clutch hitters in the league, to win it.
“Trisha – can you repost your rules for those of us just checking in? Thanks1″
Rish, I’ll try I to condense them.
1. I’ll only take predictions for the current series’. No ALCS predictions allowed.
2. Predictions must be in before the first pitch of the series in question.
3. You can guess who the winner will be, what the game spread will be, or both. I will not take scores of individual games.
4. Division series = 1 point for correct team, 1 point for correct game spread; ALCS = 3 points; WS = 5 points.
My god, the post-season angst has gotten me already and our series hasn’t even started. Must be vicarious agita.
ALl right, what’s the consenus: who do we prefer?
I’ve never been so completely conflicted about a Yankee oppponent. It’s like 95 mph fastball hitting Kevin Youklis in the mouth on ball Burnett throws that results in his suspension.
And who is Ben Revere?
Just joined in, what a game so far! With each lead change I keep flip-flopping who I want the Yanks to face
I’m thinking we’d fare better against the Twinkies though.
Tigers got jobbed.
It hit him! I don’t care the situation. If you call that in the first inning, why isn’t it called now?
My god, the post-season angst has gotten me already and our series hasn’t even started. Vicarious agita?
ALl right, what’s the consenus: who do we prefer?
I’ve never been so completely conflicted about a Yankee oppponent. It’s like 95 mph fastball hitting Kevin Youklis in the mouth on a ball Burnett happens to throw that results in his suspension.
good no call by the ump, you don’t decide a game like this on a billowed shirt.
Hope the Twins lose, then they can implode the Dome
It would be less taxing to watch this if I knew who I was rooting for.
Joe,
He’s one of the twins top prospects. Fairly unconventional first round pick two years ago and the selection drew a lot of criticism as many people were saying the twins picked him just because they knew he would sign at or below slot.
Since he was picked he’s performed very well and impressed scouts with his bat.
Only 5’9 and really doesn’t have a lot of power. But he seems to have the talent to get the bat on the ball.
i really need to study for my micro economics midterm. but this game is just so damn interesting.
Wow.
Wow. Good play by Punto!
AWESOME PLAY BY PUNTO!!!!
Jeez, Cabrera was running like a stumbling drunk.
This game will never end..
Can you decide the division based on a Seinfeld puffy shirt?
Thanks, Trisha…
This game has everything! wow…unbelievable!
What a game. Some bad defense, and then something like that.
Cabrera and Melky have the same slow gear
Punto. WOW
anyone remember that great play Punto made against the fence this year against the Yankees. He’s a smooth operator.
I thought punto had a shot at two.
CB
October 6th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
randy,
We’re going to see a classic example of Twins scouting and player development in a couple of seasons with ben revere.
He really looks to be a kid who has a chance to be a guy with limited tools but will maximize every positive aspect of his talent.
————————————————————
The few times that I’ve seen Revere play in Tampa and Ft Myers, he reminds me of Juan Pierre. Solid glove, not much of an arm.
pat -
I’m rooting for the tie, still. But I don’t know for how long. I’m losing focus. I’m beginning to not care. I know I will not like whoever the winner is!
pat
October 6th, 2009 at 9:33 pm
It would be less taxing to watch this if I knew who I was rooting for.
————————————-
I agree, pat
Come on boys… let’s go for 7 more innings.
Wow, it seems whatever each team needs, it has happened.
Kill.Schill – In reality I don’t care who we play.
I could have done without this baseball drama because the postseason is so damned draining in and of itself. I would have liked one more night of freedom.
I feel a walk here
Laird is the kind of guy who wins big games isn’t he. He just looks like one.
Ooof, big moment here
I wonder if Chad is checking in wondering why there are almost 500 posts on a non-Yankee game?
Like Dorothy said to Toto – we aren’t in Scranton anymore…
This is so intense!
Keep it going
Really hope it starts raining soon and they suspend it and they only have to resume the game tomorrow morning and then have to fly to NY for the playoff game later that night……
Swung at ball 4
wow…he got out of the inning w a K
thank god the yankees are taking the series with 3 off days. i can’t do this every night.
pat October 6th, 2009 at 9:33 pm
It would be less taxing to watch this if I knew who I was rooting for.
________________________________________________________________
Hah, I’m with you Pat!
swung at ball 4…keeps getting better for the yanks
Drain that pen baby. Drain it.
Danny, they are in a Dome!!!
EXTRAS!!!
tear…each…other…apart
burn..each..other’s…bullpen.
who’s coming in to pitch for Detroit? It can’t be Rodney again, can it?
If this is the last game at the Metrodome, it’s going out in style.
Cripes. If the Yankees lose to EITHER of these teams they should be all be ordered to join Matsui in a round of seppuku.
This game is like an Epic poem.
This is completely insane! A rainout tomorrow would be real disappointing.
Randy I ( The Original Tin Cup ) The Twins develop their players by teaching the basic elementry aspects of the game of baseball….They are the best run Organization in the game, and have been for some time……The difference between them and the Yanks of the 90′s is the Yanks could afford to sign and retain their players, Twins have to say goodbye and thanks….Just think of all the talent that has walked out the Metrodome front doors
….game’s inside, danny.
Ball four Laird, way to go!!
Will this game ever end?
Twins are playing possessed. Maybe they know if they lose tonite it will start snowing tomorrow and then we won’t see them until Spring.
So, if you’re a player on the Yankees and watching this game, at what time do you call it a night because then you’re not getting any rest either?
GB7,
Physically Pierre is probably a good comparison. I do think Revere is fairly patient at the plate and is selective – especially for his age. That’s not a skill set Pierre has. He really hacks away up there, especially for a small player.
Revere might wind up more like Brett Butler than Juan Pierre.
Oh my
who’s left in Detroit’s pen?
Doreen
I feel your pain.
I asked for 22 innings, burn through the pens and 2 starters a few days ago.
I’ll settle for less innings but I still need to see a starter take the mound before this one is over. That’s a deal breaker.
I’m so glad this ain’t the Yankees…I would be out 1 lcd tv, one blackberry,one remote control(stuck in screen of said lcd t.v.) and probably one laptop!!!
I haven’t been this into a non-Yankees game in a while
What a game
this game is boring
I feel bad for the 6 people who invited all their friend over tonight to watch the Office marathon on TBS.
How late can Cashman stay up at night???
IN FACT – those of you who want to make postseason predictions will be safest if you put them up here AND email them to me at yankeetrisha@verizon.net. That way I know I will get them all. Sometimes it’s easy to miss posts.
No fear of a rainout tomorrow in the Bronx. Rain early then clear and windy.
Doreen – those guys are a lot younger than us.
how fitting if gomez wins it and the mets are home watching?????
how many pitches has Rodney thrown?
Is it still Rodney? What kind of cruel joke is this?
What the hell? He’s leaving his closer in there for a 4th inning?
Rodney’s game to lose
Rodney is going to be hurting tomorrow. (win or lose)
No matter how this ends Rodney deserves huge credit for pitching so many innings.
This is completely insane! A rainout tomorrow would be real disappointing.
——————————
Is there a chance of rain?
rodney is still pitching – WTH?
I don’t like Gomez. He’s the one who tried to hurt Tex.
Rodney will have to donate his arm to science after this game, like Scott Proctor…….
rodney has gotta be at the end of his tank….
Leyland is going to Rodney again ! Does he want his arm to fall off.
You are lucky you got 1 inning out of Rodney, now you are trying to get a 3rd inning out of him?
Leyland has lost his mind.
I assume we should be rooting for Detroit since Leyland has no faith in the back of his bullpen.
Agreed Trish. I’m already flirting with adrenaline exhaustion. All I can say is thank GOD I’m not a Tiger fan. If the Yankees ever undergo an excruciating collapse like the Tigers have this season, I might disown them. I don’t think I could bear the torment.
Only Red Sox and Mets fans deserve what the Tiger fans have endured this year.
Agreed Trish. I’m already flirting with adrenaline exhaustion. All I can say is thank GOD I’m not a Tiger fan. If the Yankees ever undergo an excruciating collapse like the Tigers have this season, I might disown them. I don’t think I could bear the torment.
Only Red Sox and Mets fans deserve what the Tiger fans have endured this year.
Safe to say at this point Rodneys not available till next week.
Well the good news is, if the Tigers win, Rodney will have to pitch lefthanded in the ALDS.
might as well bring in verlander or jackson
Tank October 6th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
I haven’t been this into a non-Yankees game in a while
What a game
________________________________
You said it.
Joe from LI -
Good point.
(Oh, man, it’s not even 10 p.m. yet – feels like midnight!)
Leyland is just saving the rest of his bullpen for tomorrow.
good move with the IBB…
Is there a better 3rd baseman in history than Inge. I think not.
I must admit, I hate the Dome
Leyland has to get Verlander or Jackson warming up. There’s only so far he can push Rodney here.
And there’s no tomorrow to play for.
Based on this, maybe leyland should make rodney a starter. lol
This game has the “smell” of one that is about to end.
big inning for Twins – Keppel has thrown 33 pitches, they might have to warm up a starter.
I don’t even wanna move. I don’t wanna miss anything
They better get to the ballpark early tomorrow to watch film on the Twins rookie pitcher Dunsing. They need to scout the kid unless they want yet another pitcher they haven’t seen to beat them…
CB
October 6th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
GB7,
Physically Pierre is probably a good comparison. I do think Revere is fairly patient at the plate and is selective – especially for his age. That’s not a skill set Pierre has. He really hacks away up there, especially for a small player.
Revere might wind up more like Brett Butler than Juan Pierre.
————————————————————
The times that I saw him, he hardly ever struck out and I’m trying to remember if he walked. He’s fast, but, really hasn’t learned how to steal bases, yet. He’s stealing on pure speed….much like the young Bernie Williams did. Once he gets to Minnesota, though, when he gets on base, he’ll be a handful.
“Only Red Sox and Mets fans deserve what the Tiger fans have endured this year.”
You rock, K-S!
I believe Leyland is so sure of the win, he is already on the plane to New York.
Valerie- I told you Leyland is insane.
game over!!!
Yanks vs Twins!
done…you knew it was coming
OH MAN TWINS. time to get beat up in the bronx
Bring on the twins
wow, what a game..
Rodney has a 4.33 ERA this year as the Tigers closed, but somehow only has 1 blown save.
the Twins.
hard luck Rodney, you got hung out to dry
Holy crap!
We face the Twins !
I hate the twins…………..but no Verlander!!!
Twins it is!
So we are playing the twinkies
So it is the Twins
leyland may have managed his last game
Twins ay? Guess I get to boo Pavano in person on Friday. wow.
YANKEES VS THE TWINKIES!!!!!!!!!!!!
Watch out Minnesota!
OH well, I was hoping it would go further. How do you still have Rodney out there? isn’t he a one inning guy? Leyand should be fired! First your team blows a huge lead, than you have a reliever a bad one at that throwing 3 innings!
Bring it on Twinkies. You’re going down.
Tigers = CHOKE.
I hate Leyland for what he just put Rodney through.
I predicted that the Metrodome would be the 10th player and the Twins would win. But in terms of “be careful what you wish for” I must admit I do hate the Metrodome!
Let’s hope they REALLY celebrate tonight, if you know what I mean!!!!!!!!
hopefully Pavano will pull a hammy or break a fingernail jumping on the pile…
I guess we won’t be seeing Justin Verlander
I can’t decide if I like this or not…
Ugh, now the yankees have to play in the metrodome..
Of course. I could get tickets now….
Yay Twins!
At least the Tigers choked in style. Unlike the Mets
Congrats to the Twins. The Tigers folded down the homestretch but it takes a very good team to take advantage of the opportunity.
CC Sabathia is a very good means for stopping momentum dead in its tracks.
The yankees will have a significant advantage in starting pitching this series.
What a collapse by the Tigers.Bring on the Twins.
Being the hottest team, Twins will sweep Yanks.
playing frankie at the dome what the hell
Rodney threw 10000 pitches…..
why hate Metrodome?
Didn’t Yanks ALWAYS play well over there?
are they playing new york, new york?
Once it got to extras, I figured Twins. Just wanted it to go longer.
Well, NYY will have the pitching edge for at least the first and second games with the Twins. That bullpen is good, though. It’s those speedsters and the 1-6 batters that are going to problems.
Congratulations to Joe Mauer and Ron Gardenhire for winning MVP and Manager of the Year. Twinkies deserve it.
do my ears deceive me? are they playing “new york, new york” at the dome?
Oh man I thought I wanted the Twins but now I want the tigers. ( Kidding…sorta
)
BRING ME THE HEAD OF CARL PAVANO.
Are these announcers complimenting Leyland? Are they kidding me?!
So its the Twins. Nasty collapse from Detroit.
I never thought we’d have to play in the horrible Baggie Dome again.
Hey Randy – ORDONEZ KARMA!!!
So what is the Twins rotation other than Pavano in 2 and 5?
On another note, I guess this wraps up the MVP for Mauer
That’s 4-3 in our building, & the RF needed to play that on a dead run.
Time for the Small Market Little Engine narrative.
That is one ugly jacket
Aw, they’re playing “New York, New York”. How sweet.
I’ll like it a lot more when Frank sings after Yankee wins.
“They need to scout the kid unless they want yet another pitcher they haven’t seen to beat them…”
He pitched against them in July in Minny. He gave up 2 hits, 4 walks and 4 earned runs in 2+ innings. Gomez pulled an Alex GS off him back over the baggie.
look on the bright side, the Twins WILL NOT have a bullpen tomorrow night.
Can’t stand OC. Hope the Yankees get him out each and every at-bat.
Hopefully, they’ll be emotionally spent.
Whoo Hoo! The postseason officially begins right now.
OH well, at least Ordonez has the Penguins.
Leyland managed this game for a tomorrow that is never going to come.
Jackson and Verlander just rotted on the bench while Rodney was throwing his longest outing in over a year.
I dont care if the yankees are 7-0 versus twinkies this year. they are hot and they must be cooled off.
WTH is with that suit?! PURPLE!
Is Idle really game 1 starter tomorrow, is that possible???
FWIW, the Yankees have managed to play quite well in the Metrodome.
No pie?????????????????????????????????
Expectation:
“The yankees will have a significant advantage in starting pitching this series.”
Reality:
?
I HATE ORLANdO!
Enjoy it Twins… take it in… it’s as far as you’re going this season
“why hate Metrodome?
Didn’t Yanks ALWAYS play well over there?”
Because the place is so damned loud you can’t hear when someone calls for the ball.
“Being the hottest team, Twins will sweep Yanks–”
I guess I missed the part where the Yankees relenquished their best MLB record of the 09 season to the Twins. I should learn to sleep less.
“The Twins will sweep the Yankees” LOL ! Yeah right ! That’s not going to happen.
I think Rodney is a free agent so Leyland didn’t give a crap. He’ll get signed now for sure.
Fondo Motz October 6th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
On another note, I guess this wraps up the MVP for Mauer
—————
I don’t think that’s been in question for weeks now.
Cue the “Yankees beat the Twins all 7 games this season – they’re shoe-ins!!” posts.
Now that the Twins have won I guess that we can assume Damaso Marte will be on the roster for the LDS and Joba will be passed over. There’s just so many good lefthand hitters on the Twins that we need that 2nd lefthander out of the ‘pen.
Leyland choked, and not on his Marlboros
These guys just made up a 7 game deficit in less than a month …. let’s hope they just spent it all in this game.
Great game! Yankees play well in the Dome, so that is not a concern. Game one is important – need to break their momentum. Should be a fun series – Twins are not a “small ball” team anymore. Biggest break may be Nathan having to go 1+ innings today.
I actually have tears in my eyes. I can’t help but feel good for them. Just for tonight.
I’m really happy for the Twins and their fans. It’s just too bad that the next game at the Metrodome will be the last
Did the Twins just win the World Series??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Happy days in Minnesota. Enjoy it now people, the Yankees intend to rain on this parade.
The Twins might be able to fly without a plane to NY. But they will crash come game time. CC is primed and ready.
Congrats to the Twins. They are the hottest team in baseball. Hopefully, CC doesn’t choke on his own vomit like he did with the Brewers last year.
I rather see Verlander than Pavano.
I’m scared of Pavano. Remember what he did the last time against us?
(The likes of Tomko, Randy Chote, Carl Pavano are just trouble.)
And I don’t get the “be careful what you wish for”. We gotta play one of these teams. They both have their strengths that can trip us up.
What we say and wish for here has no bearing on the results of this game and the outcome of the ALDS.
That said, hoot hoot, no Verlander!
Carl Pavano in line to go in a possible Game 5. Wow, talk about irony.
Are they playing Luther Vandross or some other atrocity during the victory lap??
Sounds like the 80s in Minnesota.
“Congratulations to Joe Mauer and Ron Gardenhire for winning MVP and Manager of the Year. Twinkies deserve it.”
Double negative.
I think they really need to enjoy this celebration, too!
Bring on the Twinkies!!!
2 and 2 against the Yankees in the post season? oh really? How is that possible.
I wonder if they’d let Pavano drive to a game 5
Chris October 6th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
I rather see Verlander than Pavano.
I’m scared of Pavano. Remember what he did the last time against us?
(The likes of Tomko, Randy Chote, Carl Pavano are just trouble.)
——————
I agree ……
Angel – I definitely think you should do it, though I’d miss you on the forum.
they just said Dunsining (sp?) for game 1
Hopefully the crash test dummy pitches game 2
We need to rattle Pavano if he’s really starting games 2 & 5.
Anyone who would predict the Twins over the Yankees clearly has a huge bias against New York. The Yankees have loads more talent, a deeper bench, more power, better starting pitching, and a better bullpen. They are literally better in every single area. These aren’t the choke artist teams of the past. We added arguable the best pitcher in the game in CC, the best setup guy in baseball in Phil Hughes, AJ Burnett, the best first baseman in the league in Tex… Do I even need to go on? For the haters, have fun watching the Yanks take care of business this playoffs. It’s only a matter of time before you’ll be shut up.
Rishi
Who the heck is he?
That was great fun! Good baseball. It will be interesting to see how they fare in the land of whipped cream pies! The Yankees have owned them this year but they are a different team now.
But GO YANKEES!
We need an ‘American Idle’ chant at the game………
Pavano v Burnett …… which Idle which AJ?
“And I don’t get the “be careful what you wish for”. We gotta play one of these teams. They both have their strengths that can trip us up.”
If you’re referring to my post I don’t like the Metrodome. Nothing more, nothing less.
Girardi better light a fire under their butts tonight. If the Yanks get ousted by another inferor AL Central team, I’m gonna kick my cat.
The Yankees shouldn’t let the 7-0 record against the Twins in reg season go to their heads. Remember in 2007, we won every game vs. the Indians and then lost the ALDS
OK, let the postseason angst and ulcers officially begin!
The Twins present a better matchup, this was best case scenario with the extras. No Verlander and a weaker all around lineup.
45mph winds tomorrow at NYS could be pretty hairy though.
jennifer – no clue – looks about 15, though…
Forget the worrying. Carl Pavano is going to get crushed. Joe Mauer is going to get shut down. We’re beating the hell out of this team.
Go Yankees!
Hey “expectations”, remember those late 90s, early 2000s Yankee teams? When the expectations were through the roof? How about that 1998 team, that great regular season… how’d they do in the playoffs that year? Steamrolled their way to a World Series title? Oh yeah. Stfu
PAVANO vs Burnett, two former marlins.
Todd October 6th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
We need an ‘American Idle’ chant at the game………
*********
How about IDLE IDLE IDLE. American Idle is too long.
new post
No Grandison or Cabrera
Yes, keep drinking. All night. Celebrate my friends, celebrate.
Nice comeback and win by the Twins tonight! I like ‘em, they are scrappy.
Too bad the Yanks are going to club them like baby seals.
(it’s just a joke, i love seals!)
Will some of you have confidence in the Yankees and shut up !
Playing a so-called team of destiny could be tough, but one solid win for the Yankees should take care of that. Twins are going to be high on life for a little while. That stadium is still full and rocking. Wow.
Marte needs to be in the pen. I don’t trust Coke in a tight situation.
I am so tired of some Yankee fans sounding like pre 2004 Red Sox fans. Believe in your team.
No offense but wanting Verlander over Pavano could be the most ridiculous thing I’ve read on this blog in a long time.
One is an ace, maybe best arm in league, the other is a head case/brittle #4. Come on man, use your heads a little.
Congrats to the Twins.
Very exciting, if not well played, game.
Chip Carey did a terrible job.
“The yankees have actively decided to handicap their team and decrease their chances of winning the world series.”
CB: well put. Unbelievable that it’s come to this. It’s impossible to overstate how much of an advantage having a patient, switch-hitting power bat at the catcher position is, and how huge an advantage the Yankees enjoy over other teams with that circular lineup. It’s relentless, it’s lethal, and it’s the reason why they’re able to wear out even good starters, get to bullpens, and come from behind at any time. All I can hope is that AJ is lights out and/or the Yankee hitters can mash enough to overcome the soft spot in the lineup.
Best match up the Yanks could ask for. Starting pitching wins in the playoffs and the Tigers have more than then Twins. I am looking forward to smacking Pavano around
“There was nothing was especially shocking about the news,” Proof read your articles new guy. You’re not in yet and this has been sitting out there for how many days? Welcome to NY. Some of us readers are not as forgiving as others.