The good, the (almost) bad and the ugly of Brett Gardner
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Oct 10, 2009 
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Three base-running decisions by Brett Gardner in the 10th inning. Two very nearly gave the Yankees the win, one could very easily have cost them the game.
On stealing second base with Derek Jeter at the plate…
“You can’t get thrown out and that’s why it took me a couple of pitches to go. They mixed it up on me a little bit and they were pretty quick to the plate. After I didn’t go on the first pitch, he was ahead in the count the whole way, 1-0, 2-0. I think I went on the 2-0 pitch. When a hitter’s ahead in the count, it’s not a bad time to go because the pitcher is more focused on the batter, he has to throw strikes. He’s not really thinking about being real quick to the plate because that’s going to throw off his control a little bit.”
On taking third base on a bad pickoff throw by Joe Nathan…
“I stumbled coming off the base. A good throw to first probably gets me, but I decide to keep going. Once I stumbled, I made contact with I think it was the shortstop by the base. I was looking and saw the ball into center. I took off going for third and three or four steps off the base, I was trying to get my legs under me. I stumbled a little bit, and at that point you know the center fielder’s got the ball and he’s coming up throwing to third. And if I go to second, he’s just going to gun it to second. Just go and hopefully the throw’s not on the bag.”
On being doubled off at third base on a line drive to short…
“It‘s a tough read. There’s not much time to make a decision and I thought it was going to short-hop him. When I saw that he caught it, I was committed to going home. Obviously I’m a little frustrated at myself for making a bad decision.”
Boy, you guy are busy……thank you so much for your hard work!
That’s okay, Gardy. Hold up that large head of yours! Everyone makes mistakes. As long as you learn from them.
LoL. Hunter just flicked his bat…for a loud out.
I figured that’s what he thought and not that he didn’t know how many outs there were. That would of been worse.
i dont agree with gardy’s reasoning but thank goodness his decision is just an afterthought due to the win…he could of really been a goat
great post chad
Oh well, We won.
I remember when A-Rod was being booed back in 2006. I had myself a “Stop Booing Alex!” t-shirt made at the local embroidery shop in the Menlo Park Mall, and I, myself, was booed for wearing the shirt.
I still have the shirt. Who’s booing now?
Anyone? Anyone??
Believe in A-rod. Roids or no Roids he is an impeccable talent and we, collectively as a fanbase, need to start appreciating him. We will never see another player like him.
I don’t blame Gardner at all for the 10th inning. He thought it was going to be a ground ball and he probably thought they might try to gun him down at the plate. He had to decide whether or not to go right off the bat and it was a very quick sinking liner that would have easily landed had the infield not been pulled way in.
42 hours and 23 minutes until Game 3!!!!!
Anyway, this happy fan is going to bed!
Good night Yankee people!
this is by NO means a knock on the current blog master but the old blog father (you know who) was a gift from the heavens, and i for one, miss him.
Here comes Jepsen in the 9th since Scoiscia doesn’t trust Fuentes.
jon,
He’s still blogging. Like literally.
http://www.boston.com/sports/b.....tra_bases/
I don’t get it though. There’s a message board at boston.com with game threads. That’s where the game action is.
2 more outs!
that mauer is all about class.
Good night, Erica. Good night all.
St louis is already calling for La Russa and Pujols to leave.Why because he hasn’t hit a run since Sept 9th.
I Imagine a free agent Pujols on the market,Alex money for sure.
If Francona comes back with a 0-2,the Chowdah heads will revolt.
Our new blogmasters just whip thru the new topics way to fast…..Sometimes there’s some real good dialog going on and bam , a new thread appears…..Slow down guys
Walked Bay. Why don’t they have Varitek pinch hit?
Brian Fuentes is Spanish for “rollercoaster”
Anaheim up 2 games to none.
As to AJ:
I will say that I’m very happy for him because, as he said, he was “delirious”….he’s been waiting for this moment for a long time and he did fine. From all the pre-game quotes, you could tell this start meant a lot to him………..and his post-game quotes showed he really appreciated the moment. Perhaps with this start under his belt, he will be even sharper
Glad the Sox lost again, their offense away from Fenway is non existent
Our new blogmasters just whip thru the new topics way to fast…..Sometimes there’s some real good dialog going on and bam , a new thread appears…..Slow down guys
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Very true, but there’s also times where the dialog can get crazy, thats when its good to whip through.
I appreciate your work Chad, Josh, & Sam. A little fast pace, but very good job so far.
ANGELS SAY no mas no mas to the Socks,no en mi casa!!
(No more,Not in my house)
I hope they go the distance and tire out the bull pens.
GO Yankees!
Sawks score 1 run in 18 innings in Anaheim.
I dont understand why everyone is rooting against the Sox.
Ok, they are our rival. Boo! boo!
But seriously, who would YOU rather go through to win the pennant? You know, if we get past this round I mean.
I would MUCH rather play the Sox.
I am not happy that Boston lost. I would rather face them in the next round. I always want Boston to lose except when they are playing the Angels.
That pie was one of AJ’s best – I just watched a replay and AJ really got into it Z(while Tex enjoyed the heck out of it).
Angels are playing beautifully right now, but they always have trouble in Fenway – the series is not over by any means. If the Yanks advance, they are in for a long ALCS no matter who they play
on sosh thread…
QUOTE (BoSoxFink @ Oct 10 2009, 12:44 AM)
I dont’ think I have ever seen a hitter be more behind a pitch than Ortiz was right there
You seen Tek in the last 24 months?
I don’t get one cent of the ad-revenue generated by a Yankees-Red Sox series, so I don’t care in the slightest who the Yankees have to beat in the ALCS. I don’t think any Yankee fan should be scared of either team.
Would it be nicer to beat the Red Sox? Of course. Does this mean I’ll root for Boston? Hell no. I’d rather eat live piranhas.
Who the hell was that asking Tito that question?
The decision there was “to go on contact”.
It’s a risk, but a risk worth taking.
If he doesn’t go on contact, he has no way of scoring on a ground ball out with the infield drawn in.
The chances of lining out are far less than the chances of a ground ball out.
Final evaluation for any manager: you take advantage of Gardner’s speed and he goes on contact.
The right play didn’t work this time and I find no fault with Gardner or the staff.
Nobody wants the Angels to win just drag it out so there’s no rest.
Scot Kazmir the Socks killer comes next,Socks postseason rest on LAPTOPS!!
Angel rotation is deadly, however their pen is dead….
Did anyone hear sterlings calls of the homers? Did it sound like his head was gonna explode? Does the wcbs site post those calls?
26to6 wrote:
Kevin Youkilis. I can’t stand watching this guy play baseball, CAN’T STAND IT. It’s like watching that a-hole at your local gym try WAY too hard during a pickup basketball game, the fat, sweaty dude who gets really intense, and drives everyone else away. Whenever I watch Youk play, I always think to myself, “this guy must smell like an unwashed trucker after a 3 day cross-country trip.” You can just smell the nastiness coming off of him.
Bald head, trashy goatee…this is the major leagues, you’re a professional, I’m not saying you have to abide by a Yankee dress-code, but at least look like you care about life. Youk looks about as athletic as a bowler…a bowler who drinks.
This was probably the most exciting yankees postseason game since the yanks beat the twins in game 2 of 2004. If i remember that game correctly we won that in extra innings also.
Some great pictures on gettyimages. The group at the plate, Cano praying and just how happy everyone is for each other is fun to see.
http://www.gettyimages.com/Sea.....ype=image#
I personally don’t by into the curse,but nesn has an article says the alleged curse of the Angels is dead.
Does Buck Showalter watch baseball anymore? He’s on Baseball Tonight and he hasn’t referred to anyone by their name. Every call/analysis he makes he’s saying “The lead runner” or “The Left Fielder” or “The Catcher”.
Does this mean I’ll root for Boston?
——————————————
No Yankee fan can “root” for the Sox. But you can’t ignore the fact that the Yanks have had major issues with the Angels.
I would rather play the sawx than the angels but the way we are playing i am confident we can beat the angels if we play as good as we have been playing.
my post after the loss was going to be why a curve ball to a 9th place hitter!!!!!!!!!hughes needs to throw the curve early in the count.. so itwould have taken a lot of pitches to get punto out, still throw the fastball.
punto with a 280 obp during the regular season is killing them
obviously a great great win.. arod is hitting like a monster… 1 more and they move on…………
Nesn commenter say,the socks failure to sign Tex,and letting the Yankees get him,will haunt them as they watch a new Yankee dynasty rack up championships for many seasons to come.Just like A-ROD….U got that right!!
“No Yankee fan can “root” for the Sox. But you can’t ignore the fact that the Yanks have had major issues with the Angels.”
Sure, but you can’t be afraid of them either. If it’s the Red Sox they get to throw two aces who’ve had a lot of past success against the Yankees. It’s not like we’re facing the Royals in the next round. Both teams are really good.
I’m not too caught up in rooting for or against a team based on who’d be easier for the Yankees. Whoever faces the Yankees in the ALCS or World Series will be a tough opponent. A tough opponent the Yankees can beat.
I also thought the hughes curve was a bad call. i know punto is a slap hitter and could potentially slap one to the opposite field but i thought if he kept pumping fastballs he could get him out. also the hit that robertson gave up was on a 2 strike curve when he seemed to be dealing with the fastball. but hey we got some luck, the twins choked a bit and we had some big clutch hits. just a great win.
Anyone know what AJ whispered in Tex’s ear?
the only reason id like the sox to win a few games is so the it messes up the pitching rotation of whoever we face if we can close this out. we are the best team in baseball and i think we have the type of team that can put the demons of post seasons past behind us. this is the first team i have loved since 2001
helno51
October 10th, 2009 at 1:05 am
This was probably the most exciting yankees postseason game since the yanks beat the twins in game 2 of 2004. If i remember that game correctly we won that in extra innings also.
____________________________________________
Yes, with Alex knocking a ground rule double off Nathan to tie, Matsui with the winning sac fly.
As I recall, after that game, Lupica (of all people) employed the “today Arod became a Yankee” line in his game story. The same thing many people have said today.
The last game of that 2004 ALDS was pretty good too. The rest of the intervening post-season history is just as well forgotten.
i dont know what aj said but he seemed to be so pumped up about it. and tex seems like one of the great team players in the league. he hustles all the time, he gets big hits and he seems so excited about being a yankee and potentially being a winner.
Shdw
October 10th, 2009 at 12:36 am
I don’t blame Gardner at all for the 10th inning. He thought it was going to be a ground ball and he probably thought they might try to gun him down at the plate. He had to decide whether or not to go right off the bat and it was a very quick sinking liner that would have easily landed had the infield not been pulled way in.
———————————–
I agree it was a tough read. Also there was also a chance that they can get a GIDP if it did drop. Just a flukey play it happens. Damon is a great clutch hitting that was a disappointing at bat. The pitcher fell behind all Johnny needs to was to hit the ball in the outfield.
timo – you are correctin your memory. arod tied that game up. i believe he somehow got to 3rd to score the winning run on the matsui sac fly. i can remember exactly where i was for that. same thing for game 4 of the ALDS when we came back. game 4 vs the twins was 5 years ago tonight.
Photos and recap from tonight’s Yanks/Twins ALDS game http://bit.ly/iCPAw
Dr. Cox
October 10th, 2009 at 12:34 am
“Oh well, We won.
I remember when A-Rod was being booed back in 2006. I had myself a “Stop Booing Alex!” t-shirt made at the local embroidery shop in the Menlo Park Mall, and I, myself, was booed for wearing the shirt.
I still have the shirt. Who’s booing now?
Anyone? Anyone??
Believe in A-rod. Roids or no Roids he is an impeccable talent and we, collectively as a fanbase, need to start appreciating him. We will never see another player like him.”
If and when he ever failed with us, why boo him. He had issues. He needed something that he could not get. I always felt bad for him, 300 million dollars and all.
Appreciate this guy, as New York Rangers fans should have appreciated Jaromir Jagr while they had him. And the Rangers could have had Jaro for one more year due to his contract if the voters had not cheated him out of it.
helno51
October 10th, 2009 at 1:20 am
I also thought the hughes curve was a bad call. i know punto is a slap hitter and could potentially slap one to the opposite field but i thought if he kept pumping fastballs he could get him out. also the hit that robertson gave up was on a 2 strike curve when he seemed to be dealing with the fastball. but hey we got some luck, the twins choked a bit and we had some big clutch hits. just a great win.
———————————-
I agree Hughes must be kicking himself for that. No way Punto could catch up and square up Hughes’s fastball I dont care if he threw right down the middle of the plate. Throwing him a curve was perfect for his bat speed.
Best playoff game, in my opinion, since Game 5 of the 2001 World Series (second game in a row the Yanks were down by 2 with 2 outs in the ninth and tied it, then won in extras).
CR-9 – i am with you. i always like alex back on seattle where he had some decent postseason numbers. when we got him i bought his jersey at Stans as soon as they had it in. He was one of the 2 or 3 people who won that Twins series back in 2004. he was great in teh first 3 games vs boston too. then he “messed” the bed in the final 3 games but so did everyone else. he stunk the next 2 series but really wasnnt that bad vs detroit in 2007. i think he hit around 290 – certainly not great but not terrible either. for whatever reason i thought he would ome out of it this year…not to this extent but im not going to complain.
i meant vs indians in 2007
Rebecca – nice pics. nice write-up. I loved the way you ended it too. It will be a game you will NEVER forget. Those don’t come often. Glad you were there – thanks for sharing!
Great job Rebecca!! You are so lucky to have seen this game in person.
MLB should just pair up C.B. Bucknor w/Chuck Meriwether and put on the Arbitrary World Series.
After no less than 50 blown calls, the winner will be determined by a coin flip.
good write up rebecca….I was having a hard enough time watching the game in the bar with my friends (twins fans…bla). Thank god they can all suck it!
A-Rod’s stars aligned…
Dave Robertson’s rope-a-dope…
Tex with the walk-off!
DT: Something like that, you have to share it. That’s what makes it so special–that afterwards on the subway you can talk to complete strangers about the game like you’ve been best friends for 20 years.
100: I know…I called my father right after the game ended to thank him for the tickets (he’s not a sports fan, so he offered me the tickets)
Mike: Oh dear. I take it you’re not in NY?
From Sweeny’s twitter:
Carl Pavano might finally pitch a playoff clincher for the Yanks. The fact that he’s in a Twins uniform is a mere technicality.
—–
I would love if this happened.
I love the posts by Dynasty is Destiny. Thank you!
I had to leave the game in the 10th inning and it was still tied. It must have been a great game. Great that the Yankees won. I was wondering who was going to pitch after Mo finished.
Just knew that Tex would get hot this game. Hooray for him. He and Alex have to be the best 3 and 4 in the entire MLB. These 2009 Yankees are the best.
Rebecca,
Your pictures of tonite’s game and storyline are fantastic! I didn’t see the end of the game but your pictures made me visualize the game. This team is so good!
Fans, if you have not read Rebecca’s blog, please do so. She does an excellent job.
JeterJobaCanoForever,
You’re welcome!
From the dumb criminals file…
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....id=4546473
JeterJobaCanoFanForever, enough said: Thank you, that means a lot to me.
Rebecca,
I second JeterJobaCanoFanForever’s recommendation…
You do nice work…keep it up!
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....=291009110
espn recap with a great sportscenter highlight reel. the guy doing it with linda cohn was funny.
And Joe Nathan’s quote.
Trying to deflect away from the choke job?
hughes curve as i mentioned earlier is a bad bad idea. robertson curve is a fine idea. that is his pitch.
punto was fouling hughes fastball off, but that was it.. hughes out of the pen needs to throw 80% fastball a few cutters on occasion and a curve once in a blue moon.
what a friggin game, i can just imagine what it was like at the stadium.
anyone here from SJ44 lately? not seen any post s from him for a while.
Oh, Rebecca,
That was fun reliving that. (even though I knew the ending)
Do you know the Yankees’ win-loss record of games you attend? I think it’s creeping upward.
If anyone has luck hunting down the “pie” montage I’d really appreciate it. And would anyone blame the Twins if they never wanted to eat pie again? They’d probably want to dump the pumpkin pie in the rubbish.
(edit. note-is beared=bore?)
:LOL: From the way Rodriguez’s teammates greeted him in the dugout in the ninth inning, you would have thought he had just won the Nobel peace prize.
“Maybe this will put all that other (expletive) to rest,” Swisher said. “You guys should write an awful lot of good things about him tomorrow morning.”
Cardinals and Red Sox both go home with road losses by their co-aces.
Only the Rockies got a road win.
M. I am .500 for 2009
Rebecca,
Just as it is for Alex, 2009 is all that matters.
“Just as it is for Alex, 2009 is all that matters”
“Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long bristled when asked about Rodriguez’s history after Friday’s win, and I suppose I can’t blame him……..”You know, I’m done talking about the past,” Long said. “Whatever happened in the past, it’s gone — long gone. … We all know what Alex is capable of doing. The biggest concern in this room is not to dwell on the past. Let’s start where we’re at right now and build on that. And I think he’s done that. He looks great.”
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/s.....f-the-past
Pete A. getting no love from Lo-Huders on his Joba article. When did he become anti-Joba? I joined this blog because of his positive stand that Joba should be a starter rather than the 8th inning guy. Well, I hope that he has taken the time to see that Joba’s era is .000, so far.
Just celebrated with sushi and ramen, not all wins are this special… boisterous crowd out in the wee small hours near Union Square, but their revels do not involve the interlocking NY…
Kevin Youkilis. I can’t stand watching this guy play baseball, CAN’T STAND IT. It’s like watching that a-hole at your local gym try WAY too hard during a pickup basketball game, the fat, sweaty dude who gets really intense, and drives everyone else away. Whenever I watch Youk play, I always think to myself, “this guy must smell like an unwashed trucker after a 3 day cross-country trip.” You can just smell the nastiness coming off of him.
Bald head, trashy goatee…this is the major leagues, you’re a professional, I’m not saying you have to abide by a Yankee dress-code, but at least look like you care about life. Youk looks about as athletic as a bowler…a bowler who drinks.
It was unacceptable because he was often making bad decision in regular season.