Of workouts and weather
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- October
- 23
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After a long flight through the night, the Yankees are taking to the field this afternoon at the Stadium for a light workout. Since Chad and I have been crossing time zones most of the day, Josh will be on the scene and giving you all the news and notes. So be sure to check back for plenty of updates and audio.
Also, Mike Scioscia addressed an interesting issue at his press briefing this morning (the Angels worked out in Cali, then flew to New York afterward). When asked about the possibility of a rainout this weekend, Scioscia said the Angels are considering using John Lackey on three days rest in Game 7 if that game is pushed back from Sunday to Monday. Obviously, that would be last on the Yankees’ list of potential scenarios (the first, obviously, being that Game 7 doesn’t need to be played).
Speaking of weather, here’s the most recent forecast I could find for the Bronx. Not good. But then again, last weekend’s was probably worse, right?
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on Friday, October 23rd, 2009 at 3:17 pm by Sam Borden.
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Chad Jennings
Josh Thomson
Repost:
The Other Phil (Don’t Feed the Trolls!)
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:14 pm
CR9: re: umpires, I understand that they are human, which is why they’ve been making HORRIBLE mistakes. But your theory suggests that they are all biased against the Yankees.
**********
I’ll be honest. I am a believer in the human element of the game. I believe that blown calls even themselves out over time.
However, the stuff I have been seeing in the last game really makes me wonder if the Umpires were trying to get back to New York so they can get paid for another game.
I believe serious consideration needs to be given to an NFL style “challenge” system. Each team can get two per game to be used at the manager’s discretion. The average home run call replay takes about 5 minutes. We would be talking about approximately 20 minutes of potential stopped play, but when you are in a playoff situation I think its highly worth it. And they can just fill the time with more DirectTV and Black Taco commercials.
yeah those commercials rock
bodhisattva – Destiny Wears Pinstripes
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:24 pm
Erica,
I think you know how to ‘turn a word’ pretty well there yourself .
BTW, it’s now part of my automatic repertoire to implore Damon to “do it for Erica!”
He has been fairly responsive, too .
****
I’ve noticed! LOL
Its a sick thing, but I now take it way too personally whether Johnny Damon gets on base or not
46fan
Girardi lacks a feel for the game. Every other manager goes by feel not just a playbook. He has no clue. That playbook must really suck since it has cost this team 2 games.
repost
If there is a rain out tomorrow, what are the possibilites of pitching CC for game 6 on Sunday? That would have been the day he would have pitched if it went to 7. Interesting
cr9 is jim pir 1
Erica
LOL @ Black Taco and Directv Commercials
Phil
Not all. Not most. Just some. Game 4 HP umpire was fair.
As much as I hate his “smugness,” I have to give it to Scioscia and his confidence of a game 7.
I want game 6 tomorrow (please no rainout), and want us to wrap it up!
# PL October 23rd, 2009 at 3:26 pm
Jeter
Damon
Tex
Arod
Matsui
Posada
Cano
Melky
Hairston
It is written so let it be done
Jeremy: lol I agree…..and he doesn’t even believe his own eyes….
PL: I’m really hoping he moves Jorge behind Alex again – it worked well the other day and we all know what Sciocia’s strategy is with Alex now: walk him in any big situation….matsui, although he was better last night, has been bad….
CR9: The biggest problem I have with the umps is they don’t conference when there’s a disputed call. NFL and NBA refs will talk to each other, without requesting help, if someone had a better view or angle. In MLB, the ump that makes the call has to ask another ump before they give their opinion, which they rarely do because they believe “in their heart” that they are correct.
It even bugs me on the check swing call, that the hp ump has to ask before the 1b/3b ump says yay or nay.
Swisher shouldn’t sit in game 6 against the lefty. But if we lose game 6 then and he has another ofer game then I would start Gardner against Weaver and utilize his speed. That lineup is better defensively and we can carry Gardners bat and hope that he generates some speed.
A change in game 6 is more panic and a change in game 7 is an adjustment in the game that counts more than anything.
46fan
We should all pray that Girardi get ejected out of the game.
Erica had me rolling with that “so they can get paid for another day at work” comment. LMFAO…..
They had no problem conferencing on Mark Bellhorn’s steroid aided 3 run oppo shot in 2004 and also on the Al slap play. All jokes aside, there is no conference for HP calls. There should just be a 99.9% correct machine that could make balls and strikes calls. I’d rather be cheated .1% of the time than 17% of the time.
Yanks miss a guy like Ruben Sierra on the bench.. Switch hitter with power.. Still remember the 3 run homerun in the 04 ALDS against Twins..
# 46fan October 23rd, 2009 at 3:33 pm
PL: I’m really hoping he moves Jorge behind Alex again – it worked well the other day and we all know what Sciocia’s strategy is with Alex now: walk him in any big situation….matsui, although he was better last night, has been bad….
I would agree except, Matsui has hit very well against lefties this year…I believe one of the best in the league. And in a big spot after walking Arod I would rather see Matsui up…The man is clutch
Erica – always OPPC October 23rd, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Let me guess….
You think Gardner should be in CF???
—-
what gave it away?
Gardner should be in CF, once every 7 days and never to start with in October.
vin
Remained productive in May (Gardner nipping at his heels for playing time) struggled in June (he was playing full-time), heated up in July (Gardner got hot and he felt threatened), stunk in August (Gardner on DL), returned to his normal production in Sept/October (Gardner came back and he was challenged – and it wasn’t his “normal” production. He was playing to his potential, which certainly isn’t normal for him)
The key here is that Cabrera coasts when he is not threatened for playing time. He is content with just playing and somehow has managed to fly under the radar for 5 seasons. He is lazy and this proves it.
who is in line to pitch for the Angels tomorrow?
Interesting observation. Tell me what you think. Fuentes, normally holds lefties to a .235 average versus .273 for righties, but last night couldn’t find the plate or locate his pitches to the lefties in the ninth.
Damon batting 1st almost gets hit with a pitch, then lines out to 1st. He could have been on first.
Now with one out he intentionally walks A-Rod.
Can’t locate the plate and walks lefty Matsui.
Hits lefty Cano to load up the bases.
If Swisher turns around to face him as a lefty, would he have walked to force the tying run in, leaving Cabrera, another switch hitter to drive in the winning runs????
All of a sudden, whom, besides Rivera, do you trust to get the job done. Hughes giving up 9 hits in 4+innings of work in the playoffs.
Melky does need to work on a quicker release of the ball in CF. The way he loads up to throw the ball takes an inordinate amount of time.
Gardner hit 291 against leftys in 55 at bats in the regular season. I would sit Swisher for 1 game. Fuentas threw Swish a fastball right down the middle and he didn’t even hit it hard. Obviously Swisher is a much better hitter than Gardner but not right now. They both have 2 hits in the alcs and Gardner has 4 at bats.
Scioscia there will not be a game 7 you moron.
If you like Ruben Sierra on the bench, you’re gonna love Don Zimmer, he’ll burn Girardi’s ‘Book’and show him how it’s done.
I know he wouldn’t come back or even spit on Big Stein if he was on fire but you know what I mean
Gardner in CF
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:39 pm
Erica – always OPPC October 23rd, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Let me guess….
You think Gardner should be in CF???
—-
what gave it away?
****
Women’s intuition
Hokiehill: Saunders is pitching tomorrow
CR9
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:37 pm
They had no problem conferencing on Mark Bellhorn’s steroid aided 3 run oppo shot in 2004 and also on the Al slap play. All jokes aside, there is no conference for HP calls. There should just be a 99.9% correct machine that could make balls and strikes calls. I’d rather be cheated .1% of the time than 17% of the time.
-0-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
people tell me i’m ridiculous when i mention it, but i’m all for an automated strike zone.
do it now and in a few years people will be saying “remember when they had actual people judging where those pitches were”… “that’s crazy dad…”
Saunders in line to pitch tomorrow then Weaver on Sunday, who could be skipped if the Saturday game is rained out, pushing the final game to Monday with CC vs Lackey.
If it goes to game 7 on Monday CC will not be available for the opening game Wednesday of the WS. It just better not go 7 games!!
Hughes and Robertson postseason so far.
Phil Hughes: 6 games, 0-1, 5.79 ERA, 2.36 WHIP, 4.2 IP, 9 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
David Robertson: 3 games, 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K.
I believe both Robertson walks were intentional. Robertson needs to be the 8th inning guy. Hughes looks like a scared little boy out there.
“And in a big spot after walking Arod I would rather see Matsui up…The man is clutch”
Except when he’s not.
I’m tired of all the “clutch” talk. Everyone has their good ABs and bad ABs. Clutch is nothing more than a combination of talent and luck.
CR9 October 23rd, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Gardner should be in CF, once every 7 days and never to start with in October.
=============
Yes, because Melky is the new Joe DiMaggio, I forgot.
It’s odd that people believe Melky is good, he’s an average player at best.
why would they skip weaver there best pitcher?
that would be a bad idea….i know about the hr’s weaver is there best pitcher the #’s do not lie…
hughes stays in the 8th inning robertson replaces sloba in the 7th..
sloba stinks and needs a lobotomy………..
“Yes, because Melky is the new Joe DiMaggio, I forgot.
It’s odd that people believe Melky is good, he’s an average player at best.”
It was only a joke. Brett could be a huge part of our everyday lineup if he understood that he should not be swinging for fly balls. Put the ball on the ground where you can at least beat out an infield hit. Regardless of Melky in CF, Brett too often swings at pitches like he is swinging for the fences, only to result in impotent popups. He also needs to learn to steal on first pitches. That is the purpose of his speed.
I think what Scioscia did last night would be repeated in a Game 6 or 7.
If it goes to 7 on Monday, then Weaver would be in to spell Lackey.
Remember Pedro doing that with Boston against the Indians years ago. Was better than going to Rod Beck.
So count on seeing both Lackey and Weaver if they force a Game 7 on Monday.
Thank you all for your much needed input to my sweatshirt dilemma.
Here is what I decided.
Vin and CR9 were very adamant on not washing it (at least you were at first CR9). Also, the Yankees won Tuesday and actually scored more runs then they gave up on Thursday when I had it on. Therefore, while the sweatshirt couldn’t overcome Burnett stinking up the first inning, it still has positive karma effects going.
I’m putting that outfit on as soon as I get out of the shower tonight and I am not taking it off until after Game 6. If they lose tomorrow, the karmic effects are gone and I’ll have to retire it and start fresh for Sunday. If they win, then I’m going to have one smelly outfit in 2 weeks.
I’m also going to make sure my Doberman sits on my lap and slobbers all over it…
Everyone has their own quirks and superstitions. My theory is that if everyone follows theirs then the net positive karmic effect will outweigh the other teams and the baseball gods rule in your favor.
Yes, I may have been dropped when I was a child.
Enough of the WS rotation talk, already!
We’re up 3-2 against a very good team.
I have nothing against Melky or Gardner. If we are going to settle for a 3rd or 4th outfielder to play CF, then Gardner could be more effective as a 9 hitter, getting on base via walks, infield hits, shooting gaps. He also has more speed, so if he works on his defense, he could be good. Melky is, Melky. He struggles sometimes, but when you need him sometimes to come through he will. His defensive angles are good, but he takes too long to release the ball in CF. They both have their advantages and disadvantages. Brett, in the long run between the 2, could be more effective, but not at this point.
DB-
There is nothing wrong with that. But then again, that may not mean much from the girl who tells the entire blog when she showers cause her showers seem to have magical powers.
Forget Gardner playing.. He isn’t better than Swisher and I don’t care how bad Swish has looked.. He still hit almost 30 HRs this season. Gardner would have to play 5 seasons to hit 30 total.
The REAL Problem that NOBODY is addressing is the fact that Hinske isn’t on the roster. He could have pitch hit for Swisher last night and could have started a game in this series.
Joke Girardi is killing this team
IF LA wins this series, the Fox guys need to name Joke the MVP. An honorable mention to “Flash Gordon” Hughes.
If we lose this series it will be worse than 04 and if Joke doesn’t get fired, then this organization is worse than the Knicks… when you fail like Joke is trying to do, you should be fired. Does Hal even know the playoffs have even started? he is a joke too…..
I hit my head on the ceiling when Robbie lined that ball into the gap. I could’ve dunked, I swear it.
And no Jobber in the game tomorrow. Yes this is my nickname for Joba. If you don’t know what a jobber is, wikipedia it. It’s a wrestling term that refers to those old days where the good wrestlers would get to beat on some no name kid and get an easy W. They called these pushovers “Jobbers”. That’s what Joba is.. A JOBBER
Jon Locke –
I would’ve wanted Swish in that spot over a Lefty-hitting, rusty Hinske 10 out of 10 times.
Cecil Fielder? GlennAllen Hill, Mike Aldrete? Maybe not – Swish would’ve been out.
But Hinske? No.
It really is remarkable how the sheer stupidity of the Cult of Bubba Crosby v. 2.0 manages to rear its’ imcompetent head over and over each passing day on this blog.
This pathetic fanboyism of a fringe major leaguer with a hideous bat is truly comical.
How anyone can possibly think that this glorified track star merits not only starting time in the postseason but also a brainwashed following will indefinitely remain one of baseball’s and, quite frankly, life’s mysteries.
I look forward to a hearty guffaw the 1st time Melky or Swish makes an out and the random imbeciles here with assorted Gardner fetishes pander to insert the Great White Hype into the game.
27 hours and 59 minutes until Game 6!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mike –
Working that Thesaurus a bit hard, no?
Reminder-
Round 8 of Post Season “Guess the Line Up” WILL be played around 3-4:30 tomorrow.
Please let it be the final GTLU of the ALCS
I look forward to a hearty guffaw the 1st time Melky or Swish makes an out and the random imbeciles here with assorted Gardner fetishes pander to insert the Great White Hype into the game.”
Have you heard of Steve Lombardi on WasWatching.com
That guy was screaming and pleading for Brett Gardner to be our starting CF for the year 2009 3 years ago. LOL
BigSix
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Mike –
Working that Thesaurus a bit hard, no?
****
Personally, I enjoyed it. I felt very intelligent reading a post with such big words even though it was a blatent critism of well.. everything
more positives to take into game 6 (or 7 if necessary)
1)yankees have their 2 best starters going
2)if it goes to a game 7 – and there are no rain outs the yankees face jered weaver whom they a) knocked around in anaheim on monday (although they lost the game)and b)has much worse numbers pitching on the road….MUCH WORSE and c)has the worst ERA against the yankees this year of all the AL teams (10 innings or more)he’s faced and has a 6.08 ERA at yankee stadium this year
Thanks Erica. Make sure you stay squeaky clean tomorrow.
I’d love to wage in on the whole outfield problem, but it really doesn’t matter. Our best team is the one that Girardi pencils in every night. I have the utmost confidence in him and this team.
We lost yesterday because Hughes decided to hold onto a pitch .001 second longer than he should of and put it belt high. These things happen. He is going to rebound. This team has shown it all year.
Mike: rotflmao…..
Local Bronx weather for tomorrow is rain all day and night – 80-90% chance for the entire time….near 1/2 inch of rain – BUT the good news – it will be 60-65 degrees….lol and of course it’s supposed to rain, Andy is pitching!!!!
Calls for 80% then 90% chance of rain with thunder by game time. I hope the only thunder we hear is that of the Yankee bats pummeling the Angel pitchers.
Hinske would not have helped yesterday, IMO.
Here’s his career against Lackey, in 21 PAs:
.053/.095/.105/.200
And Girardi would not have pinch hit Hinske for Swisher against Fuentes. The Yanks haven’t used Hinske against lefties much at all.
The problem is the Yanks haven’t had a right handed pinch hitter on the bench all year. They are good in most departments, but not that one.
Without Melky’s big hit, we may not win Game 4, btw. We probably should not have scored on Cano’s grounder to 2nd. That hit by Melky changed the whole complexion of the game, especially having our ace on the mound.
Amen to that Trader…
“It’s odd that people believe Melky is good, he’s an average player at best.”
Yeah… right now he IS an average player. I’m not comparing him to Bernie, or anyone like that.
However, I really don’t think Gardner has done enough to prove that he A) is an average AL player, B) deserves a start over Melky or Swisher.
I really wanted Gardner to succeed this year because I thought his speed would balance out the lineup nicely. However, in today’s game in the American League, give me the guy who has legitimate gap power. Melky has that ability and Gardner doesn’t.
Don’t misconstrue my point:
Melky is an Average AL player (actually slightly less – 97 ops+). But Gardner is worse (91 ops+). The guy is younger than Gardner and has shown to be a more dangerous hitter (relatively speaking).
I have not yet eliminated the notion that Melky needs someone behind him to push him. His best years were in ‘06 and ‘09 when he had the likes of Bernie, Damon, and Gardner pushing him.
As far as who the better CF is… I’m not sure because I’ve only seen Melky play in person once, and Gardner zero times. TV does not adequately show the jump an outfielder gets on the ball. So I’ll leave that up to Joe Girardi.
Jon Locke October 23rd, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Forget Gardner playing.. He isn’t better than Swisher and I don’t care how bad Swish has looked.. He still hit almost 30 HRs this season. Gardner would have to play 5 seasons to hit 30 total.
—
He can produce without the power. For instance David Eckstein has 34 career HR over 9 seasons and 2 World Series rings. I’d take that.
46fan
Like minds think alike!! Sorry to steal your “thunder” by posting at the same time as you.
Yankees will have louder “thunder” sticks for their home game than the Angels could ever have.
Yankee batters hitting out to right in “Thunder” Alley for home run after home run!
I point out that Gardner isn’t Eckstein.
You never know in baseball but IMO Lackey would have dominated Gardner.
everyone’s whipping boy damaso marte is the only reliever aside from d-rob who can get the angels out….
our pen has collapsed… time for Joe to improvise… only use marte, drob, and mo….
Trader: no problem…I liked your Thunder reference….I’m hoping they get the game in tomorrow….my nerves have had it…..lol
“He can produce without the power. For instance David Eckstein has 34 career HR over 9 seasons and 2 World Series rings. I’d take that.”
Yeah, and Ted Williams had a .344 career BA and 0 World Series rings. I’d take him over Paul O’Neill, a guy with 5 rings.
Eckstein was not the primary reason his teams won the WS. Guys like Troy Glaus, Albert Pujols, Tim Salmon, Garret Anderson, Jim Edmonds, and Chris Carpenter were. Eckstein was a solid player (very below average hitter) who was in the right places at the right time.
You never know in baseball but IMO Lackey would have dominated Gardner.
———————————–
Yea I agree, much like he dominated Swisher and the rest of the Yankees.
“You never know in baseball but IMO Lackey would have dominated Gardner.”
Exactly right. Sometimes guys get lucky, but you can’t plan for that… you have to play the percentages and use logic. I’m not sure Gardner can really do much with A-caliber playoff pitching. He might… but it would be a mistake to assume he can (especially over Melky).
Even if we have the lead in the middle of the game, is anyone going to be confident that we can successfully hand the lead to MO?
exactly. Face it, this pen and the managing of it is a huge liability
Interestingly, didn’t Gardner get 2 hits of Halladay the 1st time he faced him?
Erica – always OPPC October 23rd, 2009 at 4:01 pm
27 hours and 59 minutes until Game 6!!!!!!!!!!!!!
—-
Countdown to the next game should imply the start of GTLU.
Ted Williams was a very disliked teammate, an semi-bad guy. Aside from sacrificing a couple years of ML service as many others did to serve in the military and playing his home games at Fenway Field, Ted Williams might have been construed as a clubhouse cancer in today’s game. His 406 batting average never helped his .200 batting average in the World Series.
vin October 23rd, 2009 at 4:20 pm
“You never know in baseball but IMO Lackey would have dominated Gardner.”
Exactly right. Sometimes guys get lucky, but you can’t plan for that… you have to play the percentages and use logic. I’m not sure Gardner can really do much with A-caliber playoff pitching. He might… but it would be a mistake to assume he can (especially over Melky).
—
because Melky has really proven himself HOF material over his career.
Gardner in CF
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Erica – always OPPC October 23rd, 2009 at 4:01 pm
27 hours and 59 minutes until Game 6!!!!!!!!!!!!!
—-
Countdown to the next game should imply the start of GTLU.
******
Not necessarily. I do have a life that exists away from a computer. It is very easily for me to do GTLU on weekday afternoons because I am chained to my desk at work. However, on weekends I do on occasion, step away from the computer. For instance, last Saturday I had to cancel the GTLU for Game 2 because I went to Atlantic City for the weekend.
You cannot just assume because there is Yankee baseball, there is GTLU. I am full of surprises
Walter October 23rd, 2009 at 4:15 pm
our pen has collapsed… time for Joe to improvise… only use marte, drob, and mo….
—
Gaudin has been effective in preserving a 9-run lead.
Mike:
I don’t think that Gardner has a hideous bat. Gardner batted .270 this year which is pretty respectable for a second year player.
I am not sure that it rises to the level of “sheer stupidity”, but playing a guy who is 3 for 29 with one extra base hit, one run batted in, three walks and ten strikeouts in the postseason seems pretty dumb to me. Swisher’s 2009 postseason OPS is a whopping .350.
Could Gardner or Hairston do any worse?
-Bubba Crosby Cult Member
The formula tomorrow night should be simple..
Andy for 7, Mo for 2.. Nothing more, nothing less.
I love that the biggest debate raging on the blog today is Melky vs. Gardener. These two guys are average (if that) players, that should consider themselves lucky that Austin Jackson is too young to be playing in the big boy league yet.
Our lack of solid, defensive outfielders that can actually hit is astounding over the past 4-5 years. This team hasn’t had a real CF since Bernie and has yet to fill that void. For a club like the Yanks, I think thats pretty ridiculous. Clearly, we’ve done very well and I haven’t lost sight of that at all, but the fact that the debate revolves around two underachievers is absurd.
It shouldn’t have even come to this!! Arguing about Melky and Gardener is like arguing between two different brands of instant oatmeal. Either way, its just boring and replaceable.
Erica, you can’t blame me for trying
Yeah, he did hit .200 in his 25 WS ab’s. Doesn’t mean he wasn’t a superior player to nearly all of his contemporaries.
My point is you can’t judge players based on how many rings they’ve won. That might possibly be the worst method of evaluating a player possible.
Jeff Weaver won a WS and pitched very well in the playoffs that year, after he put up a 5.18 ERA that half season for the Cards. Does that mean he was a great pitcher, or better than the countless other guys who never won a ring? It just means he got hot for 5 starts at the right time.
The playoffs are a bit of the crapshoot, guys go through hot and cold stretches. But it seems to me the best method is to consistently play your best players and hope that’s good enough.
The Yanks haven’t lost 2 games because of Swisher or Melky. They lost the two games because a very good team (and some questionable BP decisions) outplayed them.
Gardner in CF
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Erica, you can’t blame me for trying
*****
We’ve got to get you your first GTLU win
The Yanks haven’t lost 2 games because of Swisher or Melky. They lost the two games because a very good team (and some questionable BP decisions) outplayed them.
—
the Yankees don’t want to lose 2 more games with an ineffective Swisher
Girardi will pull a Francona and stick with Swish like Francona stuck with Bellhorn and Damon in 2004.
Let’s hope it pays off the same way.
Geez I think some Yankee fans need to be prescribed tranquilizers. Some of you guys are going berserk after a loss. Come on people, we have 2 more shots at winning the series with our 2 best pitchers pitching at home.
Think of it like this, we swept the 2 game series at home. Took 1 out of 3 at Anaheim (really, can you expect anything more than that?). Now we just need a split at home.
Swisher isn’t going anywhere, you will see the same starting lineup on Saturday/Sunday as you did for Game 1. Girardi knows that it doesn’t pay off to make moves based on panicked fans. We all saw what happened when Torre put A-rod in the 8 spot. That junk doesn’t work.
new thread
I have a question: do you all think that maybe Girardi made a mistake in not adding Cody Ransom to the roster?
I had an idea last night, that Cody could potentially be inserted as a pinch runner who could steal home or score in a squeeze play at the plate.
Here’s my thinking: the man can jump from a standing position atop a 60 inch box. When the throw reaches the catcher, the catcher would be in a squatted reach position to tag the runner, in this case, Cody Ransom. But Cody could simply take the catcher by surprise, jump over him and touch the plate.
What do you guys think? I think it would work, and could be one of the most spectacular plays since the 2001 Jeter shovel pass to Posada in the ALDS.
Mike’s plan for a game seven are a little bit optimistic, but it’s not out of the question. If Andy exposes the pen too early (before the offense can unload on the Halos) then a seventh game becomes likely. Still, Lackey on 3 days rest vs. CC on full rest is a risky proposition for the Angels. The Yanks will be OK; they need to come out swinging early and leave game five behind them. Take ‘em down in six; even better chance in game 7 if the series goes that far.
Melky is a very servicable player. I wouldn’t call him lazy rather sometimes he gets complacent. That will likely change as he matures. Both him and Gardner have their strengths defensively. Gardner runs a better route to the ball but has more trouble going back on the ball. Gardner is faster. Melky has a far superior arm. I think I’d be inclined to play Gardner in CF for Game 6 with Melky in RF. Swish could pinch hit if needed and Guzman can be your defensive replacement.
Every player on the team doesn’t need to be a Super Star. We can’t afford a SS at every position. Melky will not likely ever contend for the lead in HR, or SB or RBI or BA but he does enough things well, to make him an important part of the team. I don’t think you’ll find that AJAX is going to be a huge upgrade over Melky. If you look at what Tori Hunter is paid and Melky is paid and then look at their repective production, I think Melky is the better buy.
Comet