Wrapping it up on a night the Yankees couldn’t
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Oct 23, 2009 
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Phil Hughes was one of the first players to his locker after tonight’s disappointing loss in Anaheim. He took a breath, turned around and started answering all of the inevitable questions.
“Very disappointing,” he said. “We did a great job tonight, fighting back and getting in the game. I just had one out to get and I couldn’t do it. Marte did a good job coming in and getting the first two. I’ve been in that situation so many times this year. It’s disappointing for us to get back in that game and pretty much to blow it on my shoulders.”
Hughes walked Torii Hunter, but when he was facing Vladimir Guerrero, he threw a terrific curveball to go ahead 1-2. At the time, Sam and I started talking about what to throw next. We agreed on either another curveball down or a fastball up. Way up. Jorge Posada practically stood when he gave Hughes a fastball target, but the pitch was belt high, down the middle.
“Trying to be a little too fine to Hunter,” Hughes said. “Then got ahead of Guerrero and tried to come up and in on him and left the ball pretty much in the middle. He didn’t get it good, but he got it just enough and in the right spot.”
Some of this one falls on A.J. Burnett as well, and if you talk to Burnett, he seems to think all of it falls on him. Those four runs in the first inning came on 12 pitches, then he was terrific through the next 20 hitters before allowing back-to-back singles to start the seventh.
Was he surprised the Angels came out swinging so early in the count, early in the game?
“The whole game surprised me a little bit,” Burnett said.
The truth is that the Angels were supposed to win their 3 games at home to have a chance to compete, and by losing one of their home games, the entire pressure is now on them, the next 2 games is do or die for them and for the yankees its pick your poisen, meanwhile even the 2 games they won, one was in extra innings and the other one (tonight) … Read Morethey blew a 4-0 lead with Lacky on the mound and their closer almost blew it again and hey the next 2 games are in yankee stadium where they rarely lose… (and isn’t it nicer to clinch at home?…).
AJ didn’t cost them the game. He did a great job giving them 5 shut out innings after the 1st inning. It’s not his fault that his manager is a moron and decided to stick with him way too long.
These two are good guys—standing up and accepting responsibility. They’ll be plenty of good stuff coming for both.
Anyone also notice that Saunders has been pretty bad on the road this year for the Angels? The team has lost 8 of his last 10 road games, including the playoffs.
By the way this aint 2004 and the Angels aint the 2004 Red Sox!
Lackey is such a mouthbreather… is he capable of shutting his mouth entirely? It never closes…
Also, the weather is not that bad…if the front blows through quickly, it will be sunny and in the 60s.
How does Posada let a 23 yr old punk pitcher from the O.C. slap him around and okay a 1-2 meatball straight down the middle of the plate to Vlad??????
Posada should be ashamed of himself.
No only that, he went 0-2 at the plate.
Sadly, Posada has made so many mental mistakes this season.
100 pitches of fun…
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:21 am
AJ didn’t cost them the game. He did a great job giving them 5 shut out innings after the 1st inning. It’s not his fault that his manager is a moron and decided to stick with him way too long.
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I agree Burnett did a nice job after that inning. He gave the yankees a chance to win the game and shut down the angels the rest of the way. He could of completely blew up after the 1st inning but he didn’t and grinded out the rest of the game.
After that long delay with the yankees scoring all those runs. How about start the inning with Robertson instead of Burnett. He has been the best reliever on the team not named Rivera during the postseason dont wait till extra innings to use him.
Which ever way you slice it this was a great game to watch period. As a Yankee fan, sure I would’ve loved to see them finish the Angels off but there was some great drama being played out.
I can’t argue with Girardi’s moves tonite. He didn’t over manage. Hughes missed with the FB by a foot and a half.
We had them but I guess itll be sweeter to celebrate at home =)
is he capable of shutting his mouth entirely? It never closes…
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So funny that you say that. Everytime they showed him on tv my friend would ask if his teeth fit in his mouth? lol
AJ and Phil didnt have it tonight.
AJ was great for 80% of the game, as usual. It’s just the 1 inning that always kills him.
Phil hasn’t been as good in the postseason but it was going to be almost impossible for him to match what he did in the regular season. He was pretty much unhittable.
The fact of the matter is, the Yanks are the better team and they have 2 home games to prove it.
It wouldn’t hurt if Girardi gave Dave Robertson a shot next time the game is close.
“Evan October 23rd, 2009 at 1:24 am
How does Posada let a 23 yr old punk pitcher from the O.C. slap him around and okay a 1-2 meatball straight down the middle of the plate to Vlad??????”
Clearly he called for a FB up and in and Hughes left it middle in and low. He missed the target badly. If he threw another CB Vlad would’ve laid off it. He is smart enough not to swing on the same pitch 3 times in a row…
That’s exactly the same thoughts on that pitch sequence that me and a buddy shared.
I mean…it seemed pretty obvious.
Whatever he threw it should have been nowhere near the plate. Especially against a guy that swings at 55 footers.
Whatever. Now Hughes and Papelbon have that 1 thing in common.
Actually I think Paps had to throw a strike. Was it 3-2?
Joe was a little weird again. It’s easy to point fingers and I’m not one to second guess managers but he seemed to be sort of maybe overcompensating from making all those quick hooks the other night.
Let’s hope he pulls a Goldilocks where on the third try the porridge is just right.
AJ was at just 80 pitches after 6 and was on absolute cruise control.
There was no indication that he was slowing down or losing it. Anybody who says they knew AJ would blow it after 5 straight innings of domination is lying.
Joe gave him 2 batters in the 7th and he couldn’t get them so he pulled him.
Marte did his job. Phil didn’t.
those are the breaks of the game.
Girardi didn’t do anything wrong in that situation.
Bronx,
I think it was the very first pitch to Vlad from Papelbon.
Definitely not 3-2, IIRC.
Rob Neyer Twitter
Just went back and replayed the pitch to Posada that got Lackey so peeved off … He was right and Fieldin Culbreth was wrong.
————
What a sickening human being Rob Neyer is. Rob, as opposed to the hundreds of wrong calls by umpires this postseason already. As opposed to that Strike 3 to Mark Teixeira in the first inning. Did you go back and replay that too you ESPN/Yankee Hating Schill.
yup
“Papelbon’s first pitch was a 95 mph fastball, below the knees but over the heart of the plate. Guerrero ripped it into center field for a two-run single that gave the Angels their first lead of the game.”
Everyone was getting on Marte in the ALDS but he’s done a good job in this series. Unfortunately, because he pitched in so little games this year, it’s unlikely he will see more than 2 or 3 batters per game.
CR9,
get used to it.
ESPN is loaded with those types.
It will just make it that much sweeter if the Yanks pull #27 off.
“Actually I think Paps had to throw a strike. Was it 3-2?”
It was first pitch. If it had gone more than 1 pitch, the AB would have likely ended in Vlad sitting on the bench with the game over. Pap could not have intended to throw the aging Frankenstein a pitch right down the middle. Nor could Phil Hughes have.
I could just picture Saturday’s game now. 7th inning Yanks winning 3-2 and Andy’s pitching a great game, sits down 10 in a row and Girardi comes running out to the mound grabs the ball from Andy and in comes Girardi’s boyfriend Joba the meatball thrower.
““Evan October 23rd, 2009 at 1:24 am
How does Posada let a 23 yr old punk pitcher from the O.C. slap him around and okay a 1-2 meatball straight down the middle of the plate to Vlad??????””
————-
better question is how can some punk blog poster be so clueless?
unless you’re new to the game, there is no excuse for such stupidity.
“ESPN is loaded with those types. ”
Thanks. But I know what ESPN is. I am just shocked that Neyer is also a scumbag.
If you drop a piece of feces, an ESPN employee, and an umpire off the building at the same time, which hits the ground first?
Answer: It’s a trick question, they are all one and the same.
I think Joba rides the pine at home. Robertson right now has shown me he has more guts than him. I’d be shocked if Robertson doesn’t get the call in a tough spot in 7th or even the 8th innings.
I never want to see AJ Bustnett again on this team. He is a disgrace to the Yankee uniform. Would Whitey have turned in a performance like this in a clinching gamr? Yogi? Ruth? Reggie? Ford?
hes handed a lead in the 7th and only 80 pitches and can’t close the deal? get him off my team
CR9,
yeah i forgot about Neyer too. Jim Caple has written some ridiculously biased and negative articles on the Yankees as well.
It’s really unfortunate that another sports news outlet hasn’t buried the entertainment based ESPN with real news.
As far as I’m concerned the Yankees did exactly what they needed to do.
They won a game in Anaheim and now the Angels have to hope they can win 2 games against the Yankees without their best pitcher.
The Yankees are in a fine position. There was a reason the Angels were the second best team in the league this year.
Jay,
not every player on the Yanks is going to be a Hall of Famer.
you are seriously going to compare AJ Burnett to some of the greatest players in the history of the game and say he stinks because he doesn’t measure up to them???
The Yanks have the best TEAM. It wasn’t all AJ’s fault.
Their TEAM will come back fighting on Saturday.
It’s time to put this game – all of the good and all of the ugly – in the rear view mirror.
On the iPod:
“Sunshine of Your Love”
Eric Clapton
The Cream of Clapton
“hes handed a lead in the 7th and only 80 pitches and can’t close the deal? get him off my team”
———–
how is it “your” team?
Is this Hal? Hank??
can you get me WS tickets?
Aaron Boone betting against Andy on Saturday. Very disappointing.
nothing wrong with a little Cream
AJ was leading with the fastball in the 1st inning and hardly threw the curve if I remember correctly. Once he established the 2 seamer and curve he shut them down for 5 innings. in the 7th he went back to spotting the fastball and got hit hard again.
Angels didn’t fold in.
Exactly!
Swish has gotta hit that ball. man, its like Fluentes ran it up there and said ‘please send your team to the world series on this pitch’
Boston Dave,
You’re probably right. I’m wiggin out.
I swear I’ve never had 1 solitary pitch get to me like this.
Lackey? I like the guy’s fire. I’ve enjoyed watching him this series.
And AJ? It’s hard to give him a pass. He gave up 6 earned and they lost 7-6.
Ed in PR,
interesting observation. if true, it’s the most rational argument on the subject I’ve read all night.
I wonder if the pressure of getting the lead back and not blowing it got to him?
pat
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:40 am
Aaron Boone betting against Andy on Saturday. Very disappointing.
______________________________________________________
Eh, he’s probably still bitter about being cut from the Yankees after he ruined his knee and violated his contract. Or maybe he just wants to see some Game 7 heroics?
Meanwhile, his hair is atrocious and puts A-Rod’s tips to shame.. the upper half of his head is blonde and the lower half is brown.
Bronx,
believe me, that pitch got to me too.
The plan with Vlad is generally a simple one. That pitch was strictly a waste pitch.
It’s almost akin to throwing a wild pitch on an intentional walk. All he needed to do was throw it way up, anything but down the middle. anything but…. gulp.
he’ll live to fight another day…
and judging by the way Hughes has handled himself so far, I’d put my money on it that he’s ready for the challenge.
AJ didn’t have great fastball location all game. It got better the last couple of innings but then he sat for 30 minutes in the bottom of the 6th inning. Who knows how much that time sitting hurt his location.
“AJ didn’t have great fastball location all game. It got better the last couple of innings but then he sat for 30 minutes in the bottom of the 6th inning. Who knows how much that time sitting hurt his location.”
—————
none of us know how much.
that’s why criticizing Girardi is useless.
there was no indication that AJ would struggle in the 7th. In fact, every indication was that he was dominating the Angels lineup.
i was a tthe game. the whole painful affair. near the left field foul line so i cannot comment on balls and strike here are my observations.
damon was safe at first whenever that play occured i could tell from almost 375 feet away.
aj is a clown. after 12 pitches the yanks were down 4 zip i think, he adjust as quickly as the flat earth soceity gang
after the yanks took the lead i said to my buddy anyone gets on pull the trigger and remove aj. of course brain surgeon leave him in for 2 baserunner. the obligitory fasstball down the middle to the 211 mathis and then of course the walk.
hughes did not do his job.
put out an apb for the missing person robertson joba lives on. joba gave up his standard rope hit off the wall. he is good for 1 of those each game.. the love affair with that slob is over.. he need sto be moved down in the pecking order. hughes failed, they counted on MO to save there bacon again and then the offense teased and came up small again.
tex with a 1 pitch AB in the 9th, he has 3 hits in about 5 games. swisher stinks, and cano got lucky he got hit by the pitch.
i said sciosa would not do it but i would have kept weaver in the game over fuentes in a heartbeat. if they won it would have been a great win they get no points for making it close.
the old yankee great teams after they go up by 2 in the 7th end the series tonight, the pen is floundering and there is no sugar coating it.. girardi insist on using joba over robertson when joba deserves none of that ……..
girardi pinch running arod in the 9th was also a moronic move, he is a clown………..
Pat, aaron boone has an axe to grind. After the 2003 season he blew out his knee playing basketball, and the yanks cut him on the spot, rather then pay him. He lost out on $5 million. I guess he has 5 million reasons to be angry.
Definately. Gotta pitch differently. I’m sure he just wanted to let it fly and not get in bad counts. Last thing he wants to throw are curves in the dirt anyways.
Basically A-Rod’s great playoff run could be over because no one is going to pitch to him with the game on the line so it is up to the other guys to step it up.
Wow so is has already begun. Wallace Matthews already has a column out that the yankees are two losses away from the franchise biggest collapse.
what did joba the dope say after the game??
swisher stinks. cano is the 2nd worst player when it counts now to swisher since he is hit like figgins….
aj in 1 batter to long. joba in for no reason, and mo saving them again that is the bullpen.. hughes trying to be to fine… what the f is he talking about!!!!throw strikes punk……..
Why would you throw strikes to Vladdy? Throwing a strike got a single past the diving Jeter.
Leaving LAX…
The rally monkey recedes…
Going home to ghosts…
Jay
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:37 am
I never want to see AJ Bustnett again on this team. He is a disgrace to the Yankee uniform. Would Whitey have turned in a performance like this in a clinching gamr? Yogi? Ruth? Reggie? Ford?
hes handed a lead in the 7th and only 80 pitches and can’t close the deal? get him off my team
————————————————————
You’d better go look up some of those games that Ford and the others turned in. When you’re done there, BUZZ OFF, idiot.
“Basically A-Rod’s great playoff run could be over because no one is going to pitch to him with the game on the line so it is up to the other guys to step it up.”
They did! I hope you didn’t miss it. It was great!
If the Yanks win Saturday, this will all be forgotten and they’ll have won what would appear on paper to be a rather easy series 4 games to 2.
As long as the hitters in front of and behind Rodriguez do their jobs, they have no choice but to pitch to Rodriguez.
that’s why criticizing Girardi is useless.
———-
It’s not useless, everyone is allowed to have their own opinion. He brought him out for the 7th inning fine but I just don’t understand why he gave him another batter after the hit. You have a rested bulllpen with the lead go to your best guys.
Ed in PR October 23rd, 2009 at 1:54 am
Why would you throw strikes to Vladdy? Throwing a strike got a single past the diving Jeter.
=======================================
Exactly!
I understand they wanted a high fastball, but why would you throw Vlad ANY kind of fastball (high/low/inside/corner) on a 1-2 count?
100 pitches of fun…
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:59 am
that’s why criticizing Girardi is useless.
———-
It’s not useless, everyone is allowed to have their own opinion. He brought him out for the 7th inning fine but I just don’t understand why he gave him another batter after the hit. You have a rested bulllpen with the lead go to your best guys.
————————————————————
Yeah? How did that bullpen do after Marte left the game?
100 pitches,
my point was never that your opinion was useless. I was simply saying that none of us knew how AJ would do in the 7th so it seems useless to criticize Girardi for not knowing. How could he know? AJ had done nothing but shut down the Angels lineup for 5 straight innings.
If you think Joe should have pulled him after the 4 pitch walk that’s fine but I think most managers in the game will give their starter 1 more chance after that assuming the pitch count is low (and AJs was).
The game was ultimately lost by the very bullpen that people are criticizing Girardi for not bringing in earlier.
if the bullpen didnt have it tonight, what difference does it make whether they blow it to start the 7th or end the 7th?
Too bad the Yanks don’t have a decent hitter on the roster to replace Swish. His big long grand slam swing is so annoying to watch. I would start Hairston but I doubt Girardi would do that.
I am Sorry but Joe Girardi is the main reason the team Blew it! Here’s my points.
- 7th inning, you don’t send AJ back to the mound after almost 30 minutes [without stretching - Did you see CC stretching a few times while waiting on Tuesday? - Well, AJ did nothing] getting Stiff.
- Game on the line, 9 outs away from getting to the WS…. Please surprise and SHOCK the world bringing MO in the 7th. I can guarantee that would ended up killing them [that is streategy] Let MO get the 7th & 8th and watch the pitch count if he’s around 20 bring him back to finish the game, if he’s @ 30 bring back to close the game Dave Robertson.
- Neither Phil Hughes or Joba are having a good Postseason, please Stop using them in key situations, they looked completely in PANIC!
- DO NOT PINCH RUN FOR A-ROD!!! What are you doing? besides that, Guzman did not even try to steal second, so what’s the logic to that substitution?
- Last but not least, please, please, please PINCH HIT FOR SWISHER, Jerry Hairston was more suitable to hit a line drive 10 times, before Swish gets a hit. I am Sorry, but with the game on the line and having already Swish missed in the 7th, you just have to remove him.
Overall, very, very, very poor managing by Joe Girardi. He just don’t have a feeling for what the game calls for, and that is hurting the team so bad.
Also, where’s the bench coach??? Tony Peña is not even near Girardi when he has to take critical decisions, only Eiland is right next to him. Please Somebody Slap Girardi and tell him to wake up!
Swisher is horrible he got a fastball right down the middle from Fuentas and just hit a weak pop up. I’d start Gardner he could at least bunt and do some things with his speed and probably just slap a hit against Saunders. Swisher is an automatic out right now.
“DO NOT PINCH RUN FOR A-ROD!!! What are you doing? besides that, Guzman did not even try to steal second, so what’s the logic to that substitution?”
————–
rather than pick through your entire post, I picked one.
Even if Guzman doesn’t steal a base –
Guzman had a better chance to score from 1st on a double. Guzman had a better chance to score from 2nd on a single.
Guzman had a better chance to score from 3rd on a sac fly.
The only objective at that point was to score that run. You worry about extra innings if you’re lucky enough to reach them.
Evan October 23rd, 2009 at 2:01 am
=======================================
Exactly!
I understand they wanted a high fastball, but why would you throw Vlad ANY kind of fastball (high/low/inside/corner) on a 1-2 count?
Because he showed him 2 good curves in a row and there was no way he would catch up to the 95 MPH heater up and in… Just a guess
Gardner is not going to start against Saunders on Saturday.
Evan October 23rd, 2009 at 2:01 am
Bunting in the 9th inning of a tied game played away is not the right call. Atleast Swisher worked the count. More than I can say for Gardy. Theres reasons why he doesn’t start…
the guzman pinch run was not a good move under any circumstances… they pinch ran for alex friggin rodriguez… no friggin way.. matsui ok, maybe but arod…
he can score from first on some doubles………..
if the bullpen didnt have it tonight, what difference does it make whether they blow it to start the 7th or end the 7th?
—————-
Who knows if Hughes would of been better if he started the inning or came in with 1 runner on base. Maybe he would of been more calm pitching a fresh inning with no base runners. Did Hughes just not have good location or was he nerved by the situation…No one knows…
“- DO NOT PINCH RUN FOR A-ROD!!! What are you doing? besides that, Guzman did not even try to steal second, so what’s the logic to that substitution?”
————-
Yeah that was an odd move especially with a lefty on the mound. Did Girardi really want Guzman just to steal on first move that is way too risky? Imagine if Guzman got thrown out to end the game with Matsui at the plate.
Evan that last post wasnt for you sorry it was for XLJ. I got the lights off here and could hardly see the keyboard =)
Pulling Arod was a weird call.
bottom line tex, swisher, and cano have been horrendous offensively. no insult just the facts…
gardner is more then just a pinch runner but girardi forgot that. i would not play gardner against a lefty but a right i may think about it…….
aj came up small bottom line. personal catcher.. bob gibson, steve carlton, greg maddox they get there own catcher aj!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!please.. aj should pitch to whomever they let him do and joba should get fined everytime he shakes off the catcher……..2 meatheads of the highest order.
joba is putting dents in outfield walls all over the league with the ropes clowns hit off him….
“bottom line tex, swisher, and cano have been horrendous offensively. ”
————
cano’s clutch 2 run double to give the yanks the lead was Horrendous with a capital “H”
If we make it past the Angels Molina will not catch AJ anymore bet on it. They will drop Cervelli and bring in Hinske. His bat couldve easily been used in that 9th inning.
I applaud Girardi for pulling him for Posada. He showed me something. The best move he did tonite
Gardner hit 291 with a 381 obp in 55 at bats against leftys in the regular season. I would take a chance on him. Swisher is an automatic out at this point.
“DO NOT PINCH RUN FOR A-ROD!!! What are you doing? besides that, Guzman did not even try to steal second, so what’s the logic to that substitution?”
————–
rather than pick through your entire post, I picked one.
Even if Guzman doesn’t steal a base –
Guzman had a better chance to score from 1st on a double. Guzman had a better chance to score from 2nd on a single.
Guzman had a better chance to score from 3rd on a sac fly.
The only objective at that point was to score that run. You worry about extra innings if you’re lucky enough to reach them.
——————————————————–
I could understand the move with less than 2 outs. Remember that came with 2 outs recorded [ Damon & TEX ] In that situation A-Rod or Guzman were running on contact, If Matsui Scored from First on a Cano’s triple, A-ROD easily would have done the same. So, no It was not the right move.
Swisher has been clutch in the reg season atleast, and gives that bottom of the order more pop.., Technically, hasnt seen much production aside from Melk. Cant bunch Cano Melk and Gardner… IMHO
You can’t say anything about Matsui, Tex or Cano in this game. They got their hits in the game when they had to. Swish had 2 chances in this game and failed in both. In the 6th inning with Cano on 3rd and 2 outs then the meatball in the 9th He is terrible and is hitting a big .100 in the series.
ok Girardi great joke new lineup
Derek Jeter
Johnny Damon
Mark Tex
A Rod
Matsui
Jorge Posada
Robinson Cano
Melky Cabrera
Jerry Hairston
You can’t say anything about Matsui, Tex or Cano in this game. They got their hits in the game when they had to. Swish had 2 chances in this game and failed in both. In the 6th inning with Cano on 3rd and 2 outs then the meatball in the 9th He is terrible and is hitting a big .100 in the series.
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That is a very accurate line. Girardi is very affraid to go on the other direction. He just let the players fail badly!
“I could understand the move with less than 2 outs. Remember that came with 2 outs recorded [ Damon & TEX ] In that situation A-Rod or Guzman were running on contact, If Matsui Scored from First on a Cano’s triple, A-ROD easily would have done the same. So, no It was not the right move.”
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He pitch ran for Matsui with Guzman with two outs at the stadium too. I believe in the extra inning game. That is so stupid Matsui is A-Rod’s protection in the lineup. Girardi really needs to be careful when to take him out. Do not take him out with 2 outs. Seriously Cashman needs to take Guzman off the roster in the world series just so Girardi wont be tempted to make such a stupid decision.
Ed in PR
October 23rd, 2009 at 2:20 am
Swisher has been clutch in the reg season atleast, and gives that bottom of the order more pop.., Technically, hasnt seen much production aside from Melk. Cant bunch Cano Melk and Gardner… IMHO
____________________________________________________
Yes, but Swisher has been a shell of his regular season self for the past 8 games. I’m not sure how much longer he can start with the hopes that he will break out, because it may not happen.
Torre benched Tino in the 1996 World Series when he was struggling. Granted, we had a much better bench with Cecil Fielder as his replacement. But I think at this point, Girardi must at least consider taking Swisher out of the lineup.
I like Posada in the 5 spot with Mats behind him. Posada has hit the ball alot better than Mats has
This is how you know it isn’t 2004 again.
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/.....01846.jpg/
Scared off the Wall
I get it but who would you replace him with? Shift Melk and add Gardy to the CF? Would you like a bottom of the order that looks like this?
7: Cano
8: Melk
9: Gardner
Doesnt look like our A lineup to me in crucial games 6 and 7.
Swisher is showing no signs of pop. If he was getting a lot of walks then he is fine there would be no need to think about taking him out of the lineup for a game.
But all he is doing is making outs. You dont even need him to hit homeruns all you want from him and Melky is just to get on base for the top of the order. Melky is doing that but Swish is not. Just bench him 1 game and have him start the world series.
Ed in PR
October 23rd, 2009 at 2:28 am
I like Posada in the 5 spot with Mats behind him. Posada has hit the ball alot better than Mats has
_____________________________________________________
Actually, Matsui is hitting .294 in the series with 5 hits while Posada is hitting .267 with 4 hits. A lot of people think Matsui has been struggling because he didn’t hit in Game 4 but he’s been good otherwise.
Boston Dave you keep saying 80 pitches.
MLB.COM GAMEDAY says AJ threw 89 pitches,not 80 after 6!!
He pitch ran for Matsui with Guzman with two outs at the stadium too. I believe in the extra inning game. That is so stupid Matsui is A-Rod’s protection in the lineup. Girardi really needs to be careful when to take him out. Do not take him out with 2 outs. Seriously Cashman needs to take Guzman off the roster in the world series just so Girardi wont be tempted to make such a stupid decision.
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… and Guzman got a big “K” when he was at the plate later that game. I can understand a pinch run type of thing, but when you receive a free pass, even with 2 down, many things can change in a hurry, not so much if you take out A-ROD or Matsui for a AAA player.
I am worry to see if we can get it going early on Saturday, it does really scared me, players will show up death. Obviously ’04 is still on my brain!
Bench him now is a panic move and assures no one of a victory. If anything it weakens or lineup dramatically. In my eyes that AB by Swisher in the end was one hell of an AB. With all that pressure on him he did manage to make yet another out but he didnt look lost at all in that AB. Thats what you look for when you “need” to bench someone.
Ed in PR
October 23rd, 2009 at 2:33 am
Scared off the Wall
I get it but who would you replace him with? Shift Melk and add Gardy to the CF? Would you like a bottom of the order that looks like this?
7: Cano
8: Melk
9: Gardner
Doesnt look like our A lineup to me in crucial games 6 and 7.
_____________________________________________________
I’d maybe consider Hairston instead of Gardner. But I can’t imagine Gardner or Hairston doing any worse than what Swisher is doing now. The lineup certainly looks better with Swisher on paper but the reality is that he’s not hitting right now. Sadly, Gardner has the same amount of hits as Swisher in this series with about 15 less at bats.
Ed in PR October 23rd, 2009 at 2:17 am
If we make it past the Angels Molina will not catch AJ anymore bet on it. They will drop Cervelli and bring in Hinske. His bat couldve easily been used in that 9th inning.
I applaud Girardi for pulling him for Posada. He showed me something. The best move he did tonite
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what are you talking about Babe Posada went 0-2 and struck out looking.
Scared off the Wall
Actually, Matsui is hitting .294 in the series with 5 hits while Posada is hitting .267 with 4 hits. A lot of people think Matsui has been struggling because he didn’t hit in Game 4 but he’s been good otherwise.
================================================
Good point there but I do like the 2 switch hitters infront and behind A Rod. But then again Cano would cause a L-L towards the bottom of the order aswell. I guess thats why Girardi makes the lineup cards and not me =)
Swisher is showing no signs of pop. If he was getting a lot of walks then he is fine there would be no need to think about taking him out of the lineup for a game.
But all he is doing is making outs. You dont even need him to hit homeruns all you want from him and Melky is just to get on base for the top of the order. Melky is doing that but Swish is not. Just bench him 1 game and have him start the world series.
——————————————————
Swish is geting under the ball, a clear sign that he is swinging for the fences. That approach is what the Yankees had from ’04 till ’08. One hit at the time, one base at the time. Swish is taking pitches, almost 6 every at bat.which is a positive sign, but his swing is actually better then TIGER WOODS !!!
Evan
what are you talking about Babe Posada went 0-2 and struck out looking.
———————————————–
He also got on base with a walk in the 9th. Pretty critical moment to get a walk dont ya think? What are Molinas number so far in the postseason since your the stat head.
Girardi is an idiot ! He has a fresh, ready Mariano Rivera and he says I’m not going to use him until the 9th inning. When he should use him as soon as there is trouble.
Then he continues to use Swisher when he can’t even hit fastballs down the middle. Fuentes gave him a pitch that anyone could drive and he failed. They need to take him out of the lineup. But good old Joe won’t.
haiku-man,
he threw 89 pitches total, so he came into the 7th inning having thrown about 80 pitches.
Evan
what are you talking about Babe Posada went 0-2 and struck out looking.
———————————————–
He also got on base with a walk in the 9th. Pretty critical moment to get a walk dont ya think? What are Molinas number so far in the postseason since your the stat head.
========================================================
Totally wrong !! Posada did not get on base on the 9th. It was A-ROD [IBB], MATSUI [BB], CANO [HBP] …. SWISHER [PO5] … MELKY and POSADA !
Jeremy…I sat in the 3rd row behing the plate tonight…..I was stunned when AJ came out after sitting for 30 minutes….The bullepn was guys getting up and then sitting back down…..Hughes was very tentative with Tori ( actually I though he was pitching around him ), however he had Vladdy set up for a high inside fastball….Vladdy very likely would have bitten on that pitch….Jorge was standing up for crying out load…..Young Master Hughes instead chucks a 93 mph fastball fight down the chute…..Swisher gets an even better pitch on 3-2 and skies it……All I can say is that Giradi is learning postseason stratergy on the job….Bombed in Game 3 & now in Game 5…Hey, I thought it’d be a 6 game series anyway
Pat M.
At first I wasn’t mad if we lost this game. But when the offense came back and the Yankees took the lead I was back into this game. But then Joe Blowardi keeps A.J. in the game. Then after two guys get on he brings in Hughes in a high pressure situation. But I will admit Hughes failed, but as soon as he walked Hunter he should have went to Robertson and then Rivera for 2 innings.
We would all be happy that the Yankees are going to the World Series. But because Joe Blowardi and his stupid moves the Yankees have to play Game 6. Joe has no feel for the game, and he has given 2 games to the Angels. If he wasn’t manager this series would be over by now.
Jeremy, his failure in Games 3 & 5 with his bullpen mgr’ment was costly…..Hughes had Vladdy on a hook, and he let off …….Swisher had a pitch he could have driven right up the middle, instead he flies out……
Pat M.
I know that you said that you were at the game so I’m sure it was frustrating watching it up front.
Joe Blowardi has given the Angels two games. You have to wonder if he is on the Angels payroll. The guy just lacks a feel for the game and he goes by his playbook which sucks.
At first I didn’t believe it but I am starting to agree with many fans that the Yankees are playing good in spite of Joe. Joe Blowardi= Grady Little (at least he only blew one game for his team)
Jeremy there are times that I think Giradi who sat in the dugout as Torre’s bench coach, has gone the way of Tony LaRussa game management…..Pulling Robertson was the # 1 bell ringer & then letting AJ come out after sitting 30 minutes was the # 2 bellringer as they both led to loses…..I like Giradi as the new skipper of the club, and I think he’ll only get better, however this series has seen some of his miscalulatons…….When does he let a starter who suffers from control issues start the top of the 7th after warming the bencg for over 30 minutes….The equation was Joba ( 7th ) Hughes ( 8th ) Rivera nails it in the 9th…….Game over…..Robertson I believe is being saved in case the games goes extra frames….
Another thing about Joe Blowardi. Why would you pinch run for Alex in the 9th ? He has to be the most idiotic managers in the game today. I have never seen such stupidity.
Then he continues to go to his homeboy Swish. When he can’t even hit a dang fastball right down the middle from Brian Freaking Fuentes.
Fuentes gave a pitch to Swish telling him this is a gift for you which will send you to the world series, but Swish failed.
sorry-manager
Pat M.
That is what I was saying. I was surprised that A.J. was still in the game after his performance and the long wait. You don’t go back to your starter in that situation. He refuses to go to Robertson even though he has been the best out of the pen this postseason besides Rivera. And he keeps on going to Joba when he has done nothing but fail all year long. Blowardi doesn’t learn from his mistakes, he is a hard-headed fool. And if the Yankees win it all it won’t be because of his management. The players are going to have to continue to step up.
Jeremy, His pulling impect sticks out of the game ( Matsui in one game so Gardner can get thrown out….Only to later have Gardner coming up in he 5 hole after Alex…..Then tonight he yanks both of them with the hope that his club can at tie the game if not win it….Fuenetes wildness almost made Giradi look smart…..However if we went extra innings it’s Hairston in A-rods spot, and I forget who would be hitting in Matsui’s sopt…….Makes us wonder that Giradi is hitting too many buttons…And it’s cost him…..
I know one thing. The players need to step up and win big in Game 6 because you do not want this game in the hands of Joe Blowardi.
One positive from this entire series is that even when the Angels win it’s because of Girardi and even when they do win it’s very close. Fuentes was giving the game away to the yankees.
Why is Swisher still in the lineup?
Postseason: 3-29 (0.103),1RBI,0HR,3BB,10K(!)
ALCS alone: 2-17 (0.117),0RBI,0HR,3BB,6K
He struck out every 1 out of 3AB. He swings at balls on dirt. He can’t take walks. His defense isn’t particular. Gardner or Hairston are faster fielders and can’t do any worse at batting.
Tex, Cano and Cabrera also struggle, but their defense are irreplaceble.
Sit Swisher! At least we have a paper cannon on bench for PH!
I would still give Hughes the ball in the 8th inning. I would try Robertson for the 7th.
Not having Hienske on the roster is painful when it gets lake in the game…..Yanks ahve been very good hiding the loss of Wang & Nady, but there’s times when their absence, odor the failure to replace them….Hairston has been adequate,but he’s not a player of Nady’s stature….Hieske has to be on the WS roster…..
Fuentes is not the greatest closer. He admitted in the post game comments that he was worried. But Swisher complied and flied out to end the game.
I thought at least Swisher would walk so it would tie the game but that didn’t happen.
Girardi should use Robertson for the seventh and not use Jobba at all. If Jobba and Hughes keep shaking off Posada, they should be fined by the club.
Girardi should not have pulled Arod, I don’t know what he was thinking. Arod can run, he has speed and that was one of the stupidest moves that I have seen besides the Robertson move in Game 3.
Just me thoughts and observations.
Tough loss for our boys last night. Gotta keep the faith though! One more win and the pennant comes back to New York!! God bless the Yankees!
It’s happening again, isn’t it?
“AJ didn’t cost them the game. He did a great job giving them 5 shut out innings after the 1st inning. It’s not his fault that his manager is a moron and decided to stick with him way too long.”
Sorry, but I don’t agree that AJ is absolved of any responsibility here. He is the main reason why they lost, followed by Hughes and then Girardi.
I forgot Swisher before Girardi.
Burnett was throwing well in the 6th and his pitch count was low. It would have been another case of overmanaging to remove him. Once he gave up the hit, it was his job to get the next man. Instead, he walked him. The walk was inexcusable. The game turned on that walk and Hughes’ meatballs to Vlad and Morales.It’s a shame, but the blame lies on those 2 pitchers.Girardi did fine. Let’s shake it off and win it at home.
AJ sat for 30 minutes in the top half of the 7th.
Mathis had already hit him hard all night.
I would have pulled him for Robertson. But, if you want to have him start the 7th, that’s ok.
However, once he gave up the hit, Girardi had to take him out for Robertson. Not Chamberlain, who has been awful in the last 3 months of the season, Robertson.
You know, the guy who has been lights out in the pen this post-season yet, the manager refuses to use in these spots. Despite the fact that when he created the “formula”, Robertson was his 7th inning guy and did a great job.
The Yankees have a problem. A BIG problem.
They have a rookie post-season manager who is showing the world he isn’t yet ready for this stage.
The only way to win this series is to win Game 6 like they did Game 4. Score enough runs to take the game out of the manager’s hands.
If not, we now know there is a very big chance Girardi will make decisions to impact the game in a negative way for the Yankees.
Here are his mistakes from the 7th inning on:
No Robertson.
Stayed too long with Burnett.
Stayed WAY too long with Hughes.
Pinchrunning for Arod. That’s akin to batting him 8th in the managerial foolish derby.
Not having Hairston hit for Swisher. Only Joe Girardi would think that a guy who can’t hit a beachball right now was going to come through in that situation.
You pinch run for the best player on the planet and don’t pinch hit for the worst hitter on the team with the tying and winning runs on base. Makes no sense at all.
What if the Yankees tied the game on the off chance Nick Swisher could actually hit a baseball? No Arod for extra innings.
How does that make any logical sense?
Plus, you replace him with a guy who can’t read pitchers so, he isn’t going to take the chance to run.
Once Hughes walked Hunter, he has to be out of that game. Either go to Robertson or go to Mo.
Don’t give me this nonsense its, “too early for Mo”.
This is not May. This is for the pennant. You do what you have to do to win the game. Formulas go out the window.
The bottom line is, Girardi has given the Angels 2 wins in this series. That ain’t good.
If I was a veteran player on this team, and there are several who aren’t happy campers with the manager right now, I’m telling my teammates, “We have to take the game out of the hands of the manager”.
You do that by having better AB’s, take advantage of scoring opportunities, and do whatever you can in Game 6 to have a lead large enough for Girardi to not affect the outcome in a negative way.
You don’t want Game 7 for a bunch of reasons.
One, its advantage Angels because the Yankees will be in full choke mode.
Two, Girardi can’t handle a Game 7. That’s as plain as day right now.
Three, even if they win a Game 7, you lose CC until Game 3 of the World Series and that is a BIG advantage for the Phillies.
Nothing good comes from a Game 7 for the Yankees.
In other words, they better play Game 6 with a Game 7 type of desperation.
I agree with Pat M. Robertson was being held back for extra innings. Robertson is the “second closer,” if you will, in the event of a tie game where Mo has already done his job.
Tough loss.
Nothing much to say, but I was just hoping Swish would take a walk. That’s one of his strengths, but he’s been pressing – he pretty much said as much in his post game- he was trying to calm himself down. Ken Singleton, I believe, had i right when he suggested that perhaps Swish should have stepped out of the batter’s box a few times a la Bernie Williams. It usually annoys the pitcher enough to get a walk out of it, or a pitch good enough to hit. In this case, the DID get a pitch good enough to hit, but since he’s really not hitting, the walk would have been gold. Personally, I was thinking Fuentes would throw a wild pitch.
I also think, yes, Girardi could have taken AJ out after not having success with the first batter. Perhaps if he had walked the first batter instead of giving up a hit, he would have been out. It’s irrelevant, though, because what ultimately cost the game was Hughes did not spot his pitch to Vlad. Would anyone argue that Hughes should not have been brought into the game? I would not. Hughes has been a good bet most of the year, even if he hasn’t been as sharp lately. If he gets one out, then he gets to start the 8th, and we probably never see Joba. Joba is not the guy GIrardi’s going to with a guy on base.
It’s so easy to blame the manager; but ultimately when the guys who have been doing the job for you all season don’t do it, it falls on the player himself.
I still hate Hughes and Swisher
The manager has to put the team in the best possible position to win.
Girardi didn’t do that in 2 of the 3 games in this series.
Since when is Joba the choice over Robertson? That’s what I don’t get.
He’s been awful since July and Robertson has been lights out.
Its not about saving people at this time of year.
The bullpen had 2 days off and an off day today.
There is no excuse for Robertson not being in that game.
It made no sense last night and it makes less sense today to me.
It just tells me the guy is in his first season as a post-season manager and, stats, charts and regular season (which means NOTHING now) work aside, isn’t quite ready for primetime yet.
It means the players have to take control of the team and do what’s needed to win this series.
They keep it close, they are at a disadvantage due to the inexperience of their manager.
Someone take Girardi’s idiotic stats and throw them down the toilet. Can we please get a manager with some feel for the game?
The problem is, he’s Cashman’s guy and after putting in Aceves the other day, Cashman declared that Girardi’s been doing a “fantastic job”.
And don’t tell me Girardi’s the reason the Yanks have been winning all season. What manager COULDN’T win with this group of guys?
One last point from me.
Andy Pettitte got pulled from the start in Minnesota, where he was dominating, after 81 pitches.
Yet, Burnett doesn’t get pulled in the 7th for Robertson?
Since when does AJ Burnett, a guy with a history of failure, get a longer leash than Andy Pettitte?
Again, these moves, like the dumb personal catcher for a guy who can’t throw strikes, make no sense.
At this point, the players have to take control of the series.
Win by a large enough margin to keep their manager from impacting anymore games.
Its their only chance to win the series.
Robertson has been good. But in one of those games, he gave up two quick bullets that Teixeria was able to pull in – very hard hit balls. He ended those innings well, but perhaps Girardi’s thinking about those hard-hit balls in that situation. And even if bringing AJ back in was the wrong move, if Hughes makes his pitch to Vlad, the inning probably ends 6-5 and it’s a way different game.
I just have a hard time dealing with the manager getting ALL the blame, when it comes down to, ultimately, guys who have been doing the job all along, do not.
I don’t know why, but for some reason I was unaware that ARod was being pinch run for. That, I agree, was not a good move, especially if you go into extras. You lose ARod’s bat and fielding. And if Hairston was then going to come into the game anyway, you might as well pinch hit him for Swisher – he could not have done worse than Swish at this point, and without ARod in the lineup, you better get 2 runs in the top of the ninth, because the extra inngs would involve a lot of praying without ARod and Matsui. Although, there are now situations where ARod’s bat is being removed by IBB anyway.
To win the pennant, you gotta go with the hot hands: Robertson in the 7th, and pinch hit for 0-fer-California Swish. Girardi needs to get his he out of the book and watch the game.
Doreen,
Joba and Hughes have been bad the entire post-season yet, Girardi keeps running them out there is big situations.
David Robertson has 2 post-season wins and has been lights out.
The two games in Anaheim were directly affected (in a negative way for the Yankees) by Girardi’s poor decisionmaking.
That’s his job…..to make the right decisions in big spots.
Unfortunately, he is showing that the stage is too big for him right now. That’s a BIG problem.
The only way to solve it is for the players to put the games out of reach. A tall order to ask in the post-season since the games are usually close.
I’ve been a Girardi supporter all year. However, I’ve seen too many instances where I felt the stage is too big for him during the post-season. Last night? He gave that game away with his decisions. Second time he’s done in this series.
He’s the Angels best chance to win this series right now and that’s not good for the Yankees.
If Saturday’s game is rained out, do you go with CC for game 6 on Sunday?
SJ44 –
I can agree that Girardi is overusing his options. He seemed to play last night (and the other day, for that matter) as if the Yankees were the home team.
I know he is trying to “win the game now,” but if the moves don’t work, if the Yankees don’t score, he has left his lineup compromised.
And I can see that holding back Robertson in case of extras can be problematic and in conflict with the “win the game now” mode. And I agree that Joba is not shut-down, and he Robertson, Hughes, Mo worked very well for the Yankees, and last night could have ended diferently.
But it still comes down to Hughes not pitching Vlad where he wanted to, and, even in the other loss, Pettitte not pitching Vlad where he wanted to and no one hitting with runners in scoring position.
The players could have taken the game out of Girardi’s hands in both losses with better situational hitting. In the first inning last night, even with the horrible strike-3 call on Tex (a momentum switch, I guess), they had ARod and Matsui up and neither one did the job there. They Yankees could have taken the lead there.
So, if we’re now depending on the players taking the game out of the manager’s hands, then we’re in for a a lot of disappointment, as well.
I think the Angels were a tough team who weren’t gonna go down easy anyway, especially not in their rally-monkey, thunder-stick arena.
1 more win.
In which I go all baseball geek and explain that Mariano Rivera should have pitched the seventh inning
http://www.puristbleedspinstri.....riano.html
we had our chances….we just didn’t close.
we’ll get them Saturday.
can we not burn the bandwagon everytime we step out to pee?
The bottom line is this IS 2004 again UNTIL we win one of the next two games, don’t kid yourselves.
SJ -
How exactly do you know that “several veterans” are down on Girardi? Are you the equipment manager?
I always appreciate your insight. But sometimes pretending to be The Great Yankee Insider is too much. Hard to know if you’re not making this stuff up when you never explain your access to such input.
Good post Rebecca. And so far the best I’ve read about what Girardi could have done differently.
I hate second guessing, I try not to do it. For the most part, even last night, I still believe if the guys do their jobs, there is no game 6.
But I do agree with you about the best pitcher being used in the highest leverage situation. And the Pettitte idea – I like it. (I know CB, here, always talks about this and laments that no manager seems to be willing to break out of the same old, same old.)
I love how people complain that Giradi let AJ start then 6th inning. If they pulled him and put someone in who gave up runs they would crucify him.
AJ was great up until that point. Keeping AJ in is the by the book move. I personally always have that weird feeling when you are behind and have a big inning to take the lead, the starting pitcher is now in a different mindset.
I can’t blame Giradi for leaving him in there and hard to say you are gonna pull Hughes, but the nervous nelly in me wanted to see Robertson when you could tell just didn’t have it after the walk and hit.
Then again, anytime the Yankees lose there is always legions on people ready to blame the manager.
Swisher needs to get a few hits. If he did anything this seris some of the games would have been blown open.
Melky getting hits and Cano with the big 3B is encouraging going into game 6.
My gut told me they weren’t going to win Game 6, it’s not like the Angles are chopped liver. When you play a good team, games are gonna be tight and people are going to fail on both teams.
One last thought.
The pinch runners.
In any of the games they’ve been used, have they really made any difference?
I.
Don’t.
Care.
SHAKE IT OFF and get the next one behind AP, dammit!!
Interesting point about starting CC on Sunday if the game is rained out…is it more important to close this thing out or have your satff set up for next week?
Also, I thought the same thing SJ said regarding Girardi taking out Andy in Minny w/around 80 pitches and not doing the same thing with AJ and a chance to close this out.
I have no worries about this team, but for some reason I think Girardi is a loose cannon.
Will you people please stop answering the SJ44 impostor?
Ok, I can count on one hand the number of ways Joe Girardi lost this game for the Yankees…..Ok, 2 hands…..well, good thing I have toes….
Damaso Marte and his 10+ ERA? Phil Coke? Hello?
Then you bring in Hughes, who had an ERA of 9 in the LDS?
Then Joba, who must be so confused that he doesn’t even know where home plate is.
Then you pinch run for ARod?? What if that game goes extra innings and his replacement either loses the game in the field or at the plate?
Girardi will lose this series for the Yankees, and if he somehow gets the team into the WS he’ll lose that series with more stupid moves.
Anyone got some pepto bismol?
Bunting…SJ has indicated several times since 2006, what kind of cred he has and Pete has confirmed it.
If I’m correct it has to do with being associated with the sports world as a lawyer/agent. As such, he knows players/scouts/inside people the sport.
Girardi need to throw away his “book”. I’m sick and tired of his “better matchups” going from batter to batter. It’s getting retarded and it’s costing us GAMES.
Tough one last night…hopefully the Yanks can pick their heads up and play well at home. I don’t like the tone coming from what seems to be a defeated burnett and hughes…although it’s hard to know for sure their emotions by reading quotes. Guys just need to keep their heads up and maximize their effort in the next game (or the next 2 games)… Question I heard this morning…if the game gets rained out Saturday night, do we start CC or Pettitte on Sunday?
“Girardi need to throw away his “book”. I’m sick and tired of his “better matchups” going from batter to batter. It’s getting retarded and it’s costing us GAMES.”
Yeah, and it “cost” us the best record in baseball and a trip to the playoffs!
Girardi was just inconsistent last night and it most likely cost the Yankees the game and a chance to celebrate.
He yanked Andy in Minnesota in the same situation in the ALDS except Andy was pitching a much, much better game than Burnett and hadn’t sat for 30 minutes in the top of the 7th. I was in shock when he left him in to pitch to Aybar, it made no sense.
Then, after Vlade ties the game with that awful fastball from Hughes, he chooses to let Morales bat lefthanded when they’ve tried to turn him around all series. It wasn’t like Hughes had great stuff, he was missing location to every batter.
And pinch running for Arod was ridiculous, if they tie the game you’ve removed the heart of the order.
This is a great team, it’s too bad the manager has gotten so deep into his thought process that he’s let himself become the story. I’m not surprised there are some players unhappy with Girardi, I’m sure Posada is at the top of the list followed by Jeter, probably Damon, and even Mo, although none of them are going to say anything. They all want their rings, and know they should be heading to the World Series this morning.
The good news is that an angry Yankees team will probably knock the cover off the ball on Saturday. Teix had some good swings before the double last night and I don’t know how the Angels can cope with both Teix and Arod being hot at the same time.
Vader October 23rd, 2009 at 8:07 am
Interesting point about starting CC on Sunday if the game is rained out…is it more important to close this thing out or have your satff set up for next week?
Also, I thought the same thing SJ said regarding Girardi taking out Andy in Minny w/around 80 pitches and not doing the same thing with AJ and a chance to close this out.
I have no worries about this team, but for some reason I think Girardi is a loose cannon.
Without closing it out there is no next week so there is only one answer.
While confident, there is reason to worry. 1 out of three is now 1 out of two. LA has big Mo going for them and they aren’t coming back to NY to lay down. Yanks have some hitting and pitching problems and the decisions right or wrong do cost us runs per game.
This is all you need to know:
If Pettitte and Hughes threw curves in the dirt to Guerrero the Yankees would have won each of those games.
Thanks guys
Paul -
Marte got outs.
He had one bad outing, against the Twins, and Girardi’s never supposed to use him again? Marte did his job.
MG,
Excellent post. He is the story now, no doubt.
Only way he stops becoming the story is the players have to take the game out of his hands.
If not, he will be a bigger story on Monday when he blows this thing.
If the game is rained out, I still pitch Pettitte in Game 6.
Why? I’d rather have CC in reserve for a Game 7 than any other pitcher on the staff.
Plus, if they do somehow win Game 6, you have CC available for Game 1 of the WS.
If he panics and pitches CC in Game 6 if Saturday’s game is rained out, it will be another bad decision to put on the pile of bad decisions he has made in this series.
I’m hoping that won’t happen.
The Yanks have 2 shots to get this done. Home field, crazy crowd behind you, right field porch, non-crap SP going, clutch Andy, no Lackey, Posada in the lineup from the start.
If they don’t get this done the next 2 games…
I don’t think the Angels believe they have ‘big mo’, I think they are glad to squeeze out a game they had under complete control for 6 innings and head back to New York. They’ve only won 1 game at Yankee Stadium this year, that doesn’t exactly add to their confidence and know they have to face Andy first and then CC if they somehow manage to win game 6.
Some of thes trolls are hilarious. We played well beleive it or not, it’s one game.
We also had some chances early to score but failed with runners on base.
We’ll get em at home, Andy IS our big game pitcher. ALl our fears will be vanquished when we win 7-2 Saturday night.
MG…forgot about the fact that the whole series, Girardi has wanted Morales batting righty, why change now?
Unless the book tells him only to have Morales bat righty at the Stadium.
I listened to Joe’s post game interview, it was pretty meek. Like to be a fly in the wall or at the hotel to really hear what’s going on. The Hinske/Guzzman decision is really hurting us right now, the other stuff for the most part I can live with as it’s baseball.
I agree that the right thing to do is to start Andy in game 6 regardless and save CC for game 7/game 1. But this manager hasn’t done too many things right this season. He’ll probably start Joba both games.
We have 2 lefties, Marte and Coke.
Girardi chose Marte to face the two lefties in a row that inning.
Pretty simple desicion, in that spot, iit’s either Coke or Marte, not a big difference in the two.
Maybe joke thought he would mix it up, I’m not sure if Marte had even faced these guys before, maybe he thought he would throw them off guard.
SJ44 -
The team had the chance in both losses to “take the game out of Girardi’s hands” and did not get it done. Not hitting with RISP is no way to win games. And until the 6th inning, the Yankees did not do such a hot job of it last night, either. So, while it sounds great, it’s not all that simple. I’m sure if they could just “decide” to start hitting better, they’d have done it already.
Giradi’s made some questionable decisions. But in each case, if the players he’s called upon to do their jobs in fact do their jobs, the outcome is different.
“He’ll probably start Joba both games.”
Can Gardner play RF? Swisher needs to ride the bench.
MG October 23rd, 2009 at 8:26 am
I don’t think the Angels believe they have ‘big mo’, I think they are glad to squeeze out a game they had under complete control for 6 innings and head back to New York. They’ve only won 1 game at Yankee Stadium this year, that doesn’t exactly add to their confidence and know they have to face Andy first and then CC if they somehow manage to win game 6.
Well believe whatever you want, they have a great pitcher going and if they match their NY win total it’s game 7 winner take all. I hope Andy does pitch great he is more than capable of it. They aren’t thinking beyond Game 6, they know if they keep winning them one at a time they get to the promised land. They like us have supreme confidence in their ability to come back. I think they have done it two or three times this series.
Here is a stat that each of you who complain about the Yankees swinging at the first pitch need to understand:
Yankees TEAM Batting Average on 1st pitches: .366
That’s 80+ points higher than the overall team batting average. And, if you remove the first pitch from the overall average, it’s probably 100 points higher.
It’s fine to work counts in the early and middle innings and run up pitch counts, but, in the late innings, you hit the first good pitch you see, it’s been like that since the beginning of baseball at every level of the game.
Doreen October 23rd, 2009 at 8:30 am
SJ44 -
The team had the chance in both losses to “take the game out of Girardi’s hands” and did not get it done. Not hitting with RISP is no way to win games. And until the 6th inning, the Yankees did not do such a hot job of it last night, either. So, while it sounds great, it’s not all that simple. I’m sure if they could just “decide” to start hitting better, they’d have done it already.
Giradi’s made some questionable decisions. But in each case, if the players he’s called upon to do their jobs in fact do their jobs, the outcome is different.
Doreen I mostly agree, but not when it comes to the Hinske decision and how Joe has handled David Robinson and Gaudin
Doreen,
In the post-season, your manager has to show up.
6-4 lead, bottom of the 7th, bottom of the Angels order coming up, a fully rested bullpen, your manager can’t blow that game.
Yet, he did.
He’s a problem. A BIG problem.
Girardi is lost. He really is. He is so bound and determined to try and re-invent things and try to prop up players who can’t be counted on (Swisher, Burnett, and Chamberlain to name 3), he’s costing his team games.
This is the job you sign up for when managing the Yankees. You can’t choke in the post-season.
So far in this series, he needs CPR he’s gagging so bad.
Unfortunately, all the dumb moves have made him the story the rest of the way.
I am just hoping the players take it out of his hands because I have no confidence he will make the right decisions in crunch time.
Gary, under what definition is Joe Saunders ‘great’?
If he’s ‘great’, then is CC unbelievable, incredibly awesome?
If he’s great, then Andy is super great and the Yankees still have a huge advantage in both game 6 and game 7.
I will not engage in bashing of AJ or Phil. Let others think AJ is gutless – the guy had a rough first inning and so be it. I’m hardly surprised that both guys faced the music – they are stand up and accountable. It’s nothing more than I expected. I admit that I am very concerned about Phil. I suppose that I expected too much from a kid – I assumed he was lock down based on his regular season. I still think he’s going to be a stud starter, but what this means for his future post-season outings (this year and next), I don’t know. I’d like to think that he just had a bad outing and that it wasn’t the pressure that got to him. If it was the latter, that is a bad sign.
I will save my real anger for Girardi. I don’t blame him for AJ or Phil, but I expect to go to my grave never seeing a worse move than PR for Alex. Total, total panic…….in a series in which he is up 3-1. I don’t care what the situation is games wise, anyway – you NEVER take Alex out of a game. I’m sorry, there is NO defending that move. The players must have thought he was nuts…..and I wonder if he’s going to lose the clubhouse. If the Yankees make it to the WS (I’m sure people are already jumping off bridges), this guy is going to cost them. Imagaine Joe in an NL park? Oh brother…..I want him gone after this year no matter what.
I find it hard to swallow that a manager whose team won 103 games in the regular season hasn’t done a lot that’s right. Puh-leeze. I guess he’s the reason they lost 59 games and they won 103 in spite of him.
And what happened to all the talk about how little impact a manager actually has on a game? Yes, I know, the more moves he makes, the more impact he has. BUT, as the argument has gone, he doesn’t throw the ball, he doesn’t hit the ball and he doesn’t field the ball.
And how about Sciosia taking out Lackey?
And Fuentes wasn’t doing such a hot job either. Swish just did a worse job, got himself out.
The Angels are a good team and I don’t understand why it’s so hard to think that they simply did not want to lose – they came out swinging and then when given the opening in the 7th, got it done. It’s not like the Yankees are playing a scrub team. And the season series (Yes, I know, the playoffs have nothing to do with the regular season) was 5-5. Evenly matched teams with a lot of motivation to win and a lot of talent. I did not expect the Yankees to win more than 1 in Anaheim. The two games they lost were similar to the ones they lost before the ASB. This is how these two teams play each other. I like the Yankees chances at home.
They zeroed in on Mo’s face,in the dugout,he looked upset,and Andy was mouthing C’om.
Betsy =
You want Girardi fired? Seriously?
I get that people are upset about the loss. And I agree pinch running for Alex not the best idea and I didn’t hear anyone ask him about that move. But fired?
Doreen,
In the post-season, managing impacts game because the games are closer and you have to make good decisions.
Regular season numbers mean little because the Yankees can win 85-90 games in their sleep with anybody managing them because of the talent they have on the roster.
Its getting to the magic 11 wins (the number you need to win in the post-season) that seperates the men from the boys.
So far, Girardi has come up very, very small.
You know what would have been funny (in a bad way) last night?
If, for the first time in his life, Nick Swisher actually delivered a clutch, post-season hit to tie the game.
You know why? Arod would have been out of the game.
Brilliant move there, take out the best player in the world for a PR.
Girardi is in over his head. Its time for the team to bail him out again.
a few things:
1) absolutely MAJESTIC comeback tonight, but is anyone else a little peeved they did their one inning and said ‘that’s it’?
2) cc pitching game 6 on 3 days rest would work if he pitches game 1 of the WS on 3 days rest too, but going on 3 days rest 3 starts in a row = too much? we’re at a huge disadvantage if he doesnt get to start until game 3.
3) you KNEW it would be swisher and only swisher in that HUGE spot in the 9th. now i have faith in swish, but gardner is what, 2 for 3? i know its a little much to ask to bench him, but at least move him behind melky.
all in all a crushing loss. i heard the majestic comeback on the radio, and turned it off as i reached my destination. when i actually got inside and saw the score, it was 7-6
Why isn’t Swisher getting more of the blame around here? He left, I believe, 6 men on base in key late-inning spots with 2 outs. How come nobody interviewed him? He should feel worse than anyone on that team for popping up a fat meatball on 3-2, 2 outs bottom 9th. Unbelievable… and I love Swisher but for goodness sakes, SNAP OUT OF IT!
Cano at least got two big runs for us in the comeback inning.
When are the Yankee pitchers going to learn Vlad swings at garbage. Everything should be in the dirt! How do you attempt to throw up and in? In the dirt! That is where that pitch belonged!
we had to get Robertson in there somewhere, maybe instead of joba
MG October 23rd, 2009 at 8:37 am
Gary, under what definition is Joe Saunders ‘great’?
If he’s ‘great’, then is CC unbelievable, incredibly awesome?
If he’s great, then Andy is super great and the Yankees still have a huge advantage in both game 6 and game 7.
So many here don’t give credit to the other team. Even though I am a Yankee fan I do recognize that other teams aren’t just pushovers. Saunders line against the Yanks in his one post season start was 7 IP 6 Hits 2 runs. One run came from a Jeter HR. His record this year was 16-7. So I don’t know is he average, below average, just a slouch out there?
I know that it is hard to see the forest through the trees, but when the Yankees left for the west coast it was win one out of three. As we can all tell that is what happened.
Regarding momentum, there is this old baseball saying…momentum is only as good as your next starting pitcher.
CR9
Did he say anything about the pitch that was called a strike to Tex?? It would have loaded the bases!
I don’t understand the second guessing of Girardi by some fans. You have to stay with Burnett in the 7th. At that point A.J. was only at 80 pitches, just cruised through 5 innings. Considering the struggles of Joba and Hughes this postseason, staying with Burnett was the right decision.
However, I do believe the right move once Burnett had 2 baserunners was to go with Rivera. You save your best pitcher for the most important part of the game and that was where the Angels won the game. I don’t understand the lack of logic surrounding the closer role. There is no point saving Mo for the 8th or the 9th when the team is about to lose the lead in the 7th.
Arno October 23rd, 2009 at 8:45 am
Why isn’t Swisher getting more of the blame around here? He left, I believe, 6 men on base in key late-inning spots with 2 outs. How come nobody interviewed him? He should feel worse than anyone on that team for popping up a fat meatball on 3-2, 2 outs bottom 9th. Unbelievable… and I love Swisher but for goodness sakes, SNAP OUT OF IT!
Cano at least got two big runs for us in the comeback inning.
I don’t think Nick is talking to anyone, I’m sure they would like to talk to him.
Ok why are people complaining about taking A-rod out? It was a silly move for sure but it didn’t impact the game.
The plain fact is, A.J. Burnett and Phil Hughes came up short last night. The loss is 100% on those two guys.
Also if you say Girardi is in over his head, then so is Sciosa. Bringing in Oliver to face the heart of the Yankee lineup? I thought this guy was the manager of the year? What a joke.
Look, I’m not saying Girardi has done a great job in those two games. I am not saying I agree with all of the moves he made. I think the pinch running stuff has become a bad thing. I think Joe has too many options and while I see his point that you don’t want to think too far ahead, he is NOT thinking far enough ahead.
But if you’re asking me to trust that the players can be counted on to score enough runs so that no decisions or substitutions have to be made from here on out, I’m saying that’s not a reasonable request. The Yankees could have won by a blowout in the first game they lost; and they could have gone out in front last night and added to it along the way, if it was just that easy.
Add to it that if people don’t get on base in front of ARod, the Yankees have effectively lost his bat, then what you’re saying without saying it is you think the Yankees are doomed to lose the next two games.
I won’t go there.
And I won’t exonerate the players so easily. Pettitte and Hughes missed with Vlad – Hughes was being too fine with Hunter, and too fine with Morales. He said as much himself. He was not pitching the way he had been all season, which is to say, in attack mode. The playoff pressure got to Swisher – he basically said as much in his post-game – he said he was trying to calm himself down, and the noise in the stadium was also getting to him, from what he said (he specifically mentioned the noise). AJ came in to the 7th inning having thrown a low number of pitches for him. You can compare that to taking out Pettitte vs. Minnesota, but the fact is historically AJ is good for more pitches than Andy to begin with. He was facing the 8 and 9 batters in the lineup and he gave a hit up to a scrub hitter who seems to be getting hits in this series. He should have been taken out there, but he wasn’t. Marte did his job. Hughes did not. Hughes did not do his job.
The only move I absolutely cannot find any logic to is taking Alex out for a pinch runner.
The Angels are a good team. The Angels have good pitching. The Angels, when given a inch can take a yard. Two on no one out in the 7th was, I would say, giving them that inch.
And how can you not blame AJ for his first inning fiasco?????? 4 runs down to start the game? Against Lackey, their best pitcher. AJ did not “set the tone.”
Again, there is enough blame in this game to go around.
Betsy/Rocketbooster,
You can try to blame Girardi all you want, but your two guys AJ and Phil were the main reasons why the Yankees lost the game last night with no two ways about it.
jennifer October 23rd, 2009 at 8:48 am
CR9
Did he say anything about the pitch that was called a strike to Tex?? It would have loaded the bases!
Jennifer I wish it was but that one evened out. The call Lackey didn’t get really hurt LA also in the 7th. The walks and the bunt and then Phil missing the pitch against Viad really hurt.
Nick was interviewed after the game.
Vader
October 23rd, 2009 at 8:47 am
I know that it is hard to see the forest through the trees, but when the Yankees left for the west coast it was win one out of three. As we can all tell that is what happened.
***********
Agree. I heard a lot of people say they’d be thrilled if the Yankees only won one game in LA. I have complete confidence they’ll wrap up this series. You know Andy’s going to give everything he’s got, plus they’re playing at home where they have yet to lose in the post season.
Why are you guys answering that SJ imposter?
Gary- You know how much different the game would have been? Bases loaded no outs with Alex due up.
Patrick October 23rd, 2009 at 8:51 am
Ok why are people complaining about taking A-rod out? It was a silly move for sure but it didn’t impact the game.
The plain fact is, A.J. Burnett and Phil Hughes came up short last night. The loss is 100% on those two guys.
Also if you say Girardi is in over his head, then so is Sciosa. Bringing in Oliver to face the heart of the Yankee lineup? I thought this guy was the manager of the year? What a joke.
He brought in the left hander to face the left handers same thing that Joe did with Marte. It worked out for Joe and not for LA but it was the right matchup. Same can be said for Hughes, Joe brought him in for the righthanders and Phil didn’t get the job dome either.
Didn’t most people say we would win this in 5 or 6 games. Well we still have a chance to win it in 6!
Girardi didn’t look a gift horse in the mouth. A comeback and holding a 2-run lead with 9 defensive outs to get with assurance of Mariano for at least 3 hitters. Why not Robertson knowing there’s a day of travel and non use coming ?
No matter what, don’t use Chamberlain for the remainder of this series.
“You save your best pitcher for the most important part of the game and that was where Angels won the game. I don’t understand the lack of logic surrounding the closer role”
I don’t expect managers to grasp this concept now. It would have to be a brave manage. Max Kellerman has been saying this for years. Sometimes the game is on the line before the 9th inning.
You put your best in in that spot.
jennifer October 23rd, 2009 at 8:54 am
Gary- You know how much different the game would have been? Bases loaded no outs with Alex due up.
Not my point at all, Lackey didn’t get the call either. much different inning in the 7th is he got that Strike Out.
Nick Swisher was interviewed during the post game. He said he was just trying to hit the ball up the middle, didn’t want to do too much because with the way Cabrera has been hitting, he just wanted to get Cabrera up. He said he was trying to calm down. He talked about the noise in the stadium.
“I don’t expect managers to grasp this concept now. It would have to be a brave manage. Max Kellerman has been saying this for years. Sometimes the game is on the line before the 9th inning.
You put your best in in that spot.”
I agree, but it’s going to take a manager with a longer successful track record than Girardi to make that move.
It’s a pity CC can’t start every game,go 8 innings,then give it to Mo every game.Sip the rest!
mean skip the rest
The Umpiring has been bad all season, it’s just been magnified in the playoffs. Why oh why bring in Marte when you needed a strike-out? Swisher is a real liability at the plate, that is a time we needed Hinske on the roster. Swisher got an 89 mph fastball & couldn’t handle it. Time for Melky to go to right, Gardner in center, Damon in left. Taking Posada’s bat out of the line-up to appease Burnett was dumb. Be a professional Burnett, didn’t you give up 4 runs pitching to Molina?
How many managers would go to their closer in the 7th inning down a run? He threw the book out in that situation he knew they had to hold it!
Mark Teixeira is showing signs of coming out of his slump. Nick Swisher is not.
jennifer, that strike out of Tex totally changed that inning. Because it was a blown call. It was clearly a ball. Bases load and Alex up. They can’t pitch around him, and they sure pitch him differently. I don’t think Alex fouls out bases loaded, no outs (although for sure, we’ll never know).
And the non-strike out of Posada also changed an inning, this time in the Yankees favor. Although it was a much closer pitch to call than Tex’s.
“How many managers would go to their closer in the 7th inning down a run? He threw the book out in that situation he knew they had to hold it!”
Jennifer,
Girardi would’ve been up two runs in the 7th inning if he brought in Rivera after Marte.
“Didn’t most people say we would win this in 5 or 6 games. Well we still have a chance to win in 6!”
Yeah my original pick was 6 but after watching the games it should have been over in 4 or 5.
“He brought in the left hander to face the left handers same thing that Joe did with Marte. It worked out for Joe and not for LA but it was the right matchup. Same can be said for Hughes, Joe brought him in for the righthanders and Phil didn’t get the job dome either.”
No actually Sciosa really screwed up last night. He brought Oliver in to face Teixeira and Rodriguez. Teixeira is not a lefty, he’s a switch hitter who in the past was 2 for 3 with a walk off Oliver. Rodriguez is a monster. Also you are forgetting that Lackey was cruising through the game at that point and still going strong. Bringing in Oliver was the dumbest move of the game.
“I don’t expect managers to grasp this concept now. It would have to be a brave manage. Max Kellerman has been saying this for years. Sometimes the game is on the line before the 9th inning.
You put your best in in that spot.”
Exactly
“I agree, but it’s going to take a manager with a longer successful track record than Girardi to make that move.”
No, it’s going to take a manager with a smart baseball mind to make that move. Who cares about track record? What’s going to happen if Girardi makes that move? Mike Francessa yells about it the next day? Who cares?
“No, it’s going to take a manager with a smart baseball mind to make that move. Who cares about track record? What’s going to happen if Girardi makes that move? Mike Francessa yells about it the next day? Who cares?”
You’re out of your mind if you think it only takes a smart baseball mind to make that move.
Enough, people. Seriously. Most of you are acting like a bunch of babies. There was no need to take Burnett out of the game when he was dominating since the 2nd inning. You want to criticize him for over managing the other night (which he did, I was FURIOUS about pulling Roberston for Aceves) but tonight was not on Joe.
You guys can pick and gnaw at all of his managerial moves, but the bottom line is that this game was NOT on him.
The Yankees started the game off with back to back singles, and couldn’t score ONE run. That’s pathetic. 6th inning, they left man on first and second, couldn’t move anybody over. Swisher made TWO outs in ONE inning! He’s hitting .118!!!! He needs to be replaced in the line-up. Anyone at this point is better. You go with Gardner, the Angels at least have to WORRY about a bunt. With Swisher, it’s an automatic out.
So seriously, enough with criticizing Joe. He’s made some really horrendous moves this post season, but last night was not one of them. Some were questionable (Joba? Really? Come on)… but in the end, if the Yankees score runs when they should, Girardi doesn’t have the opportunity to screw up.
AJ gave up 4 runs in the first inning and shut the Angels down for the next 5. He gave his offense the opportunity to come back and they didn’t.
The tone of the game was set in the first inning when the Yankees blew the back to back singles by Jeter and Damon. End of story.
“Girardi would’ve been up two runs in the 7th inning if he brought in Rivera after Marte.”
Exactly. It’s the smart move to make in that situation. Mo comes in, gets out of the jam then pitches the 8th. Then piece the 9th together with Hughes/Joba/Coke/Robertson.
“You’re out of your mind if you think it only takes a smart baseball mind to make that move.”
How about you stop flinging insults and explain your point?
Hughes in the post season:
4.2 IP
5.79 ERA
.391 BAA
2.61 WHIP
’nuff said.
nemo
October 23rd, 2009 at 9:05 am
The tone of the game was set in the first inning when the Yankees blew the back to back singles by Jeter and Damon. End of story.
**************
I knew we were in for a rough game when they couldn’t score there. I think that really settled Lackey down, unfortunately.
“Exactly. It’s the smart move to make in that situation. Mo comes in, gets out of the jam then pitches the 8th. Then piece the 9th together with Hughes/Joba/Coke/Robertson.”
Could even argue keeping Mo in for the 9th given the 6 days off that would have been fortcoming had they held on.
Doreen, I think you are being awfully kind to Joe. HE didn’t win the 103 games, his team did because they are incredibly talented. Sure he gets some credit for steering the ship, but his players won the games. See SJ’s posts because they say it better than I can – he’s gagging like someone stuffed a towel down his throat. Panicky? Joe is the epitome of panicky – I’ve never seen anything like it. I honestly believe the players have to be ticked off at him and I don’t blame them. Maybe someone like David Cone can give Joe some straight talk, because the players won’t tell Joe. PR for Alex is the stupidest move I ever expect to see (regardless of the fact that it didn’t effect the outcome) and the fact that his feverish little brain actually thought it was a good move is disgraceful.
That said, Phil blew the game. I don’t blame the game on JOe.
“Could even argue keeping Mo in for the 9th given the 6 days off that would have been fortcoming had they held on.”
Yup I agree. That’s the aggressive move to try and clinch the series. I’m fine with aggressive moves but Girardi makes the wrong moves a lot of the time. I don’t have a problem with keeping Burnett in the game but after he fails you have to go to Mo.
“Exactly. It’s the smart move to make in that situation. Mo comes in, gets out of the jam then pitches the 8th. Then piece the 9th together with Hughes/Joba/Coke/Robertson.”
What happens if the Angels mount a comeback against those four in the 9th and win the game then? A lot of people would say it was a dumb move because you threw out the book and maybe even panic. Which is why I say it will take a manager with a good resume to make that gutsy move.
“How about you stop flinging insults and explain your point?”
Preach to somebody that cares to hear you.
Swisher had an excellent AB, he did everything right except hit the ball on the screws. Every pitch he swung at was a strike. You cannot fault a player for not getting a hit. Now if he popped up on the first pitch I’d say you can lay some blame. The only thing I would have done if I were Swisher was step out before that last pitch just to break Fuentes rhythm.
Craw, I don’t blame Joe for the game…I had no problem with him leaving AJ in there……I blame the game on Phil. All I said about AJ was that I won’t trash him – I just won’t call him gutless like most others were. I just won’t because I don’t think it’s true. Ok, he had a bad first inning – what is this, game 7? It happens. Phil was my boy first and it pains me to criticize him – but yes, he blew the game. I still love him and I still believe he will be a tremendous pitcher, but right now……..he did an awful job.
I bench Swisher now, to be honest. If he’s coming out and admitting that he’s feeling the pressure……that’s not good. It’s sad, actually. AT this point, he’s likely useless….
You guys can’t be serious about pitching Rivera in the 7th inning. It’s such brilliant strategy that no one in baseball has EVER used their closer in the 7th and left it up to others at the end of the game.
AJ starting the 7th is debatable. I thought take him out because of the long layoff, but as good as he was pitching that was risky too.
I’m just sick of 22 year old geniuses shaking off a 37 year old catcher with tons of post-season experience. Hughes shook off curve and cutter to throw a meatball right down the middle… jeez
Who did Scoscia use to keep his team in the mix,Weaver a starting pitcher,before they brought in FUENTES.
I think postseason game management is out of Joe pay grade.
If the Yankees make the next round,Charlie Manuel will out manage him.
Joe got these guts to buy into his brand of managing,but if they lose this series,or the WS because of bonehead moves, like this,he will lose the players respect and confidence in his mgmt style.
Let’s be serious for a minute. If the Yankees were playing Boston in this series, the Sox would have swept in 4. It’s only a light hitting Angels team with a questionable pitching staff and the Yankees are having a hard time getting past them.
And if by chance they do make it to the World Series, if Girardi manages this way in that series it’ll be an easy repeat for Philly.
Yes, Burnett was terrible in the first inning. I am hoping that helps keep Girardi from having Molina as his personal catcher. Its him, not who he is pitching to.
While I am disappointed with the results, and a little frustrated with the choices Girardi made regarding pitching changes, I felt a lot better about his management of the game.
I would have brought in Robertson over Joba, but I can’t totally fault him for that move. It didn’t work. I also would have pulled AJ once he had one runner on. While he had been dealing, it seemed the wrong time to press him.
If Girardi manages the games like this, it will be far better. His over-managing of the earlier games was worse than what we saw last night, and while it came up short, it didn’t show panic.
The trouble with last night as well was it coming down to Swisher. I enjoy watching him play and being a part of the team, but he has become even more frustrating than Burnett in this post season. A walk or a single would have at least tied the game, yet he can’t seem to get anything going this post season.
I had a little concern about pulling out Alex, but overall it was a sound move as you want to have great speed on the bases at that point. It was a do or die time for the game. They had Hairston to replace him in the infield, though if they tied and it went to extra innings it would have probably been a loss anyway.
The formula was simple.. Maybe AJ shouldn’t have started the inning. The fact is we had a 6-5 lead with 2 outs and Phil Hughes blew it. That’s not Girardi’s fault. Phil has been the setup guy all year, this was his spot.. Yeah Robertson has been lights out all season and yes the “formula” was Dave in the 7th.. But as you said SJ44, the book is out the window in the postseason. The 7th inning was the 8th inning for our bullpen because it was MO time for the last 6 outs. All Joe asked Phil to do was get 1 OUT.. Just 1. How can this possible be Joe’s fault? He followed the same “forumla”. Without a doubt Mariano was coming in for the final 6 outs. This loss falls on Phil Hughes.
As far as A-Rod being lifted for a pinch runner.. Well it was the 9th inning and we needed someone to run hard to score on anything in the gap. Given A-Rod’s hip, Joe was probably thinking, “why push him to score”. If Swisher could actually get a hit, this point would be mute. We would have had a 1 run lead and Mo back out there.
The better question is why is Swisher still starting?? It should be Gardner in center and Melky in right.
Ghost:
2nd ball he rolled foul down the 3rd base line was not a strike. I thought it was pretty defensive AB overall. Trying not to get out rather than looking to drive the ball.
It’s interesting that Girardi is so occupied with putting his stamp on each and every game that he didn’t bring Mo in during the 7th inning. Mo getting him out of that jam and the Yankees going on to win the game would have changed game strategy forever.
“What happens if the Angels mount a comeback against those four in the 9th and win the game then? A lot of people would say it was a dumb move because you threw out the book and maybe even panic. Which is why I say it will take a manager with a good resume to make that gutsy move.”
Ok like I said, Mike Francesa will complain and the fans will yell but who cares? Joe is the manager of the team and Cashman is smart enough to know a good move when he sees one. The fans have zero influence on a manager’s decision. Who cares if people yell?
Do you honestly think there’s a list of “Acceptable Moves” that a manager has to follow? Then when he wins a world series the list expands and allows him to do more things? I don’t think you understand how this works. The manager makes the decisions during a game. Not the fans, not the media, not the general manager.
“Preach to somebody that cares to hear you.”
Dude what’s your problem? I’m trying to have a baseball conversation here and you are just insulting me without explaining yourself. Get a life man
I could be wrong but if I am not mistaken, Mathis was the first batter up in the 7th and I believe he had 2 hits already in the game. Considering the amount of time Burnett had to sit and the fact Mathis had already hit Burnett, wouldn’t that be another reason not to send AJ out for the 7th? Hughes had a 1/2 count to Vlad. There was no reason to throw a fastball there. He was shaking Jorge off and when Jorge stood up, you knew what was coming.
“If the Yankees were playing Boston in this series, the Sox would have swept in 4″
If the Yankees were playing Boston, we’d be discussing Sabathia vs. Cliff Lee in Game 1 this morning.
Can’t figure how some have not yet come to the obvious conclusion that the Angels are a better team than the Red Sox.
“You guys can’t be serious about pitching Rivera in the 7th inning. It’s such brilliant strategy that no one in baseball has EVER used their closer in the 7th and left it up to others at the end of the game.”
Actually you’re wrong. Managers used to do it all the time with guys like Eckersley, Gossage, etc. Also how about you explain WHY it’s a bad move rather then base your entire argument on precedent?
Even if you were right about nobody doing it in the past, how does that make it the right thing to do?
I start Burnett in the 7th, but I have a really quick hook. Girardi has botched the bullpen all season. What was the Keystone cops routine getting Mariano ready? Let’s write a script for Eiland to talk to Joba.
Eiland: “Joba, don’t throw your crummy slider down the middle, ok?”
Joba: “Duh”
I cannot stand another game with the insufferable Tim Mc Carver. he is everyone’s know-nothing uncle at the reception who won’t shut up. he talks like he is reading phoneticly. I turned on the ESPN radio broadcast but it was delayed from the telecast & got disorienting.
Girardi’s Binder wrote:
2nd ball he rolled foul down the 3rd base line was not a strike. I thought it was pretty defensive AB overall. Trying not to get out rather than looking to drive the ball.
———-
All the pitches he swung at were in the strikezone or borderline. He looked defensive because he swing has unfortunately developed a loop and all his power is left on his back foot.
“Actually you’re wrong. Managers used to do it all the time with guys like Eckersley, Gossage, etc. Also how about you explain WHY it’s a bad move rather then base your entire argument on precedent?
Even if you were right about nobody doing it in the past, how does that make it the right thing to do?”
Easy, Patrick. Because of Swisher could actually hit a baseball like he’s not half retarded, you have a 2 run lead going into the bottom in the ninth. The way the Angels have been hitting, you don’t want anybody else but Mo in the game.
“Mo getting him out of that jam and the Yankees going on to win the game would have changed game strategy forever.”
Not really. It’s not the type of strategy one can realistically employ in the regular season when the play everyday. It’s the ridiculous number of off days that allows for Mo to go 2+ innings if the situation calls for it. He’s already gone 2 1/3 this postseason and has gone for 4+ out outings in the postseason countless times over the years.
Joba had been warming up while the Yankees were rallying. This tells me that Girardi thought about not bringing Burnett out to start the seventh.
My only problem with that was and I’m dying for someone to ask him this, why is Joba being used like he’s 07/08 Joba?
Where is Robertson who’s been their second best reliever at?
Those light hitting Angels are second to the Yankees in runs scored this season. Do some research and you’ll make less of a fool of yourself.
Why do some of you give Swisher a hall pass on everything he does. He has been useless offensively in this post season (4-33, 1 RBI, 11 K).
new thread
Last night’s games is the first I’m REALLY MAD about in a while. The Yankees are up 6-4, 9 outs away from a WS, and the bullpen is rested. AJ had no freakin business starting that inning. All Yankee fans know what the formula is. Hughes or Joba in the 7th, the other one in the 8th, Mo in the 9th. It’s a much different inning if Hughes or Joba start the inning instead of coming in with men on base.
Sh44 wanted to trade Arod for being a distraction and unclutch in spring. He also wanted to trade Cano, Hughes, Joba, Melky, AJ, & Swisher this year as well.
He is a pontificating know it all whose family is so sick of him they suggest he tour minor league parks all year to be rid of him. Seriously, can you imagine having this guy around you all the time?
Ps I can’t wait for Tony Sanchez to throw him to curb bc he’s clingy. Hilarious
The infatuation with Joba is extremely strange, and that is my biggest concern with Girardi as manager right now. He is leaning on Joba way too much and ignoring Robertson, which a lot of people have voiced on this thread, and it simply doesn’t make sense. Joba is not executing his slider consistently at all, and his fastball command is not good. He threw a really good fastball last night to strike out Mathis, but he has thrown a good number of upper-middle fastballs this postseason that have been hit into the gaps.
Robertson, conversely, while having the less flashy arsenal, has kept his fastball down and has been burying his curve. He has gotten out of big situations, and avoided costly walks.
Really though, the histrionics about Girardi being in over his head and single-handedly costing the team games seems way overdone. He has made questionable moves this October that have not worked out for him, that is undeniable. He has also made moves that have been successful that do not include writing CC Sabathia’s name down as the starting pitcher on the lineup card. Conversely, literally every other manager that’s been in the playoffs has made questionable moves that have been second-guessed. It is the nature of managing in the playoffs, where everything is under the ultra-intense microscope.
One thing to take away from last night, ignoring the idea of bringing Rivera in in the 7th which I think was an impossibility even if it would have made a lot of sense, was that Girardi made the right move to go to Hughes. I also think he made the right move to try and get more out of Burnett, who had settled down completely from the 1st inning and was in a good place pitchcount-wise. You can question not pulling him after the Mathis hit, but at that point he was facing light-hitting Aybar who was no threat to tie the game with one swing.
Overall, I’m bummed about last night, but extremely excited because I have tickets to Game 6 tomorrow.
Betsy you have never seen anything like it because your life entails going on vacation with your parents and if that wasn’t pathetic enough, spending the entire time blogging/ whining.
You really need to put down computer, go get some exercise or a drink and reevaluate where you are at in your life.
Did you really dream of being a whiny single woman living with mom and dad and blogging all day (ignorantly I might add) about the Yankees when you were growing up?
Consider this an intervention
Can anybody explain why swisher is still in the rotation and not gardy?. swisher and hughes cost us the game yesterday
You folks are funny. Gardner probably won’t play against a left in Saunders who is a lot tougher on lefties. Yes Gardner hit better against lefties in 50 AB’s, but usually that is not the case with him. That being said, one of the main reasons you play Gardy is because he makes the team MUCH better defensively. he can save a double compared to Melky and then Melky is better than Swisher in RF. You guys are missing a key point in that defense is important too and with Swisher playing so poorly you might as well put your best defensive team in there and ANY production would be better than what Swish has given us.
Also, Gardy should have been put in the game in the bottom of the 7th after Swisher made his 2nd out of the inning to end the top of the 7th. That defensive replacement might not have helped the way it turned out (it couldn;t have hurt), but that would have mean that Gardy would have been up when Swisher was up. that would have forced the move to Hairston, and things could have been different? Again, that is what should have happened if Girardi did what he should have.
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream – and not make dreams your master;
If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build ‘em up with wornout tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on”;
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings – nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run –
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And – which is more – you’ll be a Man my son!
Blessed are the flexible,
>> For they will not get bent
>> out of shape!