Waking a giant
Posted by: Sam Borden - Posted in Misc on Nov 02, 2009 
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Alex Rodriguez has been hit by pitches three times in the past two games, and after being hit in his first at-bat last night – with first base open – Rodriguez was visibly upset, standing and staring into the Yankees dugout for a long moment before talking with the plate umpire and heading to first.
Asked afterward for his thoughts on being a target, A-Rod declined to discuss whether he sensed any intent. He did say, however, something that may shed some light on why he broke out of his two-game mini-slump starting in Game 3:
“I will say this,” he said. “That the one time I got hit in (Saturday’s) game, my first at-bat, kind of woke me up a little bit and just reminded me, ‘Hey, this is the World Series, let’s get it going a little bit.’ So it worked out.”
I’d say so. Rodriguez homered in his next at-bat and delivered the critical hit in Game 4. Intent or not, the Phillies beanballs succeeded in waking up the Yankees best hitter.
Lidge for MVP.
One more win
CR9
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:34 am
Is anyone else disappointed they will not get to see Sergio Mitre and his “tight tushy” take the mound?!?!?!
I am amused.
repost
What if AJ batted 8th, in front of Gardner? Not saying they’re automatic outs but an at-bat between Molina and Burnett could be viewed as going to waste.
if we had in 5-8:
Swisher
Cano
Molina
Burnett
Gardner
If Molina gets on, Burnett could bunt him to second and Gardner will certainly see some pitches with the top of our lineup behind him. At least he could do more with them than Burnett. And I think Gardner would be more effective in front of the top than Molina-Burnett, both at the plate and on base.
is the stadium going to be open tonight? i can’t find an announcement that says it is
I don’t buy A-Rod’s story on being stirred from his slumber, but regardless, revenge is sweet…
Lets GO YANKS !!!!!
i hope the stadium will be open tonight.. there was some serious parties in the streets yesterday. wowowow
Aj on short rest has one other advantage. cannot likely overthrow his curve.
Yes, Matt, per the last thread, the Stadium is open tonight.
Got to go with AJ on short rest. His career numbers dont lie it seems as if he runs on adrenaline. CC AJ and Andy got us to this point no need to change. If the circumstances where different maybe Gaudin starts but he hasnt pitched in at least a week and probably just 1 inning in a month. Plus Gaudin usually doesnt fare that well against lefties and the Phillies lefties are dangerous. Johnny Damon what a heads up play. He knew Feliz is inexperienced at taking that throw and getting a tag down on the run. Good baserunners know exactly whats going on at all times. As far as Joba, Feliz did what he was supposed to do witth a 3-2 count sit fastball especially when Joba wasnt missing with the fastball and throwing it hard. Feliz sat fastball quickened his swing and did a great job of hitting. Not Jobas mistake just great hitting. Go for the kill!!!!!!! Number 27 awaits us!!!
“Phillie’s Shift” for MVP !
Pettitte is better on 5 days rest than 4 and is an unknown on 3 days (he hasn’t pitched on 3 days in the last 3 years) but is a gamer and being ‘gassed’ at the end of a tough 6 inning outing has no bearing on him taking the ball in game 6.
The Yankee starters have spoken, they all want the ball on 3 days rest and win #27. There is no point in discussing this any further, you can second guess all you want if the Phillies come back somehow and win it but their pitching for games 6 and 7 is complete disarray, particularly since Lidge got lit up last night.
Bill from NJ November 2nd, 2009 at 10:35 am
Lidge for MVP.
It would have to be presented by Bill Buckner.
secondly it is true that Gaudin vs. Lee is advantage Phils.
however, it is also true that Lee on full rest vs. AJ on short rest is also advantage Phils. And when you consider that Joe at this point has to keep AJ working with Jose then it becomes even a bigger advantage to the Phils.
We’ve got a better chance to win this series at this point,with a 3-1 lead,throwing Gaudin vs. Lee and hoping that he can keep us close through six and trying to steal it late in their bullpen.If we lose then we come home with Burnett fully rested vs. Pedro(advantage Yanks) for game #6 and if needed a fully rested Pett vs. Hamels or Happ for game #7(again advantage Yanks) for a closeout game # 7.In this scenario our Bullpen becomes even stronger because CC could come out of the pen to get a big out in either or both games.
By going with AJ on short rest tonight Joe is backing himself into a corner and forced to go with Pett short and CC again in short rest if it goes 7 games and that actually increases the Phils chances in the series.It was obvious that CC was pitching with diminished “stuff” and location last night and gutted out a great effort. Is his stuff going to be better on three days rest possibly Thurs? Chances are it won’t be.
With a 3-1 lead in the series with games 6 & 7 at home there is no need to go all in right here. The smarter strategy is to go with Gaudin/Posada tonight and realize that your playing with “house $” tonight and your holding 3 aces in the hole if you need them for games 6&7 @ home.
I couldn’t agree more. With a depleted lineup at the bottom of the order we are going to lose anyway and why waste AJ. Also it would be great to clinch at the Stadium with a fully rested AJ and Molina can still catch him with Matsui in the lineup.
Arno
Would you mind staying in for the game and go out celebrating if the opportunity arises after the game?
The Stadium will not be open tonite. The news reported if we need a game 6 they wouldn’t have time to clean it all up and get ready.
Some AJ stats:
AB 266 BA .132 H 35 R 12 2B 6 3B 3 HR 3 RBI 9 BB 12 SO 126 Sac Bunts 34
Arno-
it depends on where you will be coming from?
Gaudin has pitched 1 inning in the past month, this just isn’t the time to put him on the mound unless a starter gets knocked out. He would also have problems with all the Phillies left handed hitters. He hasn’t faced many of them more than once but Raul Ibanez is 7-18 with 1 HR and 8 RBI, that doesn’t project well to facing Utley, Howard, and Rollins as well.
Bill from NJ
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:35 am
Lidge for MVP.
******************
LOL
If AJ pitches another gem tonight, I think he’s a sure thing for MVP. Rivera also deserves serious consideration. At this point, would he be the frontrunner?
It is exceedingly stupid to give game 5 away in an attempt to increase your team’s chances of winning game 6 or 7. Anyone saying that Gaudin should pitch tonight is essentially supporting this idea. Get a grip people, Burnett going on 3 days rest is the right move.
Now lets hope Girardi can make another right move and start Posada tonight.
guys lets stop crying about who’s pitching !. AJ was lights out !. his numbers on short rest are awesome. Besides HE WANTS THE BALL! .
Lets go out and win number 27
ant — that definitely doesn’t make sense, as there’s still an off day tomorrow
Mo is not the MVP – he’s pitched three time but the last two with 3 run leads
The only MVP type appearance was in game 2 – those two innings were heroic but not as heroic as Burnett’s 7 innings ahead of that
I missed Sportscenter. What was Kruk’s reaction last night? Did he claim that the Phillies won even though they lost cause they tied the game off Joba? LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
although they did release an official statement several days ahead of time before opening it last night: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com.....8;c_id=nyy. There is no corresponding official statement for tonight. Ditmars: where’s the announcement, or what are you going on?
it’s hard to believe that so many of you think tonight is an automatic win for the Phils. Baseball games are played on the field, not on blogs. Anything can happen on the field including the Nationals taking 2 out of 3 in Yankee Stadium.
It’s just as likely that Teix, Jeter, and Arod have great games and Cano breaks out tonight as Lee shutting them completely down a second time.
Just watch the game and enjoy it, the opportunity to win the World Series doesn’t happen every day.
9 hours and 10 minutes until Game 5!!!!!!!!!
Erin
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:45 am
Bill from NJ
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:35 am
Lidge for MVP.
******************
LOL
If AJ pitches another gem tonight, I think he’s a sure thing for MVP. Rivera also deserves serious consideration. At this point, would he be the frontrunner?
******
Johnny Damon for MVP!!!!!!!!!!
“Now lets hope Girardi can make another right move and start Posada tonight.”
I think this is more of an issue for tonight’s game than all the worrying about not going to Gaudin in a “house money” game (which, for the record, does not really exist in the World Series, at least in my opinion) and forcing AJ and potentially Pettitte to go on short rest.
The lineup has lost Cabrera for sure tonight, and removing another productive hitter and thus having to slot every other member of the lineup up one more spot is a recipe for another bad offensive night against Lee. And all for the fallacy that Burnett’s performance is directly tied to his catcher. That needs to end today especially now in light of the way the bottom of the lineup could look minus the Melkman.
Girardi isnt starting posada tonight so stop thinking there is a chance. he will play to aj’s strengths and worry about hitting at the end.
yankees dont wake up until the 5th inning anyway.
Remember, Molina hit the last HR of the old Stadium. Gardner got key hits in a some games.
I don’t have all the faith in the world in either of these players being a key to winning this game, but you just never know who can come up big in a game.
The pressure is on the Phillies big time. It is elimination time for them and they are the ones in trouble. Sometimes pitchers like Lee can get too confident in their stuff.
Is this the ideal match up? No. I would prefer having a 4th starter that could go, then no one would be going on short rest.
That isn’t the case though. You deal with the hand you are given. Same with the loss of Melky. Who knows, maybe Gardner will get the key hit in the game because of Melky being out.
All I know is that the Yankees are one game from getting #27. The Phillies are three games away. I would take those odds any day of the week. Even with memories of what happened in 2004.
Paco Dooley November 2nd, 2009 at 10:38 am
I don’t buy A-Rod’s story on being stirred from his slumber, but regardless, revenge is sweet…
—
I think it’s his way of telling Philly he’ll make them pay one way or another.
Erica,
You know that GTLU is my favorite but I really hope that tonight is the last time we get to play until next season!
I’m not too worried about AJ on short rest tonight, but were the Yanks to lose I am worried about Andy on short rest. And I’m a huge Andy fan. On the other hand, Gaudin may have forgotten where the mound even is he’s been used so little over the last month.
I guess when you are down to three starters you are likely to have problems like this.
“The bottom line is, the numbers say that the Yankees have a higher chance of winning with A.J. starting tonight than they do with Gaudin starting tonight. It’s really quite simple.”
That is quite different from saying “Gaudin sucks” – which he does not. If the Phils were throwing anyone except Lee, I could see going with your 4th. With Lee on the mound, I agree going with one of your three. Yes, the downside is that everyone ends up on short rest. But on balance it appears a chance you need to take.
An X factor is adrenaline. Andy has been known to dig down real deep when he has to. (That is if the game goes back to the Stadium.) And though he would be pitching on short rest, it would be 4 and not 3 days. Maybe that helps by inches.
Apparently this Cliff Lee guy has lost games before.
Remember “Spinning Wheel”?
What goes up…..
i just called the stadium. it’s not open tonight. only yesterday. that’s too bad, would have been fun
Fran (the original) and OPPC member
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:54 am
Erica,
You know that GTLU is my favorite but I really hope that tonight is the last time we get to play until next season!
*******
I understand what you mean exactly.
I am definitely going to try to pick it up again next season, but if I do, it will be after April 15th (maybe even later if I still have lingering busyness). But I will do my best. GTLU seems to be a Yankee good luck charm
“i think that will motivate someone like aj who will have nothing to lose and everything to gain tonight.”
randy,
Going back to last winter – part of the reason why signing both CC and Tex was an absolute must was that each player not only made the team better immediately, he made the team better long term given their ages. But part of their long term value was the prospective alternatives coming to the market.
There was simply no pitcher close to CC’s caliber entering free agency anytime soon. You’d have to wait for Felix Hernandez after 2011.
Same things for Tex. No position player close to his value would be available until possibly Joe Mauer. And there’s no way you can bank on him ever getting to free agency given that he’s a home state guy the twins might break the bank on.
The one free agent the yankees signed who was a pure short term play from need was AJ.
And what made AJ such a high stakes risk was that there are better pitchers available than him who will hit the market in the near term. Front and center this off season – John Lackeye. Lackeye will make more money than AJ but not that much more. And Lackeye while not as talented is a much more consistent pitcher and that makes him the better pitcher – by a lot. Lackeye would be an ideal #2 behind CC.
But signing AJ took signing Lackeye or a comparable pitcher off the table.
What this all means is that everything is on the line for AJ this season and in particular in this World Series.
Given Wang’s injury, they really did need AJ for this year. He had a disappointing season but ultimately CC, Andy, the pen and the offense picked up the slack in the regular season.
But in the post season its different. Pitching dominates. And they really need AJ to come up big again like he did in game 2.
AJ wins this game tonight and he will have largely justified his signing and cemented himself into the history of the franchise.
That’s a lot on the line for him. And it’s better that’s all happening up 3-1 than 3-2.
I do worry about AJ controlling his emotions on the mound on the road in a very loud stadium. But if he can control his emotions and keep his mechanics in check the next 4 years of his contract will largely be an afterthought.
Maybe Jorge can play 1st, Teixeira can play 3rd, A-Rod can play SS and Jeter can play CF? That solves all the problems.
That was a joke, by the way.
So far the series MVP has been Mo. He has the Phillies worried about the game getting late. Mo has been involved with holding the games in the win column for three of these game, all three that they won.
Erica – always OPPC
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:51 am
Johnny Damon for MVP!!!!!!!!!!
************************
I would rather have Molina start the game w/ AJ to keep him settled down (yes, I know that doesn’t always work). Posada has come in to every game AJ has pitched, sooner or later anyway.
Sucks that the stadium will not be open. I was there last night and it was a blast! Go yanks!
I know some here HATE when guys swing at the first pitch but given Lee’s propensity for throwing first pitch strikes, that might be the best pitch they will see that they can drive.
Lee has a .261 BAA on first pitch, a .248 BAA after 0-1 and a .113 BAA on 0-2.
If Lee is on like he was last week, runs and not pitch count might be the better way to get him out of the game sooner rather than later.
Breaking his rhythm would also be good. Baserunners would be the ideal way to do that but even stepping out the box on occasion would help.
HIPHIP!
Re AJ/Gaudin: I hate to use the Red Sox and Francona as reference but in the 2007 ALCS, they faced a conceptually similar decision. They were down 2-1 and the choice was going with Beckett on short rest or putting Wakefield out there and risking going down 3-1. The Beckett choice would have increased their chances of winning that game, just as going with AJ increases our chances of winning tonight.
Francona wouldn’t do it. Wakefield got bombed, they went down 3-1 and he took a lot of criticism. But with Beckett, Schilling and Matsuzaka on normal rest, they win the next three games and the series.
I would go with Gaudin tonight, Burnett on normal rest.
Andrew GTLU Bronze Medalist
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:57 am
Maybe Jorge can play 1st, Teixeira can play 3rd, A-Rod can play SS and Jeter can play CF? That solves all the problems.
That was a joke, by the way.
******
Are you sure that was a joke…….
Btw- where were you all weekend? Your absense cost you the GTLU lead. There are now 4 players with 6 wins and you are not one of them
Trisha,
If AJ comes up big tonight and the Yankee offense guts out a few timely hits then the game becomes a Yankee Classic.
Girardi, the chess master,needs has some tough decisions today.
# Andrew GTLU Bronze Medalist November 2nd, 2009 at 10:57 am
Maybe Jorge can play 1st, Teixeira can play 3rd, A-Rod can play SS and Jeter can play CF? That solves all the problems.
That was a joke, by the way.
—
but you still have Cano at 2nd.
That was half a joke.
“That is quite different from saying “Gaudin sucks” – which he does not.”
He kind of does…
For the billionth time, go look at his numbers versus lefties. Then look at the Phillies lineup. Case closed.
cb-
I do worry about AJ controlling his emotions on the mound on the road in a very loud stadium. But if he can control his emotions and keep his mechanics in check the next 4 years of his contract will largely be an afterthought.
——-
Thats why its so important to score early and get the crowd out of it.
Erica
am I one of them?
Tonight the Yanks need to play “A-Rod Baseball”.
Equal parts focused, simple and loosey goosey!
Whether or not the Yankees win the Series, it is clear even from this distance (Germany)that the biggest reason the Yanks have gotten this far is because this year it seems the team is free from egos. In the past, George and Cash (but, I think mostly the former), paid big for big egos: Kevin Brown, Jeff Weaver, Randy Johnson, Gary Sheffield, and, yes, Alex Rodriguez, guys whose egos melted under the bright lights of New York. Now, with less of the Boss’ interference, the team has picked up a few less-egotistical stars such as Teixeira and Sabathia. At the same time, A-Rod becomes more humble when he realizes that a hip problem means he can’t be Superman. Egos do not a team make.
“Now lets hope Girardi can make another right move and start Posada tonight.”
While I understand that this poses more of a problem because we are in an NL park, I would say the potential downside is such that going with Molina is the safer bet of the two. If you deny at this point that AJ has a greater comfort level with Molina than Posada, you are being wilfully blind. If you think the comfort level is washed away by the need for Posada’s bat (and I can at least have respect for your opinion at that point because you are not merely digging your heels in like a few of the posters who continue to call the need for Posada a no brainer, despite watching the gem AJ threw in Game 2, with Molina catching him…) the thing I would want to bring to your attention is this. Lee, at his best, can handcuff another team. The potential is there for the game to hinge on a run or two.
Because of that you need your pitcher to match Lee pitch for pitch. AJ isn’t at his best on the road to begin with. He throws a lot of pitches in the dirt. We know that Posada has a lot more trouble with those than Molina. Molina and AJ have a rhythm going. If I could ever see taking the chance with Posada back there, I could see it in the National League Park. But I can’t see it with Cliff Lee on the mound.
I can understand the arguments on both sides because it is an NL Park. I still think that by inches you come out on the side of staying with Molina. If AJ starts to have trouble, I think Gaudin is in the wings, and then there isn’t a problem with pulling Molina and putting Posada in there.
JMO
“randy l.
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:20 am
“The yankees chances of winning this game today are higher with AJ on 3 days rest than Gaudin – especially Gaudin under these circumstances.”
CB-
i think another factor is that with players who are in their first world series you want to give them a chance to do their thing with as little pressure as possible. teixeira, cano, hughes,and even alex are having their problems in the playoffs.
if gaudin pitches tonight and the yankees lose as they likely would, then aj is pitching a game 6 up 3-2 which is a much bigger game than a game 5 with the yankees up 3-1.
from burnett’s point of view it’s not a must win because it’ll be on pettitte and CC to win a game 6 or a game 7.
this game is actually the least pressure on aj. it’s all opportunity for him.he nails this baby and he may be world series MVP. he loses it and it’s not the end of the world because lee was pitching and he’s on 3 days rest .
this is a set up for good AJ to come out and let it rip. if he comes up big he’s a big hero. if he loses the baton gets passed to pettitte and sabathia.
the phillies are the ones who are deep doo doo because an AJ who goes into a game without much downside but a lot of upside possibilities could be the most dangerous kind of aj to face.
if this was a game 7 and it was all on him facing lee, it would be a totally differenet scenario. i think burnett would be facing all kinds of demons.
but no one thinks anyone can beat lee tonight. he’s not expected to.
i think that will motivate someone like aj who will have nothing to lose and everything to gain tonight.
he also has an opportunity to wear a better shirt than the gray cowboy one with the flowers on it that wore in interviews last night.
it just seems like a win/win situation for AJ.”
Thank you Randy and even CB, you guys just completely lifted my faith in AJ pitching today. Sounds like a prefect opportunity for him to go out and get a win.
Cano REALLY needs to start hitting though. The guy has very quietly done nothing. At least Tex has had some big hits but it would be nice if he’d breakout as well.
Kate- You sure are
Guess the Line Up Standings
After 12 rounds of Postseason Guess the Line Up, there have been 43 different winners. As you can see, this is a very intense competition. Here are the players with 4 wins or more:
Blackaccord – 6 wins – 10/7, 10/16, 10/19, 10/29, 10/31, 11/1
Fran- 6 wins – 10/11, 10/16, 10/19, 10/24, 10/28, 11/1
Upstate Kate – 6 wins – 10/7, 10/11, 10/16, 10/19, 10/31, 11/1
Vin – 6 wins – 10/9, 10/16, 10/19, 10/24, 10/31, 11/1
Andrew GTLU Bronze Medalist – 5 wins- 10/7, 10/9, 10/16, 10/19, 10/22
Andrew33 – 4 wins – 10/19, 10/22, 10/28, 11/1
Dave F – 4 wins – 10/24, 10/28, 10/31, 11/1
Frank from Chatham – 4 wins – 10/20, 10/22, 10/31, 11/1
NYY626 – 4 wins – 10/9, 10/19, 10/24, 10/31
Rob in VT – 4 wins -10/9, 10/16, 10/19, 10/28
Cliff Lee walked a miniscule 1.67 hitters/ 9 this season. Last season he was even better – 1.37/9.
Lee is not going to walk hitters. He is a dominant control pitcher now.
The yankees are going to need to approach Lee a bit like they did Roy Halladay – if they see a strike early they need to jump on it.
It’s not an accident that Jeter was the only one to have a good game against Lee. All year Jeter has been very aggressive early in the count if he got a good pitch to hit.
You can’t expand the zone on Lee. But you can’t be overly patient either.
And they must take Lee the opposite way, especially in that ball park. It plays short to right and left field and Tex, Alex, Jeter even Cano and Swisher can hit the ball out going the opposite way.
The line up is a major concern tonight.
I agree that the Yankees should start the game swinging at early pitches off Cliff Lee. If they start agressive they could get Lee off his game plan. (This is the approach that the Phillies are going to have with AJ BTW).
They just need to adjust the plan as the game progresses.
Lee has actually lost some games in his career. I know that may be hard to believe, but its true.
I think AJ will pitch great tonight – going head to head against Cliff Lee. AJ said that Lee’s performance in game one inspired him for his start in game 2. As for the comment by A-Rod (I have a love/hate relationship with him) on being awakened by getting hit – geesh! this is his first World Series – after all these years of playing and not making it, he of all people should be AWAKE already! Go Yankees!
“Btw- where were you all weekend? Your absense cost you the GTLU lead. There are now 4 players with 6 wins and you are not one of them”
Erica a couple of things: after I participated in GTLU before Game 1 and the team got beat I was a little disheartened, as even during the ALCS, I felt like when I was either away from the computer or forgot to submit my lineup for GTLU the Yankees ended up winning.
This is pointless superstition because I think I participated in advance of Game 2 and they won…but at this point, I am still feeling too superstitious to submit a lineup. They went 2-0 this weekend when I abstained from GTLU. I have to keep it going until they get that 4th win.
“While I understand that this poses more of a problem because we are in an NL park, I would say the potential downside is such that going with Molina is the safer bet of the two. If you deny at this point that AJ has a greater comfort level with Molina than Posada, you are being wilfully blind.”
Sigh..
What can I say in the face of such foolishness?
“Girardi isnt starting posada tonight so stop thinking there is a chance. he will play to aj’s strengths and worry about hitting at the end.”
You said very succinctly what it took me quite a few paragraphs to say. I think what you said is likely the alpha and the omega of tonight’s situation.
I think the Yankees have to “go for the throat” on this one and need A.J. to start. He is the best option available for today (I think Gaudin might have been a suitable option if he had seen more action over the last 35 days…). Also, since they have tomorrow off, I think that pretty much everyone in the bullpen will be available to support. I think that Girardi might even consider going to Mo for more that 3 outs if the situation calls for it.
If Lee is on his game, the Yanks are not going to score much anyway, so there is little use worrying about not having all of our power guys in the lineup. I think any scoring will be due to a mistake–the Yanks are a scrappy team and will be looking for the opportunity regardless of the personel on the field. Better to concentrate on keeping the Phillies off the scoreboard with the best option on the mound. Also, while it might be considered an offensive liability to be forced to have Gardner in Center and Molina behind the plate, they are the better defensive options and will only help AJ keep runs off the board.
pat November 2nd, 2009 at 10:59 am
I know some here HATE when guys swing at the first pitch but given Lee’s propensity for throwing first pitch strikes, that might be the best pitch they will see that they can drive.
Lee has a .261 BAA on first pitch, a .248 BAA after 0-1 and a .113 BAA on 0-2.
—
Keep in mind you can’t strike out on the first pitch. That’s when the first pitch gets put in play. Those numbers will parallel any pitcher on those counts.
“Thats why its so important to score early and get the crowd out of it.”
The best way the yankees can win this game is to knock Lee out of the game as early as possible.
And to do that they don’t need to rough him up because they are playing in an NL park.
The yankees must have the lead going into the 6th inning. If they have the lead and AJ is pitching well then Manuel is going to be forced to pinch hit for Lee earlier than he’d like to.
If the game is tied or the phillies lead Lee will be in the game for as long as possible.
Lidge threw 30 pitches last night. Madsen has thrown a lot of pitches this series.
Having the lead and forcing Lee out of the game to be replaced by a marginal phillies bull pen would be a huge advantage to the yankees.
Patrick November 2nd, 2009 at 11:10 am
“While I understand that this poses more of a problem because we are in an NL park, I would say the potential downside is such that going with Molina is the safer bet of the two. If you deny at this point that AJ has a greater comfort level with Molina than Posada, you are being wilfully blind.”
Sigh..
What can I say in the face of such foolishness?
Why is this foolishness, I think Girardi and staff knows his players bit bit better than we do. If he goes with the AJ/Molina option he feels it give us the be opportunity to win……. If he changes his mind and goes with Posada it will be for the same reason.
All Girardi’s decisions have gotten us to this position, I say trust the man.
“What can I say in the face of such foolishness?”
Wow, it’s cool that you don’t mind embarrassing yourself Patrick. As I have noted on other occassions, the only “experts” who seem to prefer Posada catching AJ are on this forum…
Perhaps if you had something substantial to add, it would take away from the apparent emotion in your choice.
minnesota yankee fan
“woke up” is just the PC way of saying p’ed off. Don’t take it so literally.
new thread
Watch Burnett’s start vs the Angels in game 5 and tell me he is more comfortable with Molina.
“I think AJ will pitch great tonight – going head to head against Cliff Lee. AJ said that Lee’s performance in game one inspired him for his start in game 2.”
Minny, that is definitely an X factor for tonight. It is really an exciting possibility that AJ can build from his last performance and turn in a gem.
Again, I am preparing for all possibilities. If AJ doesn’t have a great road game, it isn’t going to kill my confidence in him. I’m just hoping that he’s on top of his game in all ways.
“Watch Burnett’s start vs the Angels in game 5 and tell me he is more comfortable with Molina.”
Patrick, some of the best reads on AJ’s start in LA were Randy’s. He could do a much better job of talking about what was happening with Burnett and about the adjustments he needed to make (which he appeared to do after the first inning). Then read AJ’s take on what he did wrong.
I think Randy has basically stated that at this point, the comfort level between the two is what keeps you from making any changes. Then at least think about all the balls that AJ throws in the dirt and the fact that Molina does block them better – maybe because he is just more used to having to do it with AJ. With Lee on the mound, I just think you have to maximize AJ’s chances on keeping runners off the bases. If it was someone other than Lee, I would still be nervous about changing at this point but I could understand that the Yankees would have enough of a chance to score runs that maybe you take the chance.
AJ on the road with Lee, I just think you have to start that game off with Molina.
Thankfully, the Yanks are up 3-1, so no matter what happens they live to see another day.
I will eat my Yankees cap if Girardi starts Posada!
Yankees are playing with house money tonight.
AJ can and should get them into the 6th or 7th close.
If it gets to the BP of Philly, Yankees are going to win.
Gaudin doesn’t “suck”, as has been mentioned above. It was not his fault that his role was never clearly defined (bouncing from cleaning up after Joba and Mitre to starting to mop up duty. He also never got stretched out enough to be effective beyond 5 innings. He was a perfectly serviceable fifth starter (who was forced to operate as a fourth starter when Joba proved ineffective), and really served a purpose for the team as they marched to the end of the regular season.
As a fifth starter, however, he would never be considered the pitcher of choice in a game 5 of the World Series. sometimes, however, the manager does not have the luxury of any better options than the only healthy pitcher left standing. Now, however, Gaudin is not in a position, or the condition, to start any games for the team (and it was silly for Girardi to go through the chirade of considering him an option…). Gaudin was eliminated as an option to start weeks ago when he was left out in the bullpen as the last resort in case of extra innnings. That is still a worthy role to play, but THAT is his role now. The team has no other choice BUT to ride AJ, Pettite, and now CC on short rest. I feel pretty confident about the current situation, and I think the gamble will work–it has to because I think Girardi boxed himself into the corner in this situation, and there are no other alternatives available to him now.
FOX had the sound bite near the plate and A-Rod told the home plate umpire that it was “a little obvious”. He was ticked off for sure.
-As per Yahoo sports.com,Jimmie Lee Solomon,Executive VP for baseball operations,said the camera (in the questionable Alex HR)was never supposoe to hang over the fence.
“Get it back and keep it back,”he said MLB told Fox.
-Fox network tried to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
Fox spokesman Lou D Ermillo said, “the edge of the camera lens is completely in line with the top of the wall.”
Seems like MLB came down hard on FOX,YEAH!!