Today in The Journal News
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Today in the Journal News on May 05, 2010 
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Behind big contributions from their backup catcher and shortstop, plus another terrific start from A.J. Burnett, the Yankees beat the Orioles 4-1 on Tuesday. Francisco Cervelli had three hits, Ramiro Pena drove in two runs and Burnett fired 7.1 innings without an earned run.
Cervelli will likely be back in the lineup tonight because Jorge Posada isn’t expected to return until Friday at the earliest. The notebook also has items on Greg Golson being called up, Chan Ho Park making progress and a Sleepy Hollow woman winning the Yankees Honorary Bat Girl contest.
just curious in last night late defense, why did brett go to lf.is Golson a better cf than brett.
not a big deal, just curious
That’s a great story about Cervelli and Pena visiting kids at the hospital.
Cervelli certainly lived up to the word on his bracelet last night.
Teddy-
Golson is more of a natural CF’er. GGBG has played both positions.
MTU (aka GBURL) May 5th, 2010 at 10:06 am
Erica-
?Why oh why did I switch GGBG and Cervelli?
Why oh why are you surprised ?
You had your sweater on inside out didn?t you ?
****************
I really do stink today
Ledger_Yankees Yanks will be hitting indoors today. No BP on the field.
AJ’s next start is at Fenway on Sunday night. He didn’t pitch great up there last time; for some reason, he’s just not the same pitcher at Fenway that he was when he was with the Jays. Hopefully he can bring some of the good feelings (and his hook) he has now with him…
thanks mtu
Tasering was the right thing to do in Philly – In Cleveland though they are saying to truly punish offenders they are going to give them season tickets.
Erica-
“I really do stink today”
I stink too. I made the same mistake, and I don’t even have the excuse of putting my socks on inside out.
We’ll survive it together.
Chip
__
If it was a Red Sox fan that ran on the field in Philly, then Im all for the tasering!
Apologies for the off-topic question, but I know this is the place where I can get anything Yankee-related answered fastest and most reliably.
I’m heading to the game this afternoon–can anyone confirm that the water taxi from Wall St. runs for every game?
Thanks
That was AJ’s first start of the season.
Hopefully he will challenge Boston’s lineup as he did Baltimore’s. Its looking more and more like he’s realizing that he can be aggressive in the strike zone with his stuff.
Chip,
Season tickets with no midges repellant.
“Hopefully he will challenge Boston’s lineup as he did Baltimore’s. Its looking more and more like he’s realizing that he can be aggressive in the strike zone with his stuff.”
May I just preemptively say the Joe West jokes will get tired probably by like 7:58pm on Friday…
teddy – Golson is a CF, but it’s also rough to stick a guy in left field that doesn’t know how the corner plays
Steve-
It runs to every game but you can’t take it back to Manhattan after the game.
“But I’m not of the view that the device is tool of violence. I think in many ways it’s very humane.”
that’s the real question and i have no idea whether it is or not.
i suspect cervelli was more at risk going into the dugout on the foul ball than the kid was at risk from the taser, but what i’m reacting to is the knee jerk ignorance about knocking the kids teeth out and other comments like that.
i think what happened with this incident on this blog was it has been expanded to let people show their political views about the use of force in our society.
i say dial it back and keep it a baseball issue.
it’s hard enough to stomach some people’s baseball views let alone their political views
Stuckey,
I wonder if Joe West would be in favor of tastering catchers for making too many trips to the mound.
Re :Tasers
For those of you who think Tasers are completely harmless see the link below:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taser
Though they are generally safe they have resulted in death on numerous ocassions.
So please be careful how you use the word “humane”.
Any time you send thousands of volts thru the human body even at low current you are taking a risk.
just curious in last night late defense, why did brett go to lf.is Golson a better cf than brett.
not a big deal, just curious
——————————————–
That’s kind of interesting. Maybe it’s a case of playing CF is pretty much the same no matter where it’s played (except Fenway, Houston) but LF usually has it’s park determinate quirks?
Honestly, I don’t know but from what I’ve seen of Golson in the field? he’s real good. He seems to be waiting for the ball to land in many cases. Takes good routes and just flies to the spot.
Blake, AJ seems very confident now; I think he’ll do well.
So the pitching matchups (I think) are:
Beckett vs. Hughes
Buchholz vs. CC
Lester vs. AJ
Not bad, lol
blake May 5th, 2010 at 10:20 am
Chip,
Season tickets with no midges repellant.
blake
Last year midges weren’t the problem. Gulls bombing fans from above were the problem . They had to resort to setting off a firework between innings to scare the gulls away. My son and a friend of mine (who was a Tribe fan) got nailed with a bomb.
Joe West had better not be umpiring in that game; he’d better not umpire any games involving either team.
I’m a card carrying liberal and I think they should have tasered the guy.
There is too much of this stuff going on these days.
You have to be more aggressive to stop it.
If not, these punks will continue to do it.
They should also be banned for life from ever being able to attend a MLB game.
Now I would consider tasering Joe Worst just to see if it works while getting thru all that blubber.
Phil,
Wow that place is a regular animal kingdom.
Tasering Joe West repeatedly…
Now that would one nice dream of many to come true!
randy l-
I appreciate your comments this morning. Despite your reactionary refusal to embrace forward-thinking sabermetrics, 9 times out of 10 your comments show a lot of common sense.
“If only there were blog tasers.”
As usual, Nick provides the most trenchant commentary the blog has seen since the finish of the last game.
Blog taser. If only…
LOL Blog tasers……I love it.
I’m a card carrying liberal and I think they should have tasered the guy.
There is too much of this stuff going on these days.
You have to be more aggressive to stop it.
——————————————————————————————–
Except for the fact that it happened again last night.
Kids these days that have that “Jack-ass” mentality, they probably want to get tased.
Seriously, guys like Johnny Knoxville became rich doing stunts like that. Like I said, I’m pretty sure here in NYC it’s a possible year in jail. Pass the laws, post and announce the possible sentences at the games.
http://www.nypost.com/p/sports.....OWu0oWBclI
CB-
Phasers set to “stun” mode would be great too.
http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/.....mzWhqBWbrK
1. Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada, two of the best homegrown players in Yankee history, were unavailable to the Yankees last night. That they were so ably replaced by two homegrown players, Joba Chamberlain and Francisco Cervelli, says something about the current condition of the free-spending Yankees that is not discussed often: They are doing a credible job of procurement and development.
Consider, for example, that three of the top six hitters in the AL ? 1. Robisnon Cano, .376; 2. Austin Jackson, .376; 6. Brett Gardner, .346 ? are all twentysomethings developed in the Yankee system. Another twentysomething, Phil Hughes, is second in the AL In ERA (1.44).
The defensively adept Cervelli, in place of Posada, continued to show a blossoming offensive game in gong 3-for-3 with a sacrifice to raise his average to .387. He is, at the least, establishing himself as one of the sport?s best backup catchers with his receiving skills and enthusiasm. And more and more you could imagine him being a starting catcher some day.
Meanwhile, for the second straight game, Chamberlain replaced Rivera and registered the save. And beyond the obvious stuff to like ? notably a fastball that overwhelmed at 94-96 mph ? was the absence of something: Drama. It seemed that Chamberlain?s entire career has been awash in theatrics. He has had an A-Rod-esque flair for creating, at the least, conversation around himself and, at the most, controversy.
But the past two days, Chamberlain was a businessman on the mound, full of purpose and dominance. He threw strikes and looked like a guy who expected to thrive. He looked ? long gulp here ? more mature and like someone ready to accept being the heir to Rivera.
The homegrown impact is not exclusively the domain of the Core Four: Posada, Rivera, Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte. Nick Johnson and Marcus Thames have come home, and Ramiro Pena, Alfredo Aceves and David Robertson have become important supplementary pieces.
In addition, the Yanks have completed trades in recent years for Curtis Granderson, Nick Swisher, Javier Vazquez, and Damaso Marte/Xavier Nady by using items from their system.
Yes, the Yankees? money matters in all areas, including the procurement of amateur talent. Still, the farm used to be a place that the Yanks did not prioritize, but a renewed emphasis is definitely providing rewards.
2. OK, I already have suggested that Chamberlain might be experiencing an onset of maturity, and I will attempt the always dangerous double of suggesting the same could be true of A.J. Burnett.
Like Chamberlain, the drama so far also has been removed from Burnett?s starts. His mechanics seems more consistent and that is allowing him to be more precise with stuff that always was considered among the best handful in baseball. He has just 11 walks in six starts. He has avoided blowups.
We have wondered what might happen if Burnett?s head caught up to his talent, and maybe this is the year. He is 4-0 with a 1.99 ERA.
His next start is Sunday night, national TV, at Fenway against the Red Sox. It will be another interesting stage to determine if Burnett really has graduated from talented, but enigmatic to a consistent force.
They should taser Ozzie Guillen. Wait, I mean give him electric shock therapy
Anyone who runs on the field or any playing surface should be treated as a threat. Ask Monica Seles if you don’t think so.
AJ certainly seems to be pitching with a more relaxed motion and the results are exceptional. I think it’s safe to say right now the Yanks have the best top four in baseball.
Golson has only played LF a couple of times in his life. Hard to see the sense in asking him to play LF and Gardner CF.
morning…Is GTLU open now?
GTLU- Winner
SS- Jeter
1B- Nick Johnson
DH- TexMex
3B- ARod
2B- Robbie
RF- SwisherSweet
LF- Winn
C- Velli
CF- GrittyGardy
Andy Dandy SP & WP
thanks Doreen
Ledger_Yankees I’m sure this isn’t an official stat, but the Yankees appear to lead the league in bedhead. Another sign that it’s a day game.
Ledger_Yankees For day games, scrapping on-field BP is a way to let the guys roll in later, especially after a night game.
“They should taser Ozzie Guillen.”
Ozzie Guillen is what you get after someone has been tasered.
I agree with Jeers. No problem with the taser, however, if you are dumb enough to find it funny to run on the field, you are dumb enough not to mind being tasered. I think jail time makes more sense.
Banning people from games wont work. There is no way to stop them from coming in if a friend buys the ticket, etc….
a year in jail would be hard to convince PA to pass, but what about 30 days or so?
It’s nice that they have a day game so that they can get to Boston early tonight…….
Sorry kids-
GTLU is actually over. The line up got annoucned on Twitter
‘Golson has only played LF a couple of times in his life. Hard to see the sense in asking him to play LF and Gardner CF.’
Golson can play any pt. of that field, he’s Endy Chavez w/ more pop/Mike Cameron-ish.
He can play LF/CF/RF and he’s a better CF than Gardner, since ST they’ve known this, his bat just isn’t as consistant but the pop is there.
While the Yankees get to bask in the glow of their sweep of the Birds, and get the day off.
Those poor, unlucky, downtrodden Sox get to have their collective brains bashed in by the Angels.
Another case of divine justice.
Erica…and the lineup is…
CB May 5th, 2010 at 10:33 am
?If only there were blog tasers.?
As usual, Nick provides the most trenchant commentary the blog has seen since the finish of the last game.
Blog taser. If only?
*********************
That Nick is a blog keeper! But Shhhhhhhhhhhhh don’t tell him I said that. I’d deny everything if asked!
Doreen, I am sending mine in so I am not too late.
Jeter,SS
Johnson,DH
Teix,1B
Arod, 3B
Cano.2B
Swisher,RF
Winn,LF
Cervelli,C
Gardner,CF
Thanks a million
\\
Correct line up-
Jeter SS
Johnson DH
Tex 1B
A-Rod 3B
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
GGBG CF
Cervelli C
Winn LF
Betsy – Hughes rules (Pleading the Fifth) May 5th, 2010 at 10:40 am
It’s nice that they have a day game so that they can get to Boston early tonight…….
Betsy
I’m sure the players are looking forward to a couple of more days in thier own beds. I wouldn’t be suprised that they don’t leave until Friday morning.
“Despite your reactionary refusal to embrace forward-thinking sabermetrics, 9 times out of 10 your comments show a lot of common sense.”
wave your hat-
while i think you’re being generous in giving me 9, i think it’s that 10th comment that gets me in trouble
i have no problem with people voting yes or no on tasering; it’s the taking the next step towards advocating more violence towards the kid that i find offensive.
as far as sabermetrics, did you see how many extra bases were taken on sacrifices last night?
at least 14.
now why isn’t it easy to look up how many extra bases happen on attempted sacrifice bunts when fielders throw the ball away or mishandle the ball ?
could it be that they don’t measure things they don’t believe in?
i’ll leave that to you to decide if that’s one of my one in ten off the wall comments or not
i really think bunting puts a very dramatic pressure on teams to execute. you’d think with all the defensive metrics out there, there’d be one on this.
Anyone who runs on the field or any playing surface should be treated as a threat. Ask Monica Seles if you don’t think so.
———————–
Wasn’t that guy in the stands? Seles was sitting with her back to him? I seem to remember that. Maybe not.
If every field rusher was assumed to have the same intentions as that nut there would be snipers at the stadiums.
It would be nice if Tampa lost, but they’re playing the M’s; it’s very hard to gain any ground on those guys.
SAS-
GTLU ended at 10. And the real line up got announced on Twitter already. I just posted the official one. Sorry!
It would be easier to pass a really large fine ($ 1,000? $ 2,500) than extended incarceration.
Taking away ticket purchasing privileges could also be done rather easily, but banning from the ballpark is unenforceable.
Phil, there’s no way they leave Friday morning and have to deal with arriving in Boston in midday when they have a game that night….
Thanks for posting the lineup Erica!
Brandon,
you are going into Eric Threets overload with Golston.
You are WAY overestimating his skills.
Take a deep breath and stay in the ballpark with his skillset.
He’s limited and isn’t anything close to a Mike Cameron type of player.
If they had tasers back then, my father would have been a “victim”. He once ran onto the field at the Polo Grounds and snatched the cap off of catcher Ernie Lombardo’s head. Catchers are slow, of course, but Lombardo had the rep of being unusually slow………Needless to say my father had to give the cap back, lol.
Noreaster May 5th, 2010 at 10:48 am
Thanks for posting the lineup Erica!
************
You’re welcome
Betsy, I wonder if the Yankees won’t just hop on a bus and head up to Boston around 9:30′ish. That would get them into their hotel before 2:00.
jailtime is an option. they could write in as resisting arrest and endangering the welfare of the players and the police. If they really want to reach they can write it into the terrorism laws, since it is a person illegally disrupting a large venue and it is unknown what they could have on them while they are doing this (bomb, gun, etc)…..
It is a reach, but not completely out there if you want to make a point.
Noreaster May 5th, 2010 at 10:50 am
Betsy, I wonder if the Yankees won?ft just hop on a bus and head up to Boston around 9:30??ish. That would get them into their hotel before 2:00.
************
They wouldn’t fly to Boston?
“I agree with Jeers. No problem with the taser, however, if you are dumb enough to find it funny to run on the field, you are dumb enough not to mind being tasered. I think jail time makes more sense. ”
I think the equation likely includes both.
I don’t feel tasers should be used or regarded as punishment, and while I think smart people can disagree on its effectiveness as a deterrent, that’s not it’s intended use either.
Its should be used as a means to diffuse and apprehend.
86w183 – lots of people get banned from ballparks, and yes it’s unenforceable… but if you get in trouble in the park or get thrown out again, and your name pops up on that list… it’s straight to jail for you.
Bronx Jeers —-
The nutcase in the Seles attack left the stands walked up behind her and stabbed her during a match. He was not in the stands.
I don’t think everyone who runs on the field should be treated as a killer, but as a “threat”. People who are a threat to do harm to others should be subdued quickly and forcefully.
He’s limited and isn’t anything close to a Mike Cameron type of player.
__
this is true. Golson is active and Cameron is on the DL.
Personally, I just have a problem separating this isolated incident from the ramifications it could have more generally. The slippery slope is very important to me.
Also, tasers definitely have potential to be dangerous and deadly. I believe several states have actually passed legislation banning their police force from using tasers. And I also remember hearing that a taser case is going to the SC so that will be interesting to see what happens.
The most ironic part about cops using tasers is that there have been many lawsuits BY police officers for injuries they suffered during “taser training.”
I guess they like to dish it out, but can’t take it!
Randy,
I don’t really ever comment here, but I wanted to let you know that they do have sabermetrics on bunt attempts, which include all of the possible outcomes of the bunt: successful sacrifice, failed sacrifice, base hit. The numbers show that sometimes it is right to bunt and sometimes it’s not. So if someone says that bunting is always wrong, then that’s not true. For example, Pena bunting with Jeter on deck is a good bunt. Jeter bunting with Swisher on deck wouldn’t be. But usually, bunting early in the game is a bad idea because it reduces that chance of a big inning.
Betsy
Cliff Lee pitching tonight for Seattle. Garza for the Rays. Let’s go Cliffy!!!!! Should be a good matchup.
They wouldn’t fly to Boston?
**************************************
Erica, They might fly, but I’m not sure if it’s worth it. All the hassle of flying. It’s probably a 4 hour ride tops.
Thanks Teddy!
Noreaster, I see no reason for them to do that. I think they would much rather (and yes, they would fly to Boston) just get in there, get settled and enjoy their day off. Why would they want to get to Boston midday, unpack, get settled, workout and then play a night game? That would be exhausting…….They’re so used to being on the road at this point, what’s one more night?
There is a really simple way to not accidentally get killed by a taser…
… how is running out on the field (where there is valuable “product”) different than hopping the security gate at an airport (taser would be the best thing that could happen to you) or jumping the counter at the bank and getting your own money out of the vault?
Phil, I won’t be scoreboard watching, but I’m crossing my fingers, lol.
randy-
Cervelli’s bunts last night were beautiful. In general I’m not a huge fan of bunting but those were great.
P”ersonally, I just have a problem separating this isolated incident from the ramifications it could have more generally. The slippery slope is very important to me. ”
What’s the slope? What does this potentially lead to?
the yankees are showing all the signs of being a really good team.
even when not firing on all cylinders they are still winning series.
even with a makeshift line up last night, it never occurred to me that they didn’t have a good chance to win the game.
i liked the decisive action taken with vazquez too .
it temporarily takes the issue off the table and lets the team play without it being a distraction.
hopefully vazquez can regroup , get back to basics , and lay down a base he can build on.
it’s hard to believe he’ll stay this bad .
Betsy: One more night is one more night. I travel a lot, and that extra night at home is a bonus. I know that they do bus it to Boston from time to time. Not sure what they will to this time, I’m just speculating.
Phil Columbus May 5th, 2010 at 10:54 am
Betsy
Cliff Lee pitching tonight for Seattle. Garza for the Rays. Let?s go Cliffy!!!!! Should be a good matchup.
************
Matt Garza is one of Erica’s Avengers.
How about a Quality Start and a lead blown by the TB bullpen? I think thats fairest for all!
SJ44, all I said was Endy to Mike Cameron-ish, not that he’s 100% that…I didn’t say he is him. He has that ability.
speed, power, arm, fielding…he’s just not a consistant hitter, but hits LHPs well in AAA.
randy l. May 5th, 2010 at 10:57 am
hopefully vazquez can regroup , get back to basics , and lay down a base he can build on.
it?s hard to believe he?ll stay this bad .
************
Is that the “even a blind mouse finds the cheese eventually” logic?
repost:
I think it was appropriate that the fan got tased. The case was made by previous posters. i.e. him breaking the law and evading arrest. etc etc.
But obviously the stadium staff and security were not in shape to catch the guy, which led to the officer using he taser.
Why not staff about 2-3 employees with a background in football defense. Some kids from High School football teams who are fast and skilled at tackling. They could have some other unrelated responsibilities…but when a fan goes on field it would be their job to take him ( her ) out.
This would be effective, the process ( pursuit and takedown ) might be entertaining for fans…and the taser could be avoided for future.
SJ, Golson was a 1st rd. pick too…don’t undersell what he can be.
I don’t know Randy, this is just a temporary fix. Javy was not even skipped; the Yankees just didn’t want to pitch him in Boston. He’s going to have to deal with this on Monday when the Yanks play a very good Detroiot team – and he’s going to have to deal with this all the time. I know Javy is better than this, but I can’t figure out where he is mentally. Is he so upset about being skipped that it’s going to make his problems worse? Is he so upset that he’s going to try too hard? Do we even believe him when he says he’s healthy? If he goes Wang on us, eventually he’s going to have to be pulled from the rotation.
How about the M’s just blow the Rays out? As I said, I won’t be paying attention because it’s too early to scoreboard watch, but it stinks to be playing this well and not to be able to make up any ground.
I’m sure this was discussed after the game, but very good Lost last night.
“I don’t really ever comment here, but I wanted to let you know that they do have sabermetrics on bunt attempts, which include all of the possible outcomes of the bunt: successful sacrifice, failed sacrifice, base hit.”
paul f.-
you should comment more. it’s loads of fun. where else can you broaden your horizons and find out that yankee fans can annoy you as much if not more than red sox fans
to save me some time, if you have any links that measure the effect that bunting has on creating errors, i’d love to see them. or any other links about bunting.
Noreaster, I don’t think there is any way they will do that – I’d be shocked. They had that dopey ST game against the kids and then had to fly to Boston later that day for a game the next night – and they obviously hadn’t been in their own beds for over a month. Remember that the team was very annoyed about that….
I think the expression is actually “even a blind squirrel finds a nut”, lol
BloggingBombers Girardi on Rivera: “I believe he’s available today … But if we can be cautious…” Girardi said he won’t use Joba, so it’s mix-and-match.
2 minutes ago via UberTwitter
Betsy – Hughes rules (Pleading the Fifth) May 5th, 2010 at 11:04 am
I think the expression is actually ?even a blind squirrel finds a nut?, lol
************
Could be both!
I learned “even a blind mouse finds the cheese”.
I like cheese better than nuts
Brandon,
he has no power. Two HR’s this year, one inside the park.
He is hitting .250 with an under .300 OBP in AAA.
He’s in his third organization in six years as a pro.
He’s a AAAA-type of player. Speed, good CF D, and no stick.
You are overestimating his offensive abilities.
Hopefully, he can fill in as a defensive replacement for the next month while Granderson is out.
Too many holes in his swing to expect much offensively at this time.
“SJ, Golson was a 1st rd. pick too…don’t undersell what he can be.”
He is what he can be at this level. Defensive replacement/pinch runner. Only thing his bat is good for is a prop in his baseball card picture.
Pessimist: “but it stinks to be playing this well and not to be able to make up any ground.”
Optimist: “but it must stink for the Rays to be playing this well and not to be able to gain any ground.”
See how that works??
I know the Yanks have taken buses to Boston as well as the train, but more often than not they fly.
I see no reason to go to Boston after today’s game. Give them a night at home with the family as well as breakfast and lunch and head to Boston in time for dinner and a great night’s sleep.
I once rode the Acela from Providence to NYC and it was very relaxing.
Why spend money to find a kinder, gentler way of dealing with criminal behavior. Tasers and/or guard dogs will do the trick just fine. Don’t like it? Keep your butt in the stands.
Erica – always OPPC – Sesame Street Mafia and GTLU supporter May 5th, 2010 at 11:05 am
Betsy ? Hughes rules (Pleading the Fifth) May 5th, 2010 at 11:04 am
I think the expression is actually ?even a blind squirrel finds a nut?, lol
************
Could be both!
I learned ?even a blind mouse finds the cheese?.
***********************
Betsy and Erica I like the one I learned from Roz on Frasier:
“even a blind pig finds an acorn once in a while”
Erica,
The GTLU was posted as I was typing. All is well. I transposed Gardner and Winn so I would have lost anyway…lol.
I am not completely on NY time yet.
Thanks for filling in.
Erica, your expression works, too (and I like cheese and nuts).
I’m
even though this Mo injury is very annoying……..
Even GB spells a word right one in a while?
Stuckey:
Realist: the Rays are the ones in first place
Ledger_Yankees “I think it will be business as usual for us.” Girardi re: game times vs. Red Sox. “Guys need to do what they have to do.”
Brandon.,
He was a first round pick six years ago.
Lots of first round picks don’t make it in MLB.
If he was what you think he is, he wouldn’t be on his third organization in only 6 years.
It’s not like the guy was traded for Albert Pujols.
He’s a very limited player.
Mo is not “injured”…
Oops, wait – I forgot they have the day off tomorrow. That makes it different – we’ll see, then.
I took the Acela to Boston once and it’s fantastic – great scenery as a bonus; I love trains (I still kind of see a romance to them).
Betsy – Hughes rules (Pleading the Fifth) May 5th, 2010 at 11:09 am
I?m even though this Mo injury is very annoying??..
*******************
I think calling it an injury is a bit of a stretch.
I honestly don’t know what’s more bizarre – the psuedo-sports/really political disussion on tasering, or the discussion of whether or not the Yankees should travel to Boston tonight or tomorrow…
Where’s George Costanza when you need him?
Well, I’m looking forward to seeing a little bit of Golson; if he can contribute in some small way, I’ll be happy. Who’s to say he’s not a late bloomer?
stuckey May 5th, 2010 at 11:11 am
I honestly don?t know what?s more bizarre ? the psuedo-sports/really political disussion on tasering, or the discussion of whether or not the Yankees should travel to Boston tonight or tomorrow?
Where?s George Costanza when you need him?
*************
Its a good thing Stuckey.
It means there is a severe lack of things to complain about
Erin, he’s got a twinge in his side – how is that not an injury? Semantics….
SAS May 5th, 2010 at 11:08 am
Erica,
The GTLU was posted as I was typing. All is well. I transposed Gardner and Winn so I would have lost anyway?lol.
I am not completely on NY time yet.
Thanks for filling in.
*************
Doreen actually ran GTLU today. But she took off for a ballgame as soon as the line up came over Twitter.
And once again, I was wrong
stuckey May 5th, 2010 at 11:11 am
Where?s George Costanza when you need him?
********************
I wonder if he booked them in the Boston Ramada.
“Realist: the Rays are the ones in first place”
Realist take 2: It’s May 5th
Realist take 3. If the postseason started today, the Yankees are in.
Realist take 4: Remember what place the 2009 Yankees were in on May 5th 2009?
Erin May 5th, 2010 at 11:08 am
Betsy and Erica I like the one I learned from Roz on Frasier:
?even a blind pig finds an acorn once in a while?
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That sounds like the moral of one of Rose’s St. Olaf stories
Betsy,
The Rays are playing .700 baseball, a pace no team can keep up, and are only a game in front of the Yankees. They also lost their only series they played the Yankees at home.
Realistically, that bodes better for the Yankees than the Rays.
“Is that the “even a blind mouse finds the cheese eventually” logic?”
erica-
i believe it’s more of a “you don’t step in the same river twice ” thing.
when an athlete implodes for no reason, i think it’s best to pull the plug on what they’re doing and get back to basics. pushing back a start gives him a chance to do that. let him step into a new river.
vazquez can’t pitch if he can’t locate his fastball. that’s the first thing i’d work on. if he gets that down, move on to his other pitches. he needs to get down to something basic he can count on and then build up from there.
if the whole repertoire isn’t working find something that is so you can compete.
vasquez has a lot of pitches. surely there’s a way for him to get outs.
taking even a small break gives him a chance to do something different than what he’s been doing.
if he’s still having problems after 2-3 more starts, then they really have to look deeper.
hopefully it won’t turn into a matsuzaka like saga where they can’t figure out whats wrong.
Picture this…….Lohud blog, 2010
A young Sicilian….oh wait, wrong character, wrong time, wrong place
SJ that made me laugh – Eric Threets overload haha
Stuckey, I meant to put a
next to my comment….but I still mean it (sort of)
Realist take 2:
You could say the Yankees won’t keep this up………
FYI Stuckey, I’m not at all worried/concerned/whatever – but I reserve the right to be a little frustrated
randy l. May 5th, 2010 at 11:15 am
?Is that the “even a blind mouse finds the cheese eventually” logic??
erica-
i believe it?s more of a ?you don?t step in the same river twice ? thing.
when an athlete implodes for no reason, i think it?s best to pull the plug on what they?re doing and get back to basics. pushing back a start gives him a chance to do that. let him step into a new river.
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I agree with you 100%. I was in favor of the start getting skipped
Betsy – Hughes rules (Pleading the Fifth) May 5th, 2010 at 11:15 am
Picture this??.Lohud blog, 2010
A young Sicilian?.oh wait, wrong character, wrong time, wrong place
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Nice Betsy!
At one point last night, the Yankees had 4 homegrown players coming to the plate in Gardner, Cervelli, Pena, and Jeter.
Betsy, Yes, the train is very nice between NY and Boston. I pick it up in Providence and take it when I travel into NY. It’s nice to just go to Penn Station rather than one of the airports.
Randy, that’s the thing – they aren’t skipping him a start, they’re just pushing him back. The Yankees don’t think he can handle the pressures of Fenway park………I’m not really blaming them because I think Javy is mentally and physically messed up at this point and they have to get him fixed.
Matt Garza is one of Erica’s Avengers.
How about a Quality Start and a lead blown by the TB bullpen? I think thats fairest for all!
Rooting against the Rays has to trump your fantasy team. It’s a long season in fantasy baseball also. It’s only one game.
Why the rush to judgment on Golson. In 2008 at age 22 in AA ball he hit .282 with 13 HR, 60 RBI and 23 SB in just 106 games.
He’s not yet 25 years old. There’s potential there, especially if he puts an end to his ridiculously high strikeout numbers and learns to draw some walks.
I suspect some of the same people calling him a limited AAAA player are the same ones who criticized me before the Nady trade when I suggested the Yanks go after Nelson Cruz, who at the time was blocked in Texas and wearing out pitching in Oklahoma City.
He, I was told is just a AAAA player. Not so much.
If Greg Golson could not make the team over that old bum Randy Winn, how good can he be?
/Reversed Brandon’d?
Betsy, I’m almost always joking around, so it’s cool.
THAT said, let me be clear that I strongly support your right to post whatever the hell you want, as well as my own and other’s rights to comment on what you post,
But given the circumstances (18-8), that you’d post, within minutes of each other mind you, “concerns” about Rivera’s “injury”, the Javy Vazquez plan, the Yankees travel plans to Boston, and the fact the Rays are a game ahead on May 5th, then you’re just going to have to expect some sort of pushback
Erica, my favorite is still Dorothy because she’s smart and sarcastic, but I loved Sophia’s stories, lol…That said, some of my favorite episodes involved Rose; sometimes I’m sure people would like to smack ME over the head with a newspaper.
Unlike the Rays, the Yankees, especially this team, have shown they can keep up a 100+ win pace. The Rays have not.
I guess I’m not understanding what there is to be frustrated about.
The Yankees usually don’t even start playing well until Mid-June. They are WAY ahead of that pace.
That’s not only not frustrating, it’s great news.
Stuckey, all I said was that Mo’s injury was annoying. Man, if I can’t even say something mild like that, there really is no hope.
I was NOT concerned about their travel plans – all I said was that having a day game was nice because they can get to Boston early.
Pushback is one thing, but picking nits is another.
I think the expression is actually “even a blind squirrel finds a nut”, lol
or maybe this one :” It’s all fun and games until someone loses a nut ”
http://rlv.zcache.com/its_all_.....ja_400.jpg
I wonder if the red sox broadcasters will mention to their viewers this weekend just how many homegrown players Yankees have on their roster ?
Betsy – Hughes rules (Pleading the Fifth) May 5th, 2010 at 11:20 am
Erica, my favorite is still Dorothy because she?s smart and sarcastic, but I loved Sophia?s stories, lol?That said, some of my favorite episodes involved Rose; sometimes I?m sure people would like to smack ME over the head with a newspaper.
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I am definitely a Rose
Noreaster, next time I go to Boston, I will take the train. I just think it’s silly to spend more time at the airport than I would in the air, lol. I went to DC with my parents a few years ago and we flew – but if I went again on my own, I would take the train. The only thing that’s annoying is having to take the train from LI to Penn Station, but that’s really nothing in the grand scheme of things.
Boston is one of my favorite cities….
Erica, I’ve met you, lol -you’re NO Rose, believe me.
betsy – how do you keep track of all of these things you are worried about?
randy l. May 5th, 2010 at 11:23 am
I think the expression is actually “even a blind squirrel finds a nut”, lol
or maybe this one
It?s all fun and games until someone loses a nut ?
http://rlv.zcache.com/its_all_…..ja_400.jpg
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The yankees ultimate goal is to win the Series. The key step in doing that is qualifying for the playoffs.
The yanks have the best team in baseball barring injuries. They are the most likely to win the division.
That said, there is a decent probability that the rays will win the AL East because it just so happens that the two teams that are by far the best teams in baseball happen to play in the same division.
As such all the yankees can and need to do right now is win games and move forward.
While the yanks are behind Tampa depiste winning to an 18-8 record, they continue to open up space between themselves and competitors for the wild card. And that’s what’s really critical right now.
Remaining a 1-1.5 games behind Tampa is one thing. But it’s not September. It’s may. So though they may not have been gaining ground on Tampa they are building up a gap over the rest of the AL in terms of the playoff race.
LOL that’s a cute t-shirt, lol….
I view Golson as a player the way Brett Gardner was used last year. A defensive replacement and a pinch runner. But as I have said, the Yanks need specialists when you have so many starters who you don’t replace.
“Realist take 2:
You could say the Yankees won’t keep this up………”
Nah, nah, you slipped up. That’s a pessimists take.
Since May 5th of 2009, they are 119-51.
So they question becomes, WHY would you say after a full year of stellar play, it’s all of a sudden going to stop??
Phil Columbus May 5th, 2010 at 11:19 am
Matt Garza is one of Erica’s Avengers.
How about a Quality Start and a lead blown by the TB bullpen? I think thats fairest for all!
Rooting against the Rays has to trump your fantasy team. It?s a long season in fantasy baseball also. It?s only one game.
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Its a head to head league with each week counting as one “game”. Erica’s Avengers have lost 2 weeks in a row. I want a win!
I understand the Yankees always trump Erica’s Avengers. So I will prefer the Rays to lose with the loss pinned on the bullpen. With Ichiro getting the big hit for Seattle! (yeah, he’s an Avenger too!)
Why would they travel tonight when they don’t have a game until Friday evening?
It is an off-day too – players are not required to travel with the team to Boston. They can do whatever they want on their off-day. I’d imagine many of them will stay behind in NY anyway for another day and travel Thursday night or even early Friday morning.
BTW, is anyone else tired of all these characters cluttering up the blogs and posts? LoHud get it together! I mean what the heck is this, ““But I’m not of the view that the device is tool of violence. I think in many ways it’s very humane.””
Betsy – Hughes rules (Pleading the Fifth) May 5th, 2010 at 11:24 am
Erica, I?ve met you, lol -you?re NO Rose, believe me.
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LOL. Is that a good thing??
I have been hit in the head when telling stories though. I am such a bad storyteller that they often wind up with me breaking into uncontrollable laughter and being unable to finish the story
what is the line up for today’s afternoon game?
Warning Track Power May 5th, 2010 at 11:30 am
what is the line up for today?s afternoon game?
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See my post at 10:45
Erica – always OPPC – Sesame Street Mafia and GTLU supporter May 5th, 2010 at 11:29 am
I have been hit in the head when telling stories though. I am such a bad storyteller that they often wind up with me breaking into uncontrollable laughter and being unable to finish the story
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Scary. I’m the same way. With stories, and trying to tell jokes. I can’t tell a joke to save my life. LOL
I’ve never been hit in the head though.
Stuckey, I never said it’s going to stop. All I said (and it is a very mild comment) is that it was frustrating not to gain ground when they’re playing so well.
“Stuckey, all I said was that Mo’s injury was annoying. Man, if I can’t even say something mild like that, there really is no hope.”
As I said before Betsy, it’s never ONE thing, it’s your body of work. None of that big a deal taken by themselves. So yeah, there are technically nitpicks, but others notice what I can only guess escapes your own attention, they’re frequent and regular and far outweigh the innocuous positive little comments (except as it pertain to Phil Hughes lol).
As I say, I always get somewhat confused talking to you about this. You’re realistic and self-deprecating (a good, healthy quality) about being a worrier and pessimist, but seem to get offended when someone else makes the same observation you make about yourself.
It’s kind of hard to get a read on it.
Erica, yes, lol – because you’re not dumb (although Rose, I felt, had a lot of wisdom because she was such a kind person).
I always have funny stories to tell about myself because I’m a klutz and things just happen to me, but I tend to ramble on without taking a breath, so it’s frustrating for the people listening to me, lol. I don’t tell jokes, but I do love puns……..
There is a playoff-hunt possibility that is clearer now than it was at the beginning of the season that is not being focused on.
The wild-card team is not necessarily the “best of the rest”, it is the team that wins the most games of the rest.
The bottom three teams in the AL Central appear to be very weak. Minnesota and Detroit look good. Meanwhile, the AL East is as strong as it has ever been – the Rays are very good, I’m going to assume Boston will be dangerous and the Jays aren’t bad.
As a result, the loser of the Minn-Detroit race could have more wins than the runner-up in the AL East. Just a thought to combat fan complacency.
Erin May 5th, 2010 at 11:31 am
Scary. I?m the same way. With stories, and trying to tell jokes. I can?t tell a joke to save my life. LOL
I?ve never been hit in the head though.
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I remember taking AP English in high school and reading Macbeth. I volunteered to read a long Lady Macbeth monologue out loud and halfway through broke into uncontrollable laughter. It took me about 10 minutes to finish the speech because I was laughing so hard.
After I finally finished, the teacher called on someone else to read the monologue I just finished. When I asked why, since I had just read it, he said-
“I don’t know what you read, but it wasn’t Lady Macbeth”
“Stuckey, I never said it’s going to stop.”
Betsy, you actually suggesting it might…
“You could say the Yankees won’t keep this up………”
The problem with people running on the field is actually quite complex. When someone appears harmless it has always been the most vulnerable time for those around them to be really seriously injured. It is hard for the casual observer to see a threat when it happens or is about to happen. I am not saying that the security folks in Philly are properly trained, LOL, but I am saying they have an awareness that they are trained observers.
Suppose one of these nutcases runs onto the field and injures a star player, then where would the tasers are too tough comments be?
Betsy – Hughes rules (Pleading the Fifth) May 5th, 2010 at 11:34 am
Erica, yes, lol ? because you?re not dumb (although Rose, I felt, had a lot of wisdom because she was such a kind person).
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Thanks Betsy!!
Although, you’d be surprised how often people tell me “I’m smarter than I look”
Good morning!
Thanks for the a.m. links. AJ’s quotes about confidence stood out to me. Common element with Hughes’ comments, too.
Reminded me of something I heard on the radio yesterday. I flipped to espnradio in the middle of an interview. The pitcher in question was going on and on. “The difference is confidence.”
I didn’t recognize the voice, but they thanked him at the end of the interview.
Any guesses? Hint #1: AL pitcher.
Erica, that’s hilarious.
Stuckey, I don’t get offended when I’m called a worrier because I recognize the truth. Also, it’s not a bad term; it’s not like I’m being called a psycho. I do not get offended easily, but I do get annoyed when every comment I make is termed an overreaction (when other people making the same comments can get away with it). Look what happened yesterday morning. I said that Phil was going to have his ups and downs this year (same thing we all said in ST) and somehow that became me thinking he was going to have a 5 ERA. Crazy stuff.
Stuckey, and that was in response to SJ suggesting the Rays might not keep it up (they’ve been to the WS recently, so I don’t doubt they can keep it up – though I’m not saying they will).
M, you’re welcome! I thought Phil’s quote about the position players wanting to get the SP out of their hair and into the video room funny, but the stuff about he and AJ was interesting as CB had mentioned their similarities last night.
At the blueclaws-riverdogs game. Error by the third baseman in the second on a grounder by hewitt and then a throwing error by the leftfielder put him on third with no outs. Stoneburner was working at about 91 or so but then flashed a pretty good change and a lot of 93-94 mph fastballs to strand the runner at third striking out the side
The chances are very slim the Tigers win more games than the AL East runner up unless that team suffers enough injuries to bring it back to the pack.
Unless the Red Sox are retooled in season, they are going to have a tough time competing for a playoff spot.
Their current team is not a playoff calibur team when compared to the Yankees, Rays, Twins and Tigers.
Erica, um -that’s rude, lol.I hope you don’t get that too often!
What would have happened if that guy tried to tackle Jayson Werth or Ryan Howard?
Then the cops would be cited for negligence. It it their job to protect the players and not let any fan get near them on the field.
Tasers might have made an example out of him – now other fans know not to jump on the field unless they want to get arrested and be temporariness paralyzed.
Betsy – Hughes rules (Pleading the Fifth) May 5th, 2010 at 11:41 am
Erica, um -that?s rude, lol.I hope you don?t get that too often!
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More often than I would like. In fact, I just got it again on Friday. LOL
I think the fact that I permanently smile makes people think I am stupid. LOL
M, wow – that could be anyone. I haven’t a clue, lol.
Standings on May 5th are irrelevant.
The better indicator is, how likely does it seem the Yankees are a 100 win(ish) team, and how likely there is likely more than 4 others in the AL (yes, 4), or if there are three 100 game winners in the AL East (which I don’t believe has ever occurred).
I think the Yankees are pretty likely a 100 win team and I find it unlikely that BOTH the Rays and Sox are, and/or that the SECOND PLACE West and Central teams are hundred win teams, which makes the Yankees post-season chances fairly secure.
Doug Fister is the #1 pitcher in the AL… and Liriano is behind him… why was he talking about the Yankees?
Erica, you should wear (this is annoying) glas sses. I have no choice as my eyesight is dreadful, but a fringe benefit is that I look cool and smart!
The NY Times is running as article today on the hottest pitcher on the planet Ubaldo Jiminez.
I think Ubaldo is kind of like what if Pedro Martinez took HGH from ages 13-20.
The article talks about his strong family background. I guess the scouts would say that hes got the right “make-up”.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05.....ref=sports
SJ44-
I hope you are right about the Sox but don’t count on it. Teams aren’t as bad as they look when they are losing. Even the Yanks have looked awful at the beginning of the year from time to time, only to come back and win. The Sox have played very badly and are only 5.5 back.
Meanwhile, the worst team in the AL East, Baltimore, could be better than the third best team in the AL Central. With the unbalanced schedule, that could really work to the benefit of Minnesota and Detroit.
Look, I think the Yanks are the best team in baseball, and I think the 2010 version of the Yanks is better than the 2009 version. But a lot can happen over 162 games.
“temporariness paralyzed.”
you do realize that’s how people spell after being tasered.
think about it
I do expect Phil to pitch like an ace. If he was going to have growing pains, he would have had them by now. 5 starts in and he has the 2nd best ERA in the AL. The two starts he did struggle, he allowed only 1 run in each of them. If he was going to experience growing pains, he would have been knocked around in those starts.
My expectations for him at the beginning of the season was an ERA in the mid 4s, with his ups and downs, and a strong 2nd half of the season as he gets more comfortable. Now, after seeing him dominate, my expectations are that he pitch like an ace. Again, if he was going to have growing pains, he would have had them by now. I expect him to pitch like an ace from here on out and will be very disappointed if he doesn’t.
Betsy – Hughes rules (Pleading the Fifth) May 5th, 2010 at 11:46 am
Erica, you should wear (this is annoying) glas sses. I have no choice as my eyesight is dreadful, but a fringe benefit is that I look cool and smart!
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I have been wearing them a lot since I got my new frames last week. My eyes just hurt too badly from too much contact wearing
Erica, you should wear (this is annoying) glas sses. I have no choice as my eyesight is dreadful, but a fringe benefit is that I look cool and smart!
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Don’t forget Sexy !! Meow!
Yeah… I’m sure this 17 year old kid would have tried to ‘tackle’ Howard or Werth. Werth is built like an ox, he would have picked the kid up and thrown him into the upper deck.
Clue #2-Former (NL) Cy Young Winner
Rich, you’re asking a lot from him. I hope you’re right, but my projections as to his acehood are for a year or two down the line. ESPNs Insider Yankee podcast was about Phil and his confidence – you should take a listen to as you might find it interesting. One thing I will say is that Phil seems to have absolutely no fear right now; as Joel Sherman said, he gets the ball back from the catcher and he wants to throw it right away because he feels so good about himself.
stuckey-
You can’t look at a 100 win team in a vacuum. If the Yanks got to play KC all the time, they’d be a 125 win team. If the Yanks had to play the Rays all the time, they’d be something like an 86 win team (or thereabouts).
If Boston turns out to be OK after all, and the Rays are good (which they are), and the Jays are OK, there’s no guarantee we win 100 games.
“but I do get annoyed when every comment I make is termed an overreaction ”
Yes, others make the same specific comments you do at any given time, but you are without a doubt, the most voluminous worrier here
Betsy, again, I say this truly with all good intentions, it’s often not the individual comments (which is why you seem to get frustrated), it’s simply the overall volume.
Bronx, one thing I have not been called is sexy, lol.
SJ44 – I don’t think that the RedSox are one or two moves from fixing their woes… retooling midseason will prove very difficult. Come on seattle, don’t blow this for us…
Rich,
I wish I could temper my expectations like you, lol.
Aren’t have of Hughes’ runs inherited runners allowed to score by the bullpen? Imagine if they were left stranded!
Stuckey, I’ll try to tone it down – that’s the best I can do, lol.
And that would be “half”
“I hope you are right about the Sox but don’t count on it”
i agree, but i also agree with sj that as constituted the red sox are not a playoff team.
i’ll be very surprised if the red sox team after the trading deadline isn’t impacted by a big trade.
now, that may not even help because theo has really painted the red sox into a corner with the aging logjam at dh, the defensive catching problems, and not having a player who supply power the way bay did last year.
for the red sox it may be too little too late by the time the trading deadline comes.
Why not count on it?
David Ortiz is shot. He can’t even hit 90 MPH fastballs in the middle if the plate.
They have a team full of guys past their prime with a few exceptions.
Their catching situation is a mess.
Their bullpen is already overworked and Papelbon continues to show signs of the fade he began to show last year.
Their farm system is barren at the upper levels to help them.
The clubhouse is divided.
If their jerseys said “Jays” instead of “Red Sox”, nobody would see them as a threat as currently constructed.
Even if they play better as currently constructed, they aren’t as good as the Yankees and Rays because they have too many parts that don’t fit.
Unless they get madeover in season, they aren’t a playoff team as currently constructed.
M, I forget about the Angel game, but Joba allowed Phil’s baserunner to score in Oakland. Phil only gave up 1 run in Baltimore; I keep hearing that he gave up two – he didn’t. Boone Logan gave up the 2nd run (he walked the first guy he faced).
what is clear early on is that the AL will only come down to ny, tampa, boston, minny and detroit. Whoever wins the AL West will be out of default.
More Analysis on the Unwritten Rules of Baseball:
The hitter runs across the mound while you’re nowhere near it.
Is that an issue?
Palmer: “I don’t have any problem with that. Why would I care?”
Blyleven: “It doesn’t make any difference to me whether I’m standing on it or not — that’s my mound and you stay off my mound. When the left fielder runs from the first base dugout to left field between innings, you never see him run across the mound. You just don’t see players running across the mound.”
Gossage: “I’m sure I would have taken offense to it had it happened, but it never happened. I don’t ever remember seeing a baserunner who was all the way to third base run back across the mound. It was kind of a respectful thing. It probably would have been taken as an ‘in your face.’”
The hitter crosses the mound while you are standing on it.
Is there a difference?
Palmer: “That doesn’t bother me, either. I don’t think A-Rod probably thought anything about it. But I do admire Dallas Braden for what he did, because it took some cojones. To his credit, he was able to yell and scream and it didn’t affect his performance.”
.Blyleven: “It’s not right what A-Rod did. He could have run around the mound. You respect the game of baseball and you respect your opponents.
“I saw the interview with A-Rod, and the arrogance he showed. He should have said, ‘Hey, I’m really sorry. I didn’t realize I did that.’ Instead, he made a circus out of it. I believe Braden had every right to be upset; A-Rod ran straight across the mound, and he’s very good at lying. He said, ‘I don’t remember that.’
“Don’t be surprised if Braden pitches against the Yankees and A-Rod is up, and in the right situation Braden may come up-and-in on him or make him move his feet a little bit or even drill him. The sad part is, in today’s game, the discipline a player can get for hitting another guy isn’t the same as it was in the ’70s. It’s hard to do the ‘eye for an eye’ now.”
Gossage: “I was so mean, even my teammates were afraid to come on the mound. I remember once in San Diego, I was really struggling. They wanted to get the bullpen going, and [manager] Larry Bowa yelled to John Kruk to come out and talk to me to buy some time.
“There’s dust flying, I’m kicking the ground and I’m mad as hell, and I sense somebody standing by me. It’s Kruk, standing on the grass. I looked at Kruk and I said, ‘This better be good, [expletive].’ Kruk was just a rookie then, and he was petrified. He turned around and ran back to first base. He never said a word.”
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....ng9/100505
Sox have tremendous pitching, going to win 75% of their home games, and still have one of the top 4 or 5 offenses in the AL.
Bury them at your own risk. They may not overtake us, but I imagine they are going to stay in the hunt and make us nervous until they are officially eliminated.
V-Mart has been better about throwing runners out and Lars Anderson did very well in AA; in fact, he was just promoted to Pawtucket.
SJ-
“Unless they get madeover in season, they aren’t a playoff team as currently constructed.”
Agree 100%.
Any of you guys not familiar with Ernie Harwell should do some youtubeing on him.
All the good stuff they are saying about him is not hyperbole. He was a real gem.
In many ways the Sox are playing over their heads, they’re pulling out wins late & critical. But I have to remind myself at times that they’ve played a very weak, home-friendly schedule.
Those hits to LF are outs in virtually every other park.
I can’t bury anyone yet because we’re not even to the first quarter pole. And there are a lot of games to be played between TB, Boston, & the Yankees.
Having said that I LOVE how are team is playing. And despite the fact they are winning some games now, I LOVE how the Sox have looked.
yankees are 10 over and havent even faced the Clevelands and KCs, and Seattles of the league yet.
I’m pretty excited with our June schedule.
LOL what a surprise, more anti-Alex stuff; I really don’t care what they have to say…..maybe it sounds disrespectful, but so be it.
m
I know.
Stoneburner needs to move up a level. He has at least 7 k’s in a row. Lazy flyball to break the K streak. He’s above and beyond these guys. Tampa would challenge him more
Big surprise that the joke that is ESPN would bring up a subject that had tired itself out…..
M, I’m not sure that the Sox are playing over their heads; if the Yankees had won games like that, we’d be extremely happy. Their pitching is way too good for me to bury them.
pat,
Do you want another clue or are you going to guess?
Betsy,
All I meant is the Sox are winning games they have no business winning. It’s almost as if…teams and umps roll over for them. haha.
They haven’t won 75% of their home games all season.
Which means, they have to win 85% of them the rest of the year to get to that number.
They also don’t have “great” pitching or a “Top 4 offense”. Especially on the road, where they are actually a weak offensive team.
Nobody has to risk “burying” the Red Sox.
They are doing a good job of that on their own v
Tampa split with KC, they didn’t lose the series.
Like us, they have won every series but one.
m
Peavy.
Betsy said, “Rays might not keep it up (they?ve been to the WS recently, so I don?t doubt they can keep it up ? though I?m not saying they will).
”
I would say that winning 118 will be highly unlikely to happen playing in the AL East especially when that would be the most wins ever in a season.
Why the Sox might not be so bad after all:
Lester and Beckett got off to very bad starts. Lester is pitching MUCH better now, and Beckett pitched much better in his last start and will in all likelihood be fine. With those two pitching like themselves they are already a better team.
Wakefield pitched poorly while filling in for DiceK. DiceK is back and while he did not pitch well in his first start, he will likely pitch OK and much better than Wakefield did.
While Ortiz has been terrible, the Sox had the depth to replace him with Lowell. Lowell is not a bad hitter at all.
The Sox have been hurt by the injuries to Cameron and Ellsbury. Those guys will come back.
While Martinez and Veritek started out very badly in throwing out runners, they have been MUCH more effective lately. They are up to about a 16% success rate in throwing out runners (not including last night’s game) which while not great is a huge improvement and a little ahead of last year.
We and the Rays have been playing great, the Sox couldn’t have played much worse and they are only 5.5 back.
Look, I like us better than them. But it’s a mistake to write them off.
Cliff Lee goes tonight for the Ms
Would be nice audition to see him help us pick up a game on Tampa.
pat,
Yes. Apparently he had a very dominant outing this weekend, and the question was what’s the difference? (with the implied “what took so damn long?”).
Just the confidence that he can go out there and do what he wants.
I noticed yesterday that Tampa has a better record on the road than at home. Probably a factor of who they’ve played where at this point but it is unusual for them
It’s hard to be much more than 5.5 back (coming in with a “winning roster”) on May 5th.
I think he also said he was inspired by Phil “The Kid” Hughes. I think.
Do we have a lineup today????????
ORIOLES
Adam Jones, CF
Ty Wigginton, 2B
Nick Markakis, RF
Miguel Tejada, 3B
Garrett Atkins, 1B
Matt Wieters, DH
Nolan Reimold, LF
Craig Tatum, C
Julio Lugo, SS
David Hernandez, RHP
YANKEES
Derek Jeter, SS
Nick Johnson, DH
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Alex Rodriguez, 3B
Robinson Cano, 2B
Nick Swisher, RF
Brett Gardner, CF
Francisco Cervelli, C
Randy Winn, LF
Andy Pettitte, LHP
I just read something on MLB Fanhouse that is amazing… Apparently Lincecum has worn the same hat for all 91 starts in his Major League career.
m
7 innings no runs against KC.
Sometimes momentum is only as good as your next days starting pitcher and sometimes confidence is about who you’re facing.
Irreverent Discourse May 5th, 2010 at 12:11 pm
I just read something on MLB Fanhouse that is amazing? Apparently Lincecum has worn the same hat for all 91 starts in his Major League career.
************
That hat must stink
Sometimes momentum is all relative to what you did in the last year, especially when you haven’t done much.
I honestly can’t recall hearing Peavy’s name more than 3 times since the trade. Was he injured that much?
“Jeter, who previously passed Gehrig for the top hit total in New York’s franchise history, will tie the Iron Horse for the second-most games played (2,164) in team history in Wednesday’s series finale against the Orioles.”
Beckett is still very good despite his slump – the way CC was still good last year when he wasn’t pitching well. CC is obviously better, but the point still remains. Lester is back in form, Lackey is fine and Buchholz has pitched very well. What am I missing?
Thanks for the lineup
We need 2 sweeeeeppp
Don’t write the Sox off yet, they are a good team. I don’t think they are 95+ win teams like the Rays and Yankees but they will probably end up with 87-90 wins.
M, who are you referring to? Someone referred to Phil as “the kid”? Oy – I prefer the Phranchise, lol
m
Only had 3 starts for the Sox at the end of last year.
SJ44 May 5th, 2010 at 11:54 am
I agree RSox are a mess right now. They have some good SP but not much else. If they are willing to take on some contracts they could re-tool, but I’m not sure they would be much better. But great Pitching covers a lot of ills.
pat May 5th, 2010 at 12:14 pm
?Jeter, who previously passed Gehrig for the top hit total in New York?s franchise history, will tie the Iron Horse for the second-most games played (2,164) in team history in Wednesday?s series finale against the Orioles.?
***********************
Awesome.
Yeah, I would also take issue with the Red Sox having a Top 4 or 5 offense in the AL.
That team has played a lot of home games already and they struggle to score runs away from Fenway.
The Red Sox are not dead yet but they don’t have the horses to compete with the Yanks or Rays as constructed right now.
hahaha… the second philly fan taht ran on the field (last night) had pot on him. idiot.
Sox remind me of the 08 Yankees. A flawed team that had age, injuries, and were a team of transition of sorts. We were a good team and always stayed striking distance of BOS/TB and had our moments when it looked like we were going to take over (the 9 game win streak after the ASB, etc.).
But when push came to shove, we just had too many flaws to overtake those teams, even though we kept it close and nobody counted us out until September when it was clear that we were done.
This Sox team has much better pitching than the 08 Yanks did, but the Sox have their flaws in the lineup.
Patrick, I definitely agree. LOL We didn’t want people writing us off last year, but we’re going to do the same to the Sox after a month of the season?
“YES Network is scheduled to make an announcement today of a “landmark baseball programming initiative,” which is expected to be a series of New York Yankees games to be produced in 3D on DirecTV.
Fox plans to produce this year’s all-star game in the new technology, but YES’s first telecast is expected to come two weeks early, making it the first major-league baseball telecast in 3D.”
The Sox are a good team and it’s far too early to write them off. Their starting pitching will likely continue to perform better, for example.
At the same time, it’s disproportionate to focus (never mind fixate…) on them or worry about them. There is evidence to believe that the Yankees chief rival in the division this year will be the Rays rather than the Sox.
I think that’s where things stand in the race for the AL East after 25 games or so.
I just read something on MLB Fanhouse that is amazing? Apparently Lincecum has worn the same hat for all 91 starts in his Major League career
——————————————
perhaps even more impressive: he hasn’t changed his bong water since high school.
Sometime in the last few months, Gammons tweeted that the Sox had the 3rd most runs scored on the road last year. I wonder if that’s true…
That may be true about the Rays, but the Sox are still a very dangerous team. I wish we didn’t have to deal with Sox play by play in here every night, though.
How many teams have better lineups than the Sox?
Yanks, Rays, Angels, Twins, Texas, who else?
Tigers have a nice 1-4, but Boston has better depth 5-9 when healthy.
But with their pitching, they don’t need to score a million runs. This is not a surprise – Theo went into the season with the run prevention strategy. Once it became clear they couldn’t get their big bat, they emphasized pitching and defense. It’s not like they were forced to win this way because of underperformance, they chose to this winter.
There are plenty of us on here who always thought the Sox were a flawed team. it has nothing to do with the first month of the season. I never thought they were as good as the Yanks and I was pretty sure Tampa was going to have a big year too. That doesnt mean I think the Sox stink. I just think they’re a 90 win team and that’s not going to be good enough.
CB-
The Red Sox discussion was in the context of whether the AL East would overall be sufficiently tough to let a relatively weaker team in the AL Central like the Tigers sneak into the wild-card hunt.
“I just think they’re a 90 win team and that’s not going to be good enough.”
Agree.
Javy returning to form would go a long way to helping us distinguish our pitching from Boston’s.
We are in the same boat as Boston – 4 very good starters and 1 question mark. Tampa has 5 good starters. Which is why it is foolish that people keep saying that Javy can continue to suck and it won’t matter. We can’t have a blackhole every 5th day…
Yankees > 100 wins
Rays>95 wins
Sox 90 or less
That’s how it stacks up IMO.
New Post: Yankees-Orioles pregame/lineups
Buster Olney is obsessed with the Rays; I can’t read his blog, but the blurb that is on the website says he thinks these Rays remind him of the 1998 Yankees. Um, ok.
SJ44, you and I are usually on the same page, but I have to disagree with youi onteh Red Sox. Your comments remind me of what yankee fans were saying about the Red Sox when we were up 3 games to none before the collapse. The Red Sox are a good team and are underperforming. Their pitching specifically is underperforming. They could right the ship and it is important we get as far away as we can before they do right the ship. If they are 10 out in September then we are in good shape…
Gates, it is not that it won’t matter about Javy, it is that this team could still be very good. People talk about pitching all the time, but offense is important in winning as well; the Yanks have the best offense in our division and that will help as well. Atlanta always had the pitching and they couldn’t win the big one because they couldn’t hit enough and when they faced a better offense the pitching wasn’t as good.
The point you guys are missing regarding the RedSox that SJ is correct in pointing out is that the Sox as currently constituted are a seriously flawed team that are not on the same level as the Yanks and the Rays.
They may have offensive explosions against the lower tier teams in the league and they’ll win their fair share of those games but head to head against the Yanks and Rays they haven’t even been competitive and that is what is going to bury them.
the Rays have owned the Sox for the last 3 yrs and the gap between them has only widened…
we are 11-2 against them since last year and may end up sweeping them this weekend.