Tough day for past and present relievers
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on May 16, 2010 
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My day was mostly about finally buying groceries and finally cleaning my apartment, but I did manage to catch several innings of today’s game, including every pitch from the bullpen.
Sergio Mitre gave the Yankees a quality start and David Robertston went a long way toward redeeming himself — that was a big pitch to Morneau — but Joba Chamberlain and Mariano Rivera proved to be human afterall.
The past 24 hours haven’t been much better for former Yankees relievers.
• Edwar Ramirez was designated for assignment by the Athletics.
• Chad Gaudin was also designated by Oakland.
• Brian Bruney was designated for assignment by the Nationals.
Hard to see any of those three fitting for the Yankees.
Some good news from within the organization, Josh Norris is reporting that Hector Noesi has been promoted to Double-A. Noesi was added to the 40-man roster this winter. He had 53 three strikeouts and only six walks with High-A Tampa.
Brian Bruney would be a decent addition… no ???
no.
Chad,
Had you gone to work today, you would’ve known that Javy’s available out of the pen for the Sox series, and Javy’s next start is in doubt (I guess depending on if he’s used out of the pen??)
http://sports.espn.go.com/new-.....id=5193409
That depends — a decent addition to what?
Our bullpen is rather thin right now. . Plus ESPN has Vasquez reporting to the pen for the Sox Series ..
Bruney has the arm .. and he knows New York .. I’d give him a shot. . .
Bruney, Ramirez, and Gaudin proves Cashman right to let them go. Gaudin gave up 6 runs last night in their 12-3 loss.
Now on to Mariano, if he were released at seasons end, 29 teams at age 40 would line up for his services. Mariano lost 3 saves last year, he is the ONLY Closer in postseason last year that didn’t blow a save, in all MLB he’s still the best!!
Girardi said he wants Javy to start on Friday, but the pen is basically without a longman right now. If they need one for the Boston and/or Tampa series (which I think is doubtful, but you never know), Javy would be the guy.
I did not get a chance to see the game but just looking at the boxscore it looks like Mitre and robertson both did an excellent job.
Too bad Joba and Mo blew up. It happens. They still won another series.
I saw that, m. Kind of a curious situation. Sounds to me like Vazquez is the long man for the next few days until Mitre is ready to pitch again. If Vazquez has to be used, then someone else — I’m guessing Mitre — will make that Friday start. If Vazquez isn’t needed out of the pen, then he starts on Friday and Mitre takes back the long-man job. I didn’t hear any of Girardi’s pre or post game, but that’s kind of my interpretation based on what I’ve read.
Maybe Bruney can join Eric Byrnes’ softball team?
Betsy – Hughes rules (pleading the Fifth) May 16th, 2010 at 4:25 pm
So because Phil thinks I post too much, I should stop? LOL whatever. Angel, if you were on the receiving end of some of theses posts, you wouldn’t think it was so shrug worthy.
**********************************************************************
Don’t even, lol.
I’ve been on the receiving end of much worse than you get, for being too positive! – long before you started posting here. That’s just how it is around here – especially since it got really popular. I learned that because I bit back, it only encouraged it – there was nothing I could say to make them see things any differently. Justifying yourself to them only encourages them to go at you again and again because they KNOW they can get a rise out of you next time. Don’t engage them. At all.
There are plenty of people on this blog who can take your posts in the spirit they’re intended in and respond in return. You don’t need an ignore function to just not respond to those that only want to snark at you. It’s hard, I know! – but you don’t owe an explanation/justification to anyone for your posts on a public forum whether people agree with them or not.
mtu,
I didn’t see the game either. Was following it via mobile. It was 3-1 at one point, I’m thinking that’s good. Then the next time I checked it was 6-3, bottom 9. When I got home, I was disappointed to find that was the final score.
Like you, I noticed that Sergio had a good game. At the last update, Robertson was on the mound, and that (surprisingly) didn’t scare me. Can someone tell me what happened in the 8th? Looks like Joba faced a lot of runners, and there were some walks? Including Rivera’s?
Shouldn’t Chan Ho be back any day now?
Joe from Long Island -
Congratulations to your family!
As for the game -
I didn’t watch a single pitch today. We were in the city, and had a great day. I had hoped the Yankees would win, only because it was such a gorgeous day and people who went out to YS deserved a win. But they didn’t. Oh well.
randy l -
I read some posts in the prior thread and you asked your rhetorical question. I find myself asking that same question myself. People don’t seem to understand that sometimes you lose and its really not indicative of anything other than the other team played better this day. Especially in baseball, you can’t win every game. You hope you can win about 2/3 of your games, which means you’re going to lose, what 50-plus games, right? To me, if you nitpick every single pitch of every single inning of every single game, you’re not going to have much fun watching the games, I think it’s supposed to be a fun pastime. Losing is not always someone’s fault. I love Rodriguez’ quote, which I also read in the prior thread about this team wins AND loses as a team. Keeps things in perspective and I think from getting too heavy.
The way I’m looking at this is thank heavens Mo and Joba got this out of their systems before the Red Sox and Rays, because you knew it was going to happen eventually, and also it happened after the Yankees had already won ANOTHER series, which is their stated goal – keep winning series.
Glad Mitre had a good outing and sounds like Robertson might be gaining some steam too.
Mo gave up a granny.
That would be ridiculous. Vasquez has to start no matter what on Friday If it means they have to recall Melancon, Sanchez or Albaladejo (blech), then so be it, but Vasquez is a starter and should not be treated like a long man – he’s not.
Chad,
haha. Can’t get anything past you!
Park should be back soon, which will be a relief. (ugh)
Bad personnel decision-making re: Vazquez.
Period.
And there’s no real explanation behind it.
@Doreen: if you are referring to randy’s post of 4:33 pm, he was not the one asking that rhetorical question. He didn’t use quotes, but that whole block of text was taken from another post (see 4:19 to read the original in its entirety).
Only the final sentence of that post is original randy l. content.
Angel, then we’re sisters-in-arms! The non-regular trolls don’t bother me because I don’t care about them in the slightest, but I do get annoyed when regulars “call me out” and I won’t let them get away with it, lol.
My parents just relayed a story to me that I’m still sort of sick over. My youngest sister has a boxer named Presley – he’s the sweetest thing ever. Well, he escaped from the house and ran across to this lot where another house is being built. There’s a big mudhole there apparently and poor Presley slipped and fell into it. He apparently spend the next hour and a half hanging on for dear life and barking; when my sister finally found him, he was about ready to let go (he was very weak by this point). Fortunately he’s fine now, but just thinking about what could have happened – the poor dog. My sister and brother-in-law were crazy upset yesterday; I’m just so glad that Presley is ok.
@Nick in SF – that’s what I get for reading from the bottom up! I’ll go and re-read the back-and-forth. Thanks.
My opinion still stands, regardless.
To insult the Yankees for anything this year is ridiculous. Mo is human. Coming off an injury, has not pitched much in weeks. Joba did not pitch that poorly. Lucky hit out of Teixeira’s glove due to the runner being in his line of sight.
Normally, we start of poorly. THis season is better than any of us could have dreamed. Especially without Damon and/or Matsui, and all the injuries suffered.
We started one year something like 12-20 and had to use a 10 game west coast road trip sweep to get to 2 over .500 (22-20).
Great start for the Yankees. The most important thing right now with this team is its health.
Betsy
Thank God Presley is OK!!!!!! Great news!!! That just made me smile!!
Everything in its right place.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrpGhEVyrk0
Betsy
Sergio can start fri, he’s had 2 good outings to Javier’s 1.
@Nick in SF -
I just went back…
CR, thanks – we’re all glad that he’s ok. When I think of the poor dog barking, helpless………..shiver. I’m sure my sister won’t want to let him out of her sight again.
How are your pups?
GFD, Vasquez is a far, far superior pitcher to Mitre and he needs to be a starter. If he pitches in relief and can’t go Friday, then Mitre starts again – and where does the cycle end? Let Nova pitch…………we need a roster spot? Send Logan down – he stinks anyway.
“I’m sure my sister won’t want to let him out of her sight again.”
Good. I never let mine out of my sight. Too many unpredictables. Ant hills, snakes, mud holes, etc.
Dont even think about what could have been, just think about the great result! And what a fighting spirit Presley has!
Pups are good! Tiki’s face is no better, but I have faith it will get better.
By the way, dont know if you saw earlier, prior to me going absolutely insane again, but you probably did not sound like a fool to Phil. He was probably flattered by you! I’ll tell you a story about what I did once so you know what a real fool sounds like!!
Bruney hasn’t been the same since his injury last year. Before he got hurt he was pretty good for the yanks.
I wouldn’t mind bringing back Gaudin and putting him in scranton for some pitching depth. He pitched well last year.
CR, thanks for bucking me up, lol………I guess I can take the picture out of the plastic bag now, lol
I can’t wait to see Phil tomorrow, yes he’s due for a loss, but he’s also highly motivated , and will get #6.
Betsy
You should! You were probably the only one there who inspired Phil by saying that you didnt want him traded for Johan.
You’re probably the reason he is doing so well this year. He was inspired by YOU!
That’s fair enough, Betsey. I just wanted to remind you that you don’t HAVE to justify what you post, but if you feel you have to then I definitely get that.
Ohmigosh on your sisters dog. I feel just sick hearing that too… (i have three of my own and I know I’d be sick to have anything like that happen to mine). I’m so glad she got there in time!
i guess the facial hair did not help bruney and the others. bruney stinks, he cannot throw strikes that is a problem
Angel
Lohud has a Pets blog at pets.lohudblogs.com
Laurel, the sweet lady who runs the blog, always welcomes new posters, and will post pictures of your pets if you’d like!
m, poor Shane Victorino’s integrity was called into question in today’s SF Chronicle by Scott Ostler. I can’t link, the piece is an Exclusive To Print Edition and won’t be online for a few days, but Ostler writes:
“TV cameras caught Shane Victorino in the Phillies’ dugout, on the phone. Does this make Victorino “the Spyin’ Hawaiian”?”
That’s sostler@sfchronicle.com if you want to lodge a complaint on the geographical absurdity of his premise.
Betsy
So far this year Javier isn’t superior to Mitre. If his last outing is any indication he’s coming around, that’s great. I trust Joe’s mgmt here.
Having said that, If Javier gets back to like he was lasr season great great!!
CR, I wouldn’t go that far…….but if the rotation holds, I’ll be seeing Phil on 6/1 at the stadium, so I can inspire him in person!
Angel, I think from now on if someone (say a regular – I’d ignore a troll anyway) says something that doesn’t sit well with me, I’m going to just ignore it. I think you gave good advice; certainly what I’m doing is not working, lol.
As to Presley, I just keep picturing the poor dog crying out helplessly – but it had a happy ending, thank goodness, and I’m sure he got lots of hugs and kisses. He’s a very affectionate dog, but then that’s how boxers are. The next time I visit, I’m going to pay extra attention to him.
Nick,
That’s pretty funny. I think the espn story about the Rockies had Shane telling the bullpen coach that he was kicked out of the game (as a joke), but then told him he needed to stop what he was doing because the Rockies manager and the umps were conversationing about it.
Not sure if this is a new “aha!”, but if it isn’t then that’s the reason why Shane was on the phone.
Doreen-
thanks for the thought.
I agree with you. Good to get this game out of the way for Mo, Joba, and the Yanks. You knew they were going to lose to the Twins sometime, and we won the series, again. I am not at all worried at those two.
Well, now off to watch tv with mrs. Joe, and have a drink. See you all tomorrow.
‘night all.
They want their current best pitchers going against 2 division rivals, plus the last 2 days the bullpen has had to cover 6 innings worth of pitching so it only makes sense to have Vazquez be an “In Case of Emergency” guy ready. Boston/NYY in the Bronx definitely favors the Yankees’ starter but you still never know what could happen. Plus if Vazquez throws an inning that’s equivalent to his “throw day” before Friday’s start anyway. If he has to fill in for more than 1 should a SP flame out, then you’d see Mitre Friday perhaps.
All the posturing from a slimy site like ESPN New York about how he’s banished to the ‘pen and his next start is unknown is just sensationalist nonsense. Girardi is using the guys on his roster right now, no idea what’s going on with Park so as it stands right now the bullpen is definitely short hence Vazquez’s availability.
There’s an excellent chance that Ostler just wanted an excuse to write “the Spyin’ Hawaiian” but you should tell him what for just the same!
Betsy
I was only teasing! But, seriously, you never know! Maybe your words stuck with him!
I think you should follow Angel’s advice as well. If you dont respond, then the people who enjoy attacking you will be “speaking to deaf ears.”
Andrew -
When my husband and I were talking about the way Girardi set up his rotation, the first thing he said was Javy should probably be available for relief on his throw day. I don’t see the big deal, really, about something that may or may not come to pass.
I guess it’s too idealistic to think that there could be an avoidance of controversy.
Well, I will defend the questioners (though not necessarily the content of any specific post or complaint): the way the Yankees deal with the Vazquez situation and how they set up the rotation is an interesting question to some and an unsurprising topic of conversation on a Yankee discussion board.
They could have set up the roation the same way and not burned Mitre for the next several games by starting Javy today on 3 days rest. This was obsviously considered and rejected. So the question is, why was using Mitre today and risking having to burn Javy during this week preferable to using Javy today on short rest?
I don’t think it’s a controversy, but I don’t think discussing it is a blog controversy either. It’s kind of interesting to those who like to get into the nitty gritty of who should start and when and where and breaking down the matchups and dissecting the decision-making process.
Is that a worse thing to discuss here than favorite authors and Survivor personalities?
I just watched the game….tough loss. It happens…… The Twins were bound to win one sometime at YS…they were due.
Always tough to see Mariano blow a game. But it is gonna happen even to him. It sucks but the Yankees won the series. Bring on Boston.
Absolutely not, Nick………..the question would be is Javy on 3 days rest better than Javy on over a week’s rest? That said, again – if Javy is the long man and Mitre has to start Friday, then how do you break the cycle? Forget Logan – he’s bad. Send him down, keep Nova up here to be the long man and let Javy go Friday.
Pedroia has a knee injury that’s why he was out of todays game.
Someone wrote a minor league write-up at RAB and mentioned that Nova would probably be sent down for Park.
I’d rather have Nova than Logan…or marte for that matter.
Nova’s a starter, no? Will they interrupt that development like they did with Joba & Hughes?
“if Javy is the long man and Mitre has to start Friday, then how do you break the cycle?”
CC, AJ, Andy and Phil going at least 6 innings this week would break the cycle before it starts.
Javy’s future is in their hands.
“@Doreen: if you are referring to randy’s post of 4:33 pm, he was not the one asking that rhetorical question. He didn’t use quotes, but that whole block of text was taken from another post (see 4:19 to read the original in its entirety).
Only the final sentence of that post is original randy l. content.”
nick in sf-
thanks for pointing out that i forgot the original quotation mark. sorry about that doreen
randy l -
I didn’t read the last line, obviously.
nope, my bad doreen.
gotta get in the quotation marks.
“You have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour, now you must go back and tell the people that this is THE HOUR.
And there are things to be considered…
Where are you living?
What are you doing?
What are your relationships?
Are you in right relation?
Where is your water?
Know your garden.
It is time to speak your Truth.
Create your community.
Be good to each other.
And do not look outside yourself for the leader.
Oraibi, Arizona Hopi Nation
my daughter’s looking at the screen and asked, “Who’s Doreen?” before I could finish my answer, “That’s a woman…” She said, “who’s pat?”
So I laughed because there were so many ladies on, so I said, “That’s a woman, and that one and that one…” pointing out Doreen, pat, and Betsy.
So she said with a laugh, “Is randy a woman?” I didn’t want to explain that he owned a gallery on the Cape… We know way too much about each other.
vazquez is not some chump who bounces around.
ok, skip his start tomorrow.
but he starts on friday.
anything else is just messing with him.
if i were him, i’d tell them where to go if they say maybe he won’t start on friday.
“So she said with a laugh, “Is randy a woman?” I didn’t want to explain that he owned a gallery on the Cape… We know way too much about each other”
i’ve got to hope gb7 doesn’t see that one or i’m toast
Randy, I agree………Well, not with the last comment as that wouldn’t be very professional, but this plan is a joke. It’s not fair to ask the starters to go 6 innings all the time – it’s annoying to keep sending these guys down and not have access to them for 10 days. What is it with Boone Logan? He’s awful – I don’t care what hand he throws with. Send him down and keep Nova; making Javy a long man who is at the mercy of how the other starters do is unbelievably stupid.
GB7,
It doesn’t matter if sees it. With GB7, it’s damned if you do, damned if you don’t. Either way, you’re toast!
Tigers facts: They took 2-3 from redsox, 3-4 from Yankees, swept the Angels, 2-3 from Twins
That’s quite a resume so far, and sadly 3 ex Yankees are helping them do it!
Ivan Nova pitched 2 innings last Thursday. Could he not serve as the long man for the next 3 days?
Imagine if Javy ends up in the pen and Nick Johnson ends up on the operating table?
I think what m is trying to say is, she would like an edit button.
Hopi Prophecy 2012
“This is the Seventh Sign: You will hear of the sea turning black, and many living things dying because of it.”
Bronx, they’d have to send someone down once Park gets activated. I have no idea why it has to be Nova, but we know it is going to be him. With the way this season has gone, you know one of these guys is going to blow up and Mitre will be needed, lol. I guess Joe is scared to death of losing Boone Logan.
Good point, Bret.
Opt out of that, CC!
Oh, I forgot about Park coming back. Thanks Betsy.
…”The Fourth World shall end soon, and the Fifth World will begin. This the elders everywhere know. The Signs over many years have been fulfilled, and so few are left.
“This is the First Sign: We are told of the coming of the white-skinned men, like Pahana, but not living like Pahana men who took the land that was not theirs. And men who struck their enemies with thunder.(men with guns)
“This is the Second Sign: Our lands will see the coming of spinning wheels filled with voices. In his youth, my father saw this prophecy come true with his eyes — the white men bringing their families in wagons across the prairies.”
“This is the Third Sign: A strange beast like a buffalo but with great long horns, will overrun the land in large numbers. These White Feather saw with his eyes — the coming of the white men’s cattle.”
“This is the Fourth Sign: The land will be crossed by snakes of iron.” (railroad tracks)
“This is the Fifth Sign: The land shall be criss-crossed by a giant spider’s web.” (power & phone lines)
“This is the Sixth sign: The land shall be criss-crossed with rivers of stone that make pictures in the sun.” (concrete highways and their mirage-producing effects)
“This is the Seventh Sign: You will hear of the sea turning black, and many living things dying because of it.” (ocean oil spills)
“This is the Eighth Sign: You will see many youth, who wear their hair long like my people, come and join the tribal nations, to learn their ways and wisdom. (“Hippy Movement” of the 60′s ?)
“And this is the Ninth and Last Sign: You will hear of a dwelling-place in the heavens, above the earth, that shall fall with a great crash. It will appear as a blue star. Very soon after this, the ceremonies of my people will cease.
Man Ace would have been great today. He needs to hurry up and get healthy.
Bret-
It sounds like the Hopi believe that a Comet is going to do us in.
In about a week I will be visiting the places of their Ancestors. If I make it I will post pictures when I return. Really looking forward to it.
Did I accidently go to Woody’s Apocalypse message board?
“You will hear of a dwelling-place in the heavens, above the earth, that shall fall with a great crash. It will appear as a blue star.”
Another reason to avoid the Mohegan Sun?
Bret,
Do you have a point?
A verbose way of saying “Mo is human”?
You mean like, “put that in your pipe and smoke it?”
Do we know for sure that Javy is going to be (ab)used in such a way, or is this conjecture on the part of the person who wrote he may be used in the bullpen during the Boston series?
While it’s not ideal for Javy to be skipped, I don’t find it objectionable to displace one pitcher rather than displacing all the pitchers. I don’t think it’s a bad idea to make him available in relief on his throw day, as Pettitte has done at times.
It would be interesting to know, though, why they didn’t want to start him on3 days rest (which would have been today). Did he do a more strenuous side session than usual, as he did last week, which would impact the rest he needed?
I don’t like jumping to the conclusion that they’re jerking him around.
I wonder if Marcus Thames will hit right handed pitching in this Fifth World.
Rotten loss — they’re replaying the game over here in Taiwan.
Hey — I have a questions for those of you who’ve been around for a long while. Anybody know where Rebecca went? I know she has her own site, but that didn’t stop her from chiming in before.
# Wang IS Taiwan May 16th, 2010 at 10:04 pm
Rotten loss — they’re replaying the game over here in Taiwan.
Hey — I have a questions for those of you who’ve been around for a long while. Anybody know where Rebecca went? I know she has her own site, but that didn’t stop her from chiming in before.
River ave blues
Wang IS Taiwan
http://riveraveblues.com/2010/.....ten-28490/
Shes posting right now
Doreen,
It’s interesting because younger pitchers (rookies) would be jerked around in such a manner.
I think they could’ve found another solution to the problem. Like how about sending down Low-gain and send up another pitcher?
And it’s especially interesting because these were the kinds of times that Hughes was supposed to be skipped in order to stay under the caps limit (which now appears to be limitless).
I won’t cry for Javy, and I can’t imagine him crying about it either. But the announcement did (seemingly) come out of the blue. Strangeness. I wouldn’t mind being reminded of what Javy can do against a NL lineup.
Carl — thanks. I miss some of the oldies but goodies from way back when.
With the World coming to an end soon am I safe in assuming that Young Master Hughes will be pitching Monday night, and that it will be shown on ESPN ?
Is it further safe to assume that he put on another great show ?
I don’t want to go to bed tonite with any concern with regard to these matters. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.
WiT: Rebecca does still post here from time to time… often right on the top of a new thread.
Bronx Jeers: very funny. If there was any need for an Angel Berroa joke, it is now gone.
Doreen
With quotes from Girardi about it.
http://www.nj.com/yankees/inde.....avier.html
Doreen, it’s the idea that Javy may be used as a long man that is completely objectionable to me. He’s a starter, a good one. Now, granted I don’t have complete confidence that he will turn it around, but he deserves the chance. He’s now at the whim of how the other starters perform; if on of them doesn’t do well, he’ll be the long man and now he won’t pitch Friday. As I said, send Logan down and let Nova be the long man. This new plan is beyond horrible.
Oh yeah, good point M…….Do the Yankees have ANY sort of plan for Phil? Personally, I don’t care how well he’s throwing – they have a cap for him and they should stick to it.
mel a.ka. Kidman lookalike!
Im not looking ahead, if you know anything about the Celtics, can you explain why the Lakers are better than them, if they are?
To me RAB is where you go when you’re scuffling a bit in here. You know…sort of like a minor league version of a blog.
Go to RAB, work on your game a bit and then come back when your comments re-discover that polished look.
Unfortunately, being sent down is strictly voluntary. We’ve got plenty of minor leaguers commenting away in here. They just don’t realize they’re in the wrong league.
Not looking ahead either, but the Lakers have (an) issues. Bynum’s knee (torn mcl) is swelling up from use. But he plans to play throught it.
The Lakers play better D, less O this year than last, so it would be an interesting matchup should that come to pass.
Both teams are capable of losing huge leads, but it’s cost the Celtics more than it has cost the Lakers.
Paul Pierce looks like **it. But Ray Allen and Garnett look all-world. They’re like Duke’s Big 3. You can get by with one having off night, but not two of them. The problem is that rarely happens.
m -
It is true that these are the situations that at the beginning of the season would have seemed exactly the type that would have them giving Phil the extra time off; but that was before he turned out to be about the best pitcher in the league so far.
Someone was looking for me?
Did I accidently go to Woody’s Apocalypse message board?
—–
Haha was that a 2012 reference? Very funny…
So, yeah, watching that video of the 8 year olds dancing to Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” in cabaret outfits.
mel
Thanks for the honest observations, since I know nearly nothing about the Lakers.
That does not inspire much hope for me. Im going to have to rely on the Magic, I guess.
Allen was done last postseason, now he’s back. Pierce was struggling earlier this postseason, now he’s back.
I said this last postseason when watching the Magic and Celtics, the Magic were highly successful when Dwight Howard was not going in the lane every possession throwing up wild shots. They were most effective when they worked the ball to open 3 point shooters. And of course Hedo Turkoglu was a beast who nailed many key shots.
They are not yo-yo-ing Javy because Girardi is working on his ‘walking the dog’ trick.
Javy was stinking it up and they wanted to give Andy a little time off — now they’re in the process of trying to get everyone right and back on track while also setting up the rotation for the next few weeks. Yes, it’s a process!
And like Doreen says, this is not the time to give Cy Hughes any time off at all.
CR9 May 16th, 2010 at 8:16 pm
Angel
Lohud has a Pets blog at pets.lohudblogs.com
Laurel, the sweet lady who runs the blog, always welcomes new posters, and will post pictures of your pets if you’d like!
************************************************************************
I’m getting really sick of your snark, and I hardly even post here anymore.
pat -
Thanks for the link to the story.
It sounds like a back-up plan to me; but I’m not sure why Girardi had to divulge it in any event (to the media that is).
I’d also be interested to know why minor league guys wouldn’t be in the mix.
Is Aceves on the DL?
BTW, did any of you go to the Chris Knox benefit at Le Poisson Rouge last week?
(just… kidding…
)
Angel
My snark??? Excuse me??
I love animals and pets, and Laurel posted pictures of my puppies there.
I thought you might like that.
I’ve tried to get Betsy to frequent Pets Lohud also.
Angel,
CR9 was totally being serious. He’s hyped the blog several times in the last week. Besides, CR9 doesn’t do snark, he’s too crazy.
http://pets.lohudblogs.com/201.....nd-taylor/
m
Thanks, I think! I never insult anyone on here. Where did she get snark from? Didnt she say she had 3 puppies?
Who says puppies and snark are mutually exclusive?
http://hipsterpuppies.tumblr.com/
Orlando chokes today. Though the series is young, they don’t look too promising.
Lakers and Cletics in Final? Boston shall win, with ease.
Nick
You always know how to inject humor!! Too funny!
Well I’m sorry if I took it the wrong way. I took that as a going off topic handslap. Its just the second time lately when I randomly responded to someone who posted to me about something other than baseball, that you kind of made me feel silly for doing so. I know it annoys other people, and I really try not to do that much. Especially when I hardly post here at all anymore.
Nevermind, my bad if I took it the wrong way. I’m obviously way too prickly.
I’ve tried to get my primary cat to comment over there on numerous occasions but he told me that “message boards were strictly for the impotent”
http://pets.lohudblogs.com/
I know M.. my bad. I read snark where there wasn’t any.
My apologies, CR9. I’m sending myself for a timeout now.
Bullpen had a tough day but can’t be expected to be perfect. If Tex makes a play he easily could have the game probably plays out differently. We need a bat though, we should have scored more than 3 runs in 9 innings against the Twins. Johnson’s gone, Cashman seems to be bluffing about cortizone healing his wrist he’s hurt now three times. Why he ever gave him $5.5m with his injury history is beyond me. We need to fix this now. I’d go for Berkman, last yr of a $14m deal, switch hitter, has power, playing on a team that’s going nowhere. He’d bat 6th and really lengthen the lineup.
Best pitcher to date thus far or not, Phil still has an innings cap; I guess they can skip him a few starts at/around the All-Star break.
Ace is on the DL and he’s going to be out for awhile, though no on knows how long.
Angel
I’ve made you feel silly for going topic? Me?
LOL I took about my puppies all the time. I talk about hot guys, and Im a straight male. I talk about TV shows, and my hatred for everything Boston and referees.
And you went off topic mentioning your pets? I think not.
If anyone gets off topic, IT’S ME!
Even though I never attacked you, I apologize anyways, and I have no problem with your comment to me. It’s forgotten.
I love animals. What kind of puppies do you have?
We needed the top of the order to do something. Jete/BG/Tex/Rod.
Doreen
Sounds like a back-up plan to me too.
Guessing they filled Javy in on the “ifs” and wanted to deal in fact rather than rumor if something leaked of the conversation.
And to throw in an anti-Boston joke:
How could I ever insult an Angel?
I only insult Satan, as in the Boston Bruins’ Miroslav Satan!!!!!!
Carl, we sure do….Cano as well.
Thanks Betsy -
I lost track. I thought only Nick & Grandy were on the DL.
Since we’re speaking of injuries, how can anyone get down on this year’s Yankees team, considering the difficult schedule we have played, and the significant injuries we have suffered?
It makes absolutely no sense.
Cashman seems to be bluffing about cortizone healing his wrist he?s hurt now three times. Why he ever gave him $5.5m with his injury history is beyond me
***************
Someone should have injected cortisone into cashman’s head when he thought it was a good idea to sign this loser. It still boggles the mind that he thought nick johnson was less of an injury threat than any other major leaguer available – including carl pavano.
PeteAbe
Not sure what is more stunning, that Mo Rivera just gave up a grand slam or that Scott Schoeneweis just got two straight outs.
lol
Who’s shocked that Johnson will miss the year?
NJ and Vazquez are producing results that you could have seen coming from a mile away.
Thank God he has $200 million to spend to cover up the mistakes he made.
This team needs another bat. Berkman would thrive here.
Doreen, you’re welcome!
Nova is showing promise, but Joe is obsessed with Logan for some reason. I don’t care how hard he throws – he can’t hit the side of a barn. At this point, given the state of the pen, the Yankees need to keep all the promising arms they can get; I can’t say I’m happy at all with how they’re handling things.
Love the idea of Javy being a long man… he has to work his way back into the rotation. Right now, we don’t center plans around him. He centers plans around us. If we need a long man, he will pitch.
That’s what going 1-3 with a 9 ERA does for you. You get skipped and your starting spot is not guaranteed each time through the rotation..
Berkman is due 14.5 million for the year, so we’d have to pay the prorated portion of that, plus the $2 million to buy him out.
Plus, who knows what they’d ask of us for him, despite him being a salary dump.
How can Javy throw side sessions if he might be needed out of the pen later that day? Would he just skip the side sessions?
Boston asks for Berkman, Ed Wade asks for Manny Delcarmen.
We ask for Berkman, Ed Wade asks for Phil Hughes
We all know how this is going to go.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/articl.....8;c_id=mlb
Phil Hughes and CC Sabathia have the nods for New York in a two-game series set to open on Monday, and while Sabathia’s $161 million contract and big-game resume have earned him trusted stature, Hughes has impressed almost everyone after winning the fifth-starter’s job coming out of camp.
“I can’t really tell you exactly why it’s been going so well, but I’m just trying to throw strikes and attack the strike zone,” Hughes said. “I know we have a good offense, so I just have to do my job and I know they’ll score runs.”
*****
First, I want to know who hasn’t been impressed with Phil, lol – “almost everyone”? Second, and more importantly, Phil is going out there and attacking, being aggressive and trusting his offense. That’s a great attitude to take; I wish Robertson and Logan would watch and learn
Watching Nomar on baseball tonight makes my blood boil. Watching ESPN center their coverage around him on opening night (when we were the defending champs!) infuriated me. Watching him in baseball tonight sickens me so much.
He had to crawl back to the Sox just so ESPN would give him a job (as a rule, you must be close to the Red Sox organization to get hired by ESPN) and now he is treated like Ted Williams.
Hey Nomar, you are not associated with the winning Red Sox. They did not win anything until you left! Stop acting like you won championships with them! You crawled back there so you could get a job!
Javy does not have to earn his way back into the rotation and if that’s what this is about, then the Yankees should be ashamed. I don’t think that’s what it is – I believe it’s exactly what Joe says. In any case, Mitre is who he is – a long man/6th starter type – that’s it.
“First, I want to know who hasn’t been impressed with Phil, lol – “almost everyone”? Second, and more importantly, Phil is going out there and attacking, being aggressive and trusting his offense. That’s a great attitude to take; I wish Robertson and Logan would watch and learn”
The Yankee brass who believed in him probably aren’t surprised.
Nice article on Phil:
http://www.newsday.com/sports/.....-1.1915257
Phil Hughes used to wonder if he’d ever make it. Perplexed by his constant struggles, he often doubted he was good enough to be a major-league starter, let alone a Yankee.
He can vividly recall the moment his confidence was shaken to its core: April 29, 2008. He was pelted with boos at Yankee Stadium after handing over the ball and a 6-2 deficit against Detroit to manager Joe Girardi after allowing eight hits – including homers by Curtis Granderson and Gary Sheffield – and three walks in 32/3 innings in an eventual 6-4 loss.
Hughes, 21, was 0-4 with a 9.00 ERA to start the season – and wondering how things could have turned so ugly so quickly. “That was probably the lowest of lows,” Hughes said yesterday.
Two days after that outing against the Tigers, he was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a stress fracture in a rib, an injury that cost him most of the season.
“There were times where I was lost,” said Hughes, who added that he initially didn’t want to admit the injury for fear people would think he was making excuses. “It was one of those things where I had to go back to the basics and find out what worked to get me here.
“You go through times where you don’t have confidence at all, and that’s tough, because your mental state of mind is almost as important as what you do physically. There were times I didn’t know if I belonged.”
He belongs.
After a highly successful run as Mariano Rivera’s setup man last season, Hughes has established himself as one of the best starters in baseball in 2010, posting a 5-0 record and a 1.38 ERA – the second-lowest in the majors. He’ll open a two-game series against Boston Monday night at the Stadium, facing Daisuke Matsuzaka (2-1, 6.35 ERA).
No longer is Hughes unsure of himself. And no longer is he just a “two-pitch guy,” Girardi said; he’s added a cutter and a changeup to his repertoire.
Hughes compiled a 5-1 record and 1.40 ERA as a reliever last season, allowing 31 hits and striking out 65 in 511/3 innings and getting the opportunity to learn from Rivera.
Hughes returned to spring training with renewed conviction, determined to earn the fifth spot in the rotation over Joba Chamberlain, Sergio Mitre, Alfredo Aceves and former Yankee Chad Gaudin. And it didn’t take long for the Yankees to see the extent of his ability.
“When we put him in the bullpen last year, we knew it was just a short-term thing. We always knew his future was as a starter,” pitching coach Dave Eiland said. “About halfway through spring training, with the stuff he had, the way he could just repeat it and repeat it, we knew he was best suited for that spot. And he’s making our decision look really good right now.”
Hughes, who pitched seven shutout innings in the Yankees’ 8-0 victory over Detroit in Game 2 of Wednesday’s doubleheader, has allowed six runs and 22 hits in 39 innings this season, has struck out 39 and hasn’t surrendered a home run in his past 30 innings. Opponents are hitting .165 against him.
General manager Brian Cashman said he feels a sense of pride when he sees Hughes, one of his homegrown products, step on the field. “You can see by his mound presence he knows he can get anybody out,” Cashman said. “Prior to that, he was going through the motions, he was feeling his way. Now he knows, mentally, he can perform and succeed at a high level.”
Hughes, a first-round Yankees pick in 2004, credits his time as a reliever for renewing his confidence. “You can’t really pitch around guys in the bullpen,” said the righthander, who took a no-hitter into the eighth inning against Oakland on April 21. “And I tried to take that as much as I could to starting – just having that aggressiveness and confidence inside the strike zone and not being afraid to miss.”
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Hughes is the first Yankee with at least five wins and a sub-1.50 ERA through his first six starts since 1958, when Bob Turley went 6-0 with a 0.83 ERA. Turley won the Cy Young Award that year.
“I knew he would get to this point,” Eiland said. “Did I think he’d get there this quick? I wasn’t real sure . . . I said a couple years ago, ‘Nothing Phil Hughes does on the baseball field ever surprises me.’ With that said, I’m very pleased. But we’re just now getting started
# Grey 45 May 16th, 2010 at 10:53 pm
Love the idea of Javy being a long man… he has to work his way back into the rotation. Right now, we don’t center plans around him. He centers plans around us. If we need a long man, he will pitch.
That’s what going 1-3 with a 9 ERA does for you. You get skipped and your starting spot is not guaranteed each time through the rotation..
———
Never mind the part about Vazquez pitching well in his last start (7.0 IP, 2 ER) and did so against a good team (Tigers). He lost the game but it was because his team didn’t score any runs.
It’s in the Yanks’ best interest to have Vazquez getting it together and being one of those five starters. He has more upside than Mitre and has been a pretty decent pitcher for a long time.
Mitre will get plenty of chances to start again. These guys are not going to make every start the rest of the season and he can step in again when they need him.
Phil probably learned a lot from Joba.
I remember when Phil was booed off the field and I stil feel pained – I feel for any player booed like that. Anyone that reads this article and then continues to go ahead and call players trash is not human. How do you not feel for Phil and what he went through? The sleepless nights wondering if his dream was coming to an end? This is what players go through – they have their dreams as well as all of us do. It pains them not to do well…….yet we go to games and we treat them like chattle, like they are made of stone.
Eiland and Cash sounds like proud papas….:)
jz May 16th, 2010 at 10:35 pm
Orlando chokes today. Though the series is young, they don’t look too promising.
Lakers and Cletics in Final? Boston shall win, with ease
~~~~~~~~~
Hey — don’t count the Suns out yet! They’re HOT right now. And the Lakers aren’t the Goliaths they’ve been in the past (at least to the Suns).
Grey, fyi – I didn’t meant to snap at you.
Nick, I think he learned out to fist pump,lol. After Phil got out of the bases loaded jam in Detroit, he did that fist pump thing – but, admittedly, in a low key way.
Carl, I agree – though I think he’s surprised them this year. One thing about Cash – he always had faith in Phil even when others didnt.
Betsy
I think Im going to go on attributing some of Phil’s success to your words of inspiration! Betsy: a key reason for the 2010 World Series Champion New York Yankees
“Love the idea of Javy being a long man”
good idea turning the fourth best pitcher in the national league last year into a reliever.
the yankees will show him who’s boss.
This doesn’t show much faith in Javy does it?
So if CC gets knocked around and has to leave in the 4th inning, Javy pitches then what? When is his next start? Does he pitch in Minnesota, or will they be afraid of that too because the Twins have a powerful lefty-heavy lineup, then push him back into June for the Clevleland series?
Seems like he is not a priority for them… he gets skipped once, pitches well and then is skipped again, then he has a scheduled start Friday, then he is a long man that may or may not pitch. There are far better candidates for a long man than Vazquez, though it probably won’t matter because we won’t need one.
Mitre is starting because he had to – because of Andy’s injury and because of the rainout. He didn’t pitch in Vazquez’s spot.
He was skipped the first time because he sucked
He was skipped this week because we could. Why do you want him starting against Boston when he doesn’t have to?
Now we have a roster crunch and might need a long man, so Javy is a logical canidate. Makes sense.
Betsy, you’re right that was a great article.
I have to give a lot of props to the people that were big proponents of Hughes to the bullpen last year. They were completely right and it has definitely helped Phil. I just hope it does the same for Joba. I still think he can be as good or better than Hughes as a starter.
The Yankees know exactly what they are doing with Javier. They put him in a position to succeed against Detroit.
I think the Yankees are trying to put Javier in the best positions to succeed, to build his confidence.
I think it’s genius. The Yankees know this is one of the better pitchers in the league.
By year’s end, Javier will have a 3.50 ERA in all of his remaining starts, and will end up with 12-15 wins. Of that I am confident.
“Now we have a roster crunch and might need a long man, so Javy is a logical canidate. Makes sense.”
to who?
It seems that calm has returned to this site. I could not stay and listen to the insults and nasty comments both about players and contributors to the blog.
Cardinal might be the 1st team to lose the lead of a division today. Seems, Holliday isn’t all the answers to their questions. bwahahah!
I am really at a loss for why they would make Javy the long man and put his Friday start in jeopardy.
What is this, some type of punishment?
If they need a long man the game is probably out of reach anyway so just use Boone Logan for a few innings again or call back up Sanchez.
I feel like I am missing something here, because I really don’t get it.
randy, it makes sense to me. Doesn’t mean I do or don’t agree with it, but it does make sense.
I wouldnt be surprised at all if this whole “Javy will be the long man” is nothing but a deterring comment.
I think we just want to face him against the Mets. And not face him against Boston.
Smart decision. Put Javier in the best position to succeed.
I’ll be shocked if Javier actually comes out of the bullpen at all in the next couple days.
SAS
I hear ya, it was bruuuutal and so personal the way they were attacking each other, just bad.
“Watching Nomar on baseball tonight makes my blood boil. Watching ESPN center their coverage around him on opening night (when we were the defending champs!) infuriated me. Watching him in baseball tonight sickens me so much.
He had to crawl back to the Sox just so ESPN would give him a job (as a rule, you must be close to the Red Sox organization to get hired by ESPN) and now he is treated like Ted Williams.
Hey Nomar, you are not associated with the winning Red Sox. They did not win anything until you left! Stop acting like you won championships with them! You crawled back there so you could get a job!”
I’m glad I’m not the only one who is extremely annoyed by him.
Where were these brutal and personal attacks? Who made them??
Did I miss something juicy?
Nick
If you missed Sergio Mitre’s tooshie, you missed something juicy!!
Nick in SF in Larkspur May 16th, 2010 at 11:22 pm
Where were these brutal and personal attacks? Who made them??
Did I miss something juicy?
************
I was just wondering the same thing.
Did I miss lots of crazy today?????????
CR, I’m blushin, lol.
Patrick, celebrity deathmatch : Phil v. Joba, lol. We’ll see about Joba. I know he throws harder, but Phil has such incredible stuff and command that it’s hard for me to think that Joba would be better if he put it together. That’s an argument for another day, however.
Kimberly Martin must be new, but she’s done a really nice job. I was dead wrong about Phil being in the pen, but I also don’t necessarily think that it would have the same effect on other pitchers. Phil had lost his confidence because of the injuries and he needed to be able to go out there and have success consistently. Of course he also took the right tack and knew that he had to be aggressive if he was going to succeed in the pen. Not every youngster sent to the pen will necessarily realize this and not every one will be able to translate it to success as a starter. Also, Phil had the natural ability to be an ace in the first place (in addition to his ability to repeat mechanics, etc…).
LGY
Haven’t you heard it called, ” Javy rules,” it’s time to screw up another starting pitcher!
Ciao Erica!
How was the wedding this weekend? Are you feeling any better?
Most importantly, are you any closer to getting Johnny D to break up with Michelle, and marrying him?
LGY, it’s the Twilight Zone except the TZ was a great show; this “show” the Yanks are putting on stupid. Send down Logan and let Nova be the long man (since someone has to go down to replace Park)…………Now they are really treating Javy like a crappy 5th starter, where he’s at the mercy of the schedule and the other SP’s performances. How is this supposed to help him?
Betsy,
I see you are already revved up about tomorrow night. You know I am right there with you. It is fun to read your comments before His Lordship pitches. Such enthusiasm/
Betsy
lol Over what? My Sergio Mitre obsession?
CR9 May 16th, 2010 at 11:26 pm
Ciao Erica!
How was the wedding this weekend? Are you feeling any better?
Most importantly, are you any closer to getting Johnny D to break up with Michelle, and marrying him?
************
I am feeling better. Just exhausted. I didn’t really get much rest this weekend. It was a lot of running around. Kind of dreading having to go to work tomorrow. I think I would be a whole new person if I could sleep for the next 24 hours
I prefer to love Johnny from afar. He doesn’t need a new wife. He has too many kids already
Hey, Erica,
You were missed today. Your humor might have stopped some of the stupid comments,
SAS May 16th, 2010 at 11:30 pm
Hey, Erica,
You were missed today. Your humor might have stopped some of the stupid comments,
************
Possibly.
Although sometimes when the comments are truly stupid I unleach angry Erica
Unleach[sic] the Kraken!
Cardinals signed pitcher Kyle Lohse, to a 4 yr, 41 million contract, and he is the only pitcher in MLB that hasn’t won a game this season.
CR, not that – about me inspiring Phil, lol.
SAS, I have to choose between Phil’s game and a Golden Girls marathon. He might do better if I choose the Girls, lol
Betsy,
Do you have a DVR or Tivo…that way you can do both.
“Although sometimes when the comments are truly stupid I unleach angry Erica”
Then I missed you today! (and I wasn’t even here.)
SAS, I read my comment about treating players like chattle and I’m rather embarrassed at the purple prose; I wish I could remove it, lol – that’s what happens when you don’t get any sleep!
SAS, I have the Girls episodes on DVD, but Phil’s starts make me nervous so sometimes I find that laughing relieves the tension, lol.
Golden Girls marathon?????????
?????????
If Phil wins, I go to In-N-Out Burger… what happens if you watch the Golden Girl marathon, you get the Early Bird Special the next day at 4:30????????
The future is Phil!
The Golden Girls was already the past in the prior millenium!
Mike on with Mark Feinsand talking about how surprising it was that Joe didn’t let Joba finish off his mess since they didn’t need the game
Betsy,
I certainly wasn’t talking about you today. The regulars on here were rightly disappointed, but the negative comments about SJ44, Randy I., GB, etc. were uncalled for and so far from the truth, it got me incensed. Not everything people say is interesting to everyone. It was the insults, etc.
Isn’t it unleech?
Betsy
oh, lol. Just think of it like this. Many people probably wanted him out of town for Johan. Dont you think he knew that! Im sure he hears sports talk radio! Hearing your comment was a moment he probably cherished!
You think Erica has leeches?
Nick, lol – hey, those girls were a lot more active at 60 than I am at 38, so no early bird specials, lol. Shoulder pads may go out of style, big hair may go out of style, but the Girls don’t!
Don’t you mean Phil is the Phuture?
Using those emoticons make me
Betsy you’re only 38!
You “read” a bit older.
SAS, oh I know you weren’t, lol…………
I don’t recall all the insults as I was fighting my own battles, lol.
Francesca thinks Mo will be upset with Joe for being treated “that way”, but I don’t think so……….Mo called his walk “unacceptable” and was undoubtedly not happy at himself (as opposed to being annoyed with Joe – watch the media make a big stink about this).
It’s easy to be highly active when you’re fictional.
Nick in SF in Larkspur May 16th, 2010 at 11:42 pm
You think Erica has leeches?
***********
The only leeches in my life are some coworkers. Oh, and my sister with no money
I am pretty sure its unLEASH
Noooo. There’s another meaning of leech. And it has nothing to do with Erica!
So, Feinsand. We don’t need wins? Just because we won the series doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to win the game. Otherwise just forfeit the game and give everyone a day of rest.
You have mo clean up Joba’s mess because that’s what you do. Unfortunately, no one could clean up mo’s mess.
Unleash Chiang!
Nick and Betsy,
I am long past 60 and I don’t think my friends look as old as they did on ‘Golden Girls’. I may be wrong because we don’t see ourselves as old. It is scary that they looked like that to me at least…lol
Bronx Jeers, is that good
I’m just a little older than Betsy. Why do I feel a lot older than her?
From what I can see, this was the line of the afternoon:
“You so blindly insult you’ve confused me with one of your many targets of your vitriolic jibber-jabber.”
mel
Probably because you’re a fan of the underdog Yankees and Lakers.
Rooting for the underdog takes a lot out of a person, at least for me it does.
Im destined for my grave in less than 10 years because of it
Feinsand and Francesca trashed the Yanks for how they are handling Vasquez, and I agree…..Feinsand said it reflects how uptight Joe is.
M, to be fair, it was Francesca who said they didn’t “need ” the game; Feinsand agreed with him. Their speculation that Mo would be upset with Joe is ridiculous, though.
That one was pretty good, toker.
leech…is a wormy blood sucking thing
M…
What happens is your body gets older, but mentally you feel like the same adult you have like for years. And, in my case, my memory isn’t as good. It was great at one time.
I ‘m not sure they looked old, but the important thing is that they didn’t act old; it’s all about the attititude.
My PHIL-osophy is that the only alternative to getting older is to be dead, so just enjoy; you’re only as old as you feel.
Betsy
And now, with a very shortened version of my story about me sounding like a FOOL!!
I was new to dating again in 2007. I was out with a gorgeous early 20s blonde, and out of nowhere (to break the awkward silence), asked her “Would you F*** Derek Jeter”
She responded with “Yes, because of who he is and his money.” I responded with “So would I!”
Needless to say, that date did not end up with me getting invited back to her place or with a 2nd date!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Marte and Logan were not available today.
Who exactly was supposed to pitch to Thome? Nova?
Joba had nothing and if you you continued to pitch him, he would not have been available tomorrow.
MO was the right move. Fans would have been infuriated with Joe if he left Joba in after how much he struggled with a “rested MO” who has pitched like twice in the past 3 weeks.
Ok – night all!
I’m not sure Betsy. I mean it’s hard to gauge somebody’s age based on their writing. I just thought you were somehow older. I’m not even sure why. You just seem very motherly.
On the other hand I guess I might be somewhat troubled if someone thought I was younger than I am based on my comments. I guess you’re just wise beyond your years.
leech is also a verb.
I don’t want to talk about my memory. I think I have an excellent one, but Nick in SF doesn’t think so.
Betsy,
You are right and women my age only feel old in what’s going on in the body which makes life much tougher.
CR9,
I hope you learned from that date!!!!
M..you are alot younger than I am
SAS
Well, fwiw, I didnt use the F word!
I did learn from that! Never mention mancrushes, even if I get nervous!
I’m suppose to go to Game 1 of The Western Conference Finals tomorrow night……Hmmmm
Bronx Jeers, I still want to know what the disturbing/troubling issue would have been related to the date of my tour of the Dakota.
Pat M
Go! You’ve earned it! Phil will do just great! You are a most loyal Yankees fan, I think you’ve earned the fun!
Good night Yankee people!
Pat M, do you have to go to Fatburger and In-N-Out tomorrow night if Showtime and Phil both win?
Pat M,
There’s a bit of crossover between Phil’s start and the Lakers game. Maybe they’ll show highlights of Phil @ Staples?
M..
Looked up leech in the dictionary and you are right it can be a verb. To attach oneself to someone.
m May 16th, 2010 at 11:47 pm
Noooo. There’s another meaning of leech. And it has nothing to do with Erica!
So, Feinsand. We don’t need wins? Just because we won the series doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to win the game. Otherwise just forfeit the game and give everyone a day of rest.
You have mo clean up Joba’s mess because that’s what you do. Unfortunately, no one could clean up mo’s mess.
——————————————-
I agree Feinsand is lost on that one. I dont understand how he is saying Girardi is overmanaging for bringing Mariano in. Isn’t that what relievers do? There has been times this year when Joba has cleaned up Marte or Robertson mess. A good reliever is one that can strand inherited runners. I dont understand how people are faulting Girardi that he brought Mo in. Mariano has barely pitched this season. Girardi is trying to win the game nothing wrong with that. He doesn’t overuse his bullpen arms like Torre did. Guaranteed if Joba gave up a grandslam everyone would be yelling he should of went to Mariano. He only had to get 1 more extra out.
And I am not blaming Mariano either. He is human eventually he was going to give some runs up and blow a save it happens its not a big deal.
“Why do I feel a lot older than her?”
I believe this could be a multiple choice question but I’ll go with having teenagers- they make you feel old some days but keep you young.
CR9
Women want to be treated like ladies not a depository…if you know what I mean.
SAS
Absolutely! And I am a perfect gentleman. It was my first date after my final separation, got nervous, and managed to say the DUMBEST THING in history!
At least it gave me a story I can relive with friends for years! I mean the look on her face before her answer was PRICELESS.
# SJ44 May 16th, 2010 at 4:50 pm
Psyluk,
Sarcasm doesn’t show up well on the internet.
I have a troll who posts under 5 different names here. I know who he is, where he lives, and what he does for a living.
—————————————–
why stop there? why not take it all the way:
“I know your PIN for the ATM”
“I know your mother’s maiden name”
“I know your darkest fears”
the possibilities are really endless.
once you go down that road, just go all the way, baby.
(I’m not trying to single out a respected regular, just calling it like I see it.)
SAS,
Well, in that case maybe it was related to Erica. We’re trying to unleech her from Damon!
I actually thought it was leech out like water removing nutrients & minerals from soil.
Pat M.
Go to the game and enjoy. You may be able to see a couple of innings before you go because of time difference. It may be a lost cause but I am rooting for the Suns.
M..
OK, I missed that somehow. Good idea. She needs to find a real Yankee to love, like Teixera. I don’t even think he is married.
Nick,
Well, I would have been a bit freaked out had such a tour occurred post murder but had you said that you took the tour prior to Dec 8, 1980, it would have probably indicated that you are older than Betsy.
lol @ the real Yankee. I know you didn’t mean it that way, but lots of people will find their way to be offended anyway.
Tex is married to his college sweetheart.
I didn’t realize this, but it somehow slip recently that he has a child. Who knew?
Actually, if Pat M is going to drive from Newport to Staples, he should already be on the road.
Pshaw. He’ll just ‘copter in with Kobe.
Tex has 2 kids- a boy and a girl.
M..
When I said real Yankee I meant he will be on the team for quite a while with his contract. I am glad he is married if he has a baby. I always thought he was single. I learn so much here every day.
SAS,
Sorry, I was talking about Damon. There are people who feel Damon will always be a real Yankee.
Bronx Jeers: I very well may be.
I guess the clues are, in what grade would I have been reading “Time and Again”, which is what prompted the Dakota tour.
What kind of school did I go to that I had a classmate with a Dakota-dwelling relative who would host the English class?
It was probbaly within 6-8 months of the Lennon murder, but I don’t know in which direction.
Bring back Edwar
m: if that’s the case, Pat M and Kobe will have to sit on one side of the copter to balance out the weight of Vanessa’s ring.
Nick in SF…..You must be familar with the 405 ( SanDiego Freeway )……Is the game on ESPN or MLB, then I can watch the game from the Box…..
M…
He will never be an all time Yankee to me. He can come to old timer’s day when the time comes, but the only loyalty he knows is the almighty dollar. Erica is asleep of course when I say this.
I am all too familiar with the 405!
:shudder:
Game is on ESPN.
Pat M.
I don’t know which channel it is but if you have a “whatamacallit” radio, there goes my memory, it is on. I don’t know which channel but look online. We listened to it on the way back from AZ.
Nick,
The ring one was nice!
SAS,
For me, it isn’t so much what he left as, as much as what he was when he came. Erica gets a pass because she loved Johnny long before he was a Yankee.
Pat,
What will the LA people in the suite think when you tell them, “But it’s must-see TV!” Of course, Phily is a local boy.
“He will never be an all time Yankee to me. He can come to old timer’s day when the time comes, but the only loyalty he knows is the almighty dollar. Erica is asleep of course when I say this.”
SAS
I understand your point of view, and I respect your opinion, but it is not necessarily Damon’s fault for his azzhole agent Boras’ dealings.
His loyalty to the Yankees was such that he never wore his Red Sox World Series ring after signing with the Yankees, and actually plans to wear his Yankees ring even while no longer being a Yankee.
He sometimes wears both rings. At the same time. That’s all you need to know.
Nick,
I’m not familiar with the book but it doesn’t sound like grade school material. The classmates name wasn’t Caulfield right?
Don’t answer. I’m off to bed.
I didn’t know Erica has loved him since he was with Boston or longer. I still think he is a money-grubbing s.o.b. Then again, I never ‘loved’ him.
CR9
He has a hideous agent, but he has a mouth too. If playing for the Yankees mattered to him, he could have said “I’ll take the deal”. He said yesterday, this is his 5th team and I believe by choice.
“He said yesterday, this is his 5th team and I believe by choice.”
Drafted by Royals traded to Oakland signed with Sox, Yanks and Tigers so 3 out of 5 were his choice.
Matsui, on the other hand, I loved. I miss him every day. His Japanese background made sure he left with pride and on his terms. I can relate to that.
OK..thanks Pat
SAS
I understand your POV. But in today’s game it’s a business. Damon lost a lot of money via Madoff. He’s nearing the end of his paydays. I understand what he did. At least he didnt go crawling back to the Sox.
Re: Matsui: There isn’t another one like him. Special, Classy, Extraordinary, Almost Perfect. I love the Japanese because of the way they handle themselves with class and dignity.
It makes me wonder though, what happened to Daisuke, to make him an arrogant twerp
And when he signed with the Yankees over the Sox, Gammons and ESPN and the rest of the media made Damon out to be “out for the money”
But that was False.
He wanted the 4th year that he got from us, which amounts to Job Security. So signing with the Yankees was not about money, as he was being offered the same average annual value from the Sox, he just got offered the extra year of job security from us.
CR9,
I know he lost money to Madoff, but the Yankees didn’t offer him swiss cheese. He could have made over 15 million dollars with playoff money, endorsements and so forth, maybe more. I know he lives high on the hog, but surely he can cut back a bit and just live like a rich man. I have no sympathy for him and I hope the Tigers don’t make the playoffs.
I’m with SAS on Damon. He’s a money guy — always was, always will be. Don’t go blaming his agent for his failure to sign with the Yanks.
Truthfully, I got tired of Damon’s little aches and hurts while he was with us.
Now Matsui — there was a stand-up guy. Funny how Jete always went out of his way to praise Matsui as one of his all-time favorites. Not so with Damon.
I know the board has lots of Damon fans. I enjoyed when he hit for us, but I don’t miss him. (Apologies to Erica)
Yes, Johnny Damon is a baseball mercenary, but he’s also a good baseball guy and I sure miss his production right now.
I don’t blame Cashman one bit for not overpaying, but I wouldn’t mind seeing Johnny slashing doubles and short-porch dingers some more…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcrEqIpi6sg
After what Cashman paid Nick Johnson, Damon’s looking like a bargain right about now. What are we honestly going to get out of NJ this year? You’d think Cash would have learned. It’s not like we didn’t see Nick up close and personal years ago. Poor guy has a body made of fine china.
I agree that Johnny can hit, but oh — I don’t want him in the outfield. Did you see the ball he missed while playing OF against the Red Sox this week? Brought back bad memories…
“After what Cashman paid Nick Johnson, Damon’s looking like a bargain right about now. ”
Damon wanted two years. That made no sense given their pre-existing salary commitments and the contract renewals that Jeter and Mo will probably get.
He managed to make a pretty good play vs. us though!
Woah there, Rich, Cashman offered Damon 2 years — the issue was the $$$, not the years.
Nick’s right, Rich. I think I write that a lot…
Gotta run. You guys hash it out!!
Damon would have been the perfect fit for this club. Cashman felt that way and it showed during his dealings (or lack thereof) with Matsui.
Cash offered 2/14. Damon signed 1/8.
That’s on Damon and his agent for completely misreading his market. Can’t expect Cashman to bid against himself.
Anyway, it is still too early to even tell whether that 2/14 offer would have been wise. The 2nd year was a bit of a scary idea last winter.
If Johnny signed for 2/14 it would have been interesting to see where he fit with this club in 2011.
The sentiment on two years reflected my opinion, but my guess is that Cash would have gone higher for one year on an AAV basis than he would have two. IIRC, Cash said that Boras and Damon said they didn’t want to negotiate if the offer was for less than $10m per for two.
I will admit that I was wrong about NJ if he is out for a prolonged period, but NJ is replacing Matsui, who has struggled. Granderson replaced Damon, and will prove his worth over time.
Thames also replaced Damon… sort of.
Nick…
Granderson replaced Damon. Too bad he is on the dl. He should be back soon, Thames and Winn were late pick up by the Yanks and they were invited to spring trainiing..
Until another day…Good night LoHudders.
.
I was thinking more with some dazzling left field play.
You could play ledger all day long and it won’t change a thing.
But if you insist. Nady’s bat hasn’t come around yet, Wang has yet to make a rehab start, Hideki hasn’t been the same, Edwar designated, Gaudin designated, Bruney, same, melky-haven’t heard much about him, Damon’s already had physical issues.
On the other side, NJ has a wrist issue. Logan has a tough time throwing strikes. Granderson’s on the DL. Thames can’t play the field (but can hit some). Winn can’t hit (but can play the field). Oh, yeah, forgot about Javy.
Yeah, it doesn’t look too good. But we haven’t missed a beat. We’re still 10+ games over .500 with some key injuries and a lost Tex/low-wattage Alex.
Who insisted??
“They’ve been whipping our butts,’’ said David Ortiz. “We need to change that – on Yankees
I stayed up to watch Billy Crystal great tribute movie to Mickey Mantle & Roger Maris ” 61 “…….I was 10 when this most surreal and historic baseball season played out in the year 1961…….Camelot was in The White House, the country was washed anew with spirit and belief in the future…..Times were good, and Mantle & Maris put on a show that had the entire nation riveted to the game of baseball and the NY Yankees……..What a time to grow up in and to learn the game of baseball…..The M& M Boys, the one and the only…..We may have imposter’s from time to time, but make no mistake, Mantle & Maris are the one and only M&M Boys………
Wasn’t able to watch the game yesterday, I don’t get MY9, and TBS was blacked out for some reason. Sounds like Mitre did a good job, and Mo was human. Oh well, time to sweep the sox!
Had the same problem in Syracuse. Could not find the game. TBS was black. Don’t think that has ever happened before. Happy Mitre pitched well. Kind of glad I didn’t see Mo give up the grand slam. I can live wothout that memory.
yeah, I didn’t even turn on espn this am. I am not blaming anyone, not Mo, not Joba, not Girardi, no one is perfect. I just don’t want to see it!
and the Twins were long overdue, they are way too good of a team to not win at YS
Exactly.
Good morning everyone.
I have posted information about this week’s GTLU schedule on my blog/website/whatever (?
). I don’t want to clog up the thread here. I would ask that people who are interested, click on my name for GTLU scheduling information for this week. Thanks.
My only issue with Sunday is Girardi should not be asking Mo for more than one inning. It doesn’t make any sense at this stage of the season. Too much risk, too little reward.
Joba should have been left out there to finish the inning, especially since his pitch count basically makes him unavailable tonight… at least it should.
No question there are mixed reviews on the off-season moves. We’re less than 25 percent through the season. And some of you need to stop acting like the Yanks chose NJ over Damon. Damon chose ego and a little bit of cash over the Yankees. I wish he hadn’t but he did.
“My only issue with Sunday is Girardi should not be asking Mo for more than one inning. It doesn’t make any sense at this stage of the season. Too much risk, too little reward.”
I think that’s a fair criticism.
86w183 -
It is an exercise in futility to make some people see the reality of the Damon off-season situation. Only if Damon starts to stink it up or go on the DL or miss significant time with the Tigers will the tide turn. You’ll start to see the same people post, whew, thank heavens Cashman didn’t cave to Damon’s demands. You know this is true.
I didn’t see the game yesterday, so I don’t know what the story was with Joba not being left in to finish it off. Was Joba a little nibbly yesterday? Or perhaps there is a numbers story that we aren’t aware of? Or maybe Joe thought Mo would be able to come in and get that last out in a more economical fashion, as he usually does, with a chance to keep the lead intact? Mo hasn’t gotten much work recently, so I don’t have a problem this particular time with the 4-out save set-up. But I do hope it’s not setting a trend going forward.
You knew Mo was going to have a game like that eventually.
IMO, Granderson move isn’t even a ?. So what if he’s on the DL? It’s not like it’s permanent………..I won’t even touch on Damon as that has been gone over way too many times; suffice to say that I approved of everything Cash did in those “negotiations”
Joba is probably available tonight for one inning………….
Mo is going to get the “grief”, but Joba is the one who put the baserunners on; he did a bad job.
I probably would have left Joba in as well but also had no problem bringing Mo in in that situation to face the lefty Thome….99.5% of the time Rivera doesn’t walk Thome there ..and probably 99.5 % of the time he doesn’t give up the homer. It happens…even to the great ones.
Yankees have a chance here this week to really put Boston even more behind the eight ball and do some damage against Tampa. Should be a fun week of baseball…after this week the schedule starts to let up a bit and soon they should be getting key guys healthy.
“You knew Mo was going to have a game like that eventually. ”
That may be true in general, but I don’t think it accurately describes what happened. Mo has pitched so little in the last two weeks that his command was likely to be suboptimal. In effect, Girardi, by bringing him in with the bases loaded, set Mo up for failure.
Excellent point Rich
I thought Joe should have found a way to get Mo work besides that one inning in Detroit ..
Way too early to totally write off the sox, but it doesn’t look like a good year for them.
Looks like it is up to the Yankees to take care of the Rays, no one else seems to want to do it
I think Winn and Thames are doing as best as can be expected for bench players, but it will be nice to get Granderson back.
Ouch, Cash:
http://www.nypost.com/p/sports.....Yfqiyxn2hN
Because with all the reasons offered for why it was best for the whole pitching staff to skip Vazquez against the Red Sox — and the Rays, too — general manager Brian Cashman did say, “He has been by far our fifth-best guy in the rotation, so for now he gets the short straw.” These days the Mets are the short straw, the easiest mark on a schedule. Citi Field is the kind of place where you look to rebuild Vazquez’s stuff and confidence.
I still think the Sox will be in it (they already are) . By the way, I said the Jays would be pretty good this year – my prediction is looking just fine, lol.
People also need to start taking the Rays seriously and not just assuming the Yankees are going to overtake them because we won the WS last year.
Rich in NJ -
That is a fair point about Mo being a little rusty. But he did come in the other day and he was fine. If this was the first time back after the lay-off, I’d agree that he shouldn’t have brought him in with the bases loaded.
I have to agree that it was surprising to see Girardi bring Mo in for a four-out save. Maybe he wanted to get him some work because he has been used so little the past couple of weeks with the injury and then very few save situations. Still, I thought it was a mistake. It was not a must-win game. Let Joba try to get out of it. It would have been good for him to pitch in that situation. And hey, it could not have turned out any worse. LOL.
Of course, hindsight is always 20-20.
Betsy -
It’s true, though. And people here have said as much often and with far less tact.
(And I’m a Javy supporter, just to be clear.)
Darned if you do, darned if you don’t.
If Girardi had brought Mo into a 7-1 game, people would complain he’s 40, coming off a sore side and using him in a 7-1 game is ridiculous.
If you use him only when necessary as a hat tip to age and physical well being, people say they let him get rusty and set him up for failure.
“That may be true in general, but I don’t think it accurately describes what happened. Mo has pitched so little in the last two weeks that his command was likely to be suboptimal.”
It was his 3rd outing in 5 days and the 1st two were rocking chair scenarios perfectly suited for a guy coming back off a minor injury. It was time to be the closer again yesterday. The way that ended was not Girardi’s fault.
As I said, I didn’t see the game – did Joba start that inning clean? Was he responsible for loading the bases in the first place? Did he get the two outs that were recorded in that inning? What kind of outs were they? Did he K people, or did they hit the ball hard? Was he walk the bases loaded, or were there hits, hits and walks? Did he look like he would have been able to get the third out? How has he done against Thome in the past?
I think all this figures into why Joe brought in Mo to get the last out.
I don’t think anybody is overlooking the Rays…they are a really good team.
The comforting thing though if you are a Yankee fan is the fact that the Rays have been playing much closer to their peak level than the Yankees have to this point, at least IMO. Meaning that the Yankees haven’t been healthy and haven’t played as well as they can and are still only 2 games back.
You all have certainly heard of “re-fried beans”.
Around here we get a lot of hash and re-hash.
Kind of like a dog chasing it’s tail. It’s fun to watch even if it’s leads nowhere.
My focus is on putting the Rays in their rightful place – second.
I have paid for 8 wins for Hughes already so it’s just fine with me if he shines on ESPN tonite.
pat May 17th, 2010 at 8:35 am
Darned if you do, darned if you don?t.
If Girardi had brought Mo into a 7-1 game, people would complain he?s 40, coming off a sore side and using him in a 7-1 game is ridiculous.
If you use him only when necessary as a hat tip to age and physical well being, people say they let him get rusty and set him up for failure.
****************************
Pat, my thoughts exactly.
Blake, I guess it’s my natural caution, but I’m a little concerned about the offense. It’s mid-May and Alex and Tex can’t find any consistency whatsoever. They had great games Saturday and did nothing yesterday – except for Tex’s bloop double. They need to get going………..
I like the way the rotation is set up, I think it gives the Yankees the best chance to win. I have faith that Javy will turn into the pitcher we want him to be, and I would rather have him pitch against the Mets where he has a better chance of success.
“It was his 3rd outing in 5 days and the 1st two were rocking chair scenarios perfectly suited for a guy coming back off a minor injury. It was time to be the closer again yesterday. The way that ended was not Girardi’s fault.”
The facts are contra.
The 9th inning of a one run game would have allowed him to be the “closer again.”
That’s the logical progression in terms of increasing leverage. Afterall, he is 40 years old. We can no longer take for granted that he can bounce back from an injury and regain his old form as if he was 30.
Also…the Yankees have played the 2nd fewest home games of any team in baseball (15)..only Cleveland has fewer (14). In contrast the Rays have played 18 home games and the Sox have played 23 at Fenway!
“Darned if you do, darned if you don’t.”
Nonsense. That’s a right way and a wrong way.
Edit: There’s a
“The comforting thing though if you are a Yankee fan is the fact that the Rays have been playing much closer to their peak level than the Yankees have to this point, at least IMO.”
I’d respectfully disagree. I think both teams are pitching to their peak level, but I don’t think either team has come close to that with the bats.
Doreen
“That is a fair point about Mo being a little rusty. But he did come in the other day and he was fine.”
You don’t asks a guy who is coming off an injury, that has been used as little as Mo has, to come in and be perfect with the bases loaded, not to mention get four outs.
They weren’t facing the RS or Rays. The win wasn’t critical.
It was classic overmanaging.
It will be unfortunate if JV has to pitch in long relief rather than getting a chance to make his next start.
Personally, I think he is gonna make that start.
I don’t think he is going to be used.
“Of course, hindsight is always 20-20.”
Why do you think it’s hindsight?
We’ll have to agree to disagree, Rich. I have no problem with Girardi asking Rivera to get the most important out of the game, especially on a day when Joba doesn’t have his A game going. Obviously not satisfied with the result, but more than 9 times out of 10 it’s going to work.
billy,
That’s fine but I do think the Yankees have more room between their current performance level and their peak than the Rays do. Both staffs have been great but the Yankees have dealt with significantly more Injuries and a more difficult schedule and are hanging right with them. If you don’t agree then you don’t agree, that’s ok.
Doreen – GTLU Stuff & Photos May 17th, 2010 at 8:36 am
As I said, I didn?t see the game ? did Joba start that inning clean? Was he responsible for loading the bases in the first place?
*************************
Doreen, yes and yes.
The sun rose this morning here in NY.
Billy D
Let’s say you’re right that it was OK for Girardi to ask Mo to get the “most important out of the game.” Wasn’t it apparent that Joba didn’t have his “A game” before he loaded the bases?
I think it was.
So then why did Girardi wait until the bases are loaded?
Pat-
“The sun rose this morning here in NY.”
And I can almost guarantee you that it will set out here in the West this evening.
“The sun rose this morning here in NY.”
True, baseball is meaningless in the grand scheme of life, but this is a baseball forum, so it’s hardly surprising that we would discuss the outcome of the last game the Yankees played.
Rich in NJ -
I’m not certain. I would need to know more about how Joba was pitching to know whether it would have been smarter to leave him in the game or to bring Mo in. I don’t really buy the argument that they already had the series, so save Mariano for another day because he’s not young anymore and they don’t “need” the win.
Is it ever “fair” to ask any relief pitcher to come into someone else’s bases loaded mess and expect them to be perfect? But that’s their job. Mo makes one good pitch and the inning’s over, even if he does walk in one run.
As I said, I just hope that asking Mo for four outs doesn’t set a trend going forward. I hope that it is the occasional exception and does not become the rule.
Bottom line if Mo comes in their and breaks thome’s bat and he dribbles it to 1b then nobody questions Girardi…it would have been a no brainer move. That didn’t happen so its questioned.
Joba got a little too cute with the slider yesterday IMO and the Yankees got beat by a good team who was due to win one at YS….not the end of the world. Yanks stil. Won the series and have their staff lined up for this tough week ahead of them.
on the bright side:
Mitre pitched well
Nova pitched well
the bottom of the order (Pena and Winn?) got on base to start off the 9th
We’re going to the stadium tonight for the first time this season. Does anybody know if the River Ave. garage is open and does it still have the exit up to Gerard Ave?
Web site doesn’t state the parking fee…if i remember from last year it was $20. Did they increase the fee?
Doreen
“Is it ever “fair” to ask any relief pitcher to come into someone else’s bases loaded mess and expect them to be perfect? But that’s their job. Mo makes one good pitch and the inning’s over, even if he does walk in one run.”
If Mo hadn’t been coming of an injury this season which forced irregular work, and/or this game was against the RS or the Rays, then I would have no problem with the usage (although again, bringing him in before the bases were loaded made more sense).
Anyway, gotta work.
To me Joba is not even part of the debate.
You don’t ask 40-year-old relievers to get four out saves in May. October fine, November even better, but not May.
Joba got into trouble, let him get out of it. and yes, I’ll stand by that position all summer long. I have written many times prior to the start of this season that Mo should not be asked to go over one inning in the regular season again…. unless a division title/post-season berth is on the line.
Erin -
Thanks.
Rich in NJ -
Because he thought Joba would get out of his own mess, but he didn’t and bringing in Mo was a last resort?
These games happen. Sometimes your best guys aren’t going to have it. I don’t know that I can fault Girardi for relying on Mo. It wasn’t his first appearance after his lay-off.
I actually think baseball is pretty meaningful.
Just wanted to see if someone would disagree. Even went back and added NY so someone on the west coast couldn’t say not yet.
From what I can see Joe G. is much more of a “new school” than an “old school” type Manager in the sense that he is a #’s guy more than a “gut” guy.
He goes with what he thinks are the odds and goes with them.
It is in the nature of things that even when you think the odds are in your favor they will sometimes turn against you.
That is what happened with Mo yesterday. Joe thought the odds were in his favor but they turned against him.
Right decision bad outcome. It happens that way sometimes.
blake May 17th, 2010 at 8:58 am
Bottom line if Mo comes in their and breaks thome?s bat and he dribbles it to 1b then nobody questions Girardi?it would have been a no brainer move. That didn?t happen so its questioned.
********************
Exactly!!
Blake:
You could be right. In fact, Rays may even be pitching above peak. Offensively though, they’ve gotten zippidity doo dah out of everyone but Longoria and Crawford.
Rich:
Don’t have an answer for that, except to say that he gave Joba a chance to work his way out of his own jam and if not for the ball glancing off of Teixeira’s glove, he’d have done it. But that ball was stoked and with Thome coming up he obviously felt he had given Joba enough rope.
I’m looking at my printed Yankees schedule.
They have tonight’s game at 7:05 on YES. Is that correct?
Also, are there really 2 games on MY9 this week?????? I hate MY9.
The Yankees need to be very patient with Dice BB (that’s what I call him because I think its more appropriate than dice K) tonight. Let him throw 100 gyroballs by the 4th inning and then pound their bullpen.
MTU, you have Hughes equity built up now so you should just be able to enjoy the game without worry of having to pay up right?
unless the yankees know something behind the scenes that vasquez is dogging it and needs to be taught a lesson to get him going, jerking him around is total BS.
he’s one of the top 50–60 pitchers in baseball and demands some respect as a player who has long ago paid his dues.
yank his start monday for tactical reasons ? ok, there’s reasons why that makes sense. but vazquez has already taken one for the team right there.
yank his next friday start or not tell him he has it right now so he can prepare for friday is total BS.
it’s not his problem about long relief between now and then. that’s what girardi and cashman get paid for. do something else.
it’s mid may. micromanaging this week where a ( before the season) possible all star pitcher gets jerked around is really not seeing the big picture.
seriously, if i were vazquez, i’d tell cashman and girardi eyeball to eyeball it’s friday or else they ‘d have one unhappy player.
this is doing him no good being here if they are going to misuse him.
the team ultimately is the employer but tell jeter to play outfield and see how far that goes. or tell posada he’s been demoted to back up catcher and dh. there’s a limit to what teams can do with established veteran players without getting a backlash from the players and the yankees are pushing those limits with vazquez.
Doreen
My schedule says the same.
Hard for me to criticize Girardi for bringing Mariano in the game to get one out.
Why does there always have to be someone else to blame for a loss aside from the person who contributed to it?
Sometimes, a guy just didn’t do his job. Mariano failed yesterday. It happens. Thankfully, it doesn’t happen too much. In the grand scheme of things, yesterday’s “failure” was minor since they already won the series.
Fact is, the Twins hit ropes the entire series at Yankee fielders. They were due for some good fortune.
Its not Joba’s fault or Girardi’s fault Mariano had a bad day.
Mariano was coming off a minor injury but has shown no ill effects from that injury in his previous 2 outings.
In an ideal world, they would have wanted Joba to finish the inning. However, he was struggling, his pitchcount was too high, and if you can’t trust Mariano Rivera to get ONE out, who can you trust?
On this rare day, it didn’t happen.
You turn the page and move on.
Thanks, pat.
Kind of torn on this issue, Randy. Certainly Vazquez’s last effort appeared to be something he could build on, epsecially in terms of his confidence. Bumping him seems to offset that. On the other hand, he is indeed the 5th best starter on the team, as Cashman suggests (I got killed for saying he was #5 starter now a couple weeks back – now that Cash says so, I guess it’s real), and as such he’s the guy who gets jerked around. I don’t agree with it, but at the same time I can see where they are coming from.
Blake-
“MTU, you have Hughes equity built up now so you should just be able to enjoy the game without worry of having to pay up right? ”
This is true. I have paid for 8 wins already. I had to I will be very busy exploring the next 2 weeks and needed to get ahead of the game so to speak.
I hope he continues to shine tonite.
Randy,
I hope after this week they get Javy back on regular schedule. I think its really important to get him in track not only to give them 5 solid starters but in the event that one of the other 4 get injuried. Doesn’t seem like a big deal until (cc or Pettite or somebody goes down ,heaven forbid)…then Javy becomes much More important than a “5th starter”.
Wth the Sox here for the next 2 nights, get ready for a very heavydose of trolls Dan and Hit Girl. Need to do our best to ignore them no matter what. Hopefully, Yanks kick Sox butt the next 2 nights and shut them up.
Kate, Javy might not even pitch on Friday; I couldn’t possibly think of a worse way to handle a pitcher.
Randy
just curious, how would you have arranged the rotation? At least from what has been said, the changes are a result of the rain out. This way you disrupt one guy, not the whole staff. I would think the Yankees would rather have had Javy start than Mitre.
I agree w/ you that Javy should not be used for long relief, and should definitely get his Friday start. He has too much potential to be used out of the pen.
Blake, I don’t know what the Rays road record is, but it’s exceptional; I’m not saying the race is over, far from it. I just think it’s not a given that they come back to the pack (though I’m not saying they will win 113 games either)
Randy-
IMO Vasquez will pitch Friday.
Rays road record is 15-4, including a west coast trip
It’s Joba’s fault because Joba had a bad day; let’s not lay this all on Mo. Joba had a job to do yesterday and he didn’t do it. Period. Mo didn’t either, but he’s getting all the attention; if Joba had gotten 3 outs, Mo never would have had to have come in.
Randy, I don’t think Javy should act like that, but I couldn’t agree more with you otherwise.
Betsy,
The Rays are a really good team..I actually think they and the Yankees are the best two teams in baseball..even if they keep up this pace (which I think is unlikely) and win the division..as long as the Yankees continue to play well they should win the wild card, and the earliest they could face the Rays is the ALCS because they are in the same division.
I think the Vazquez stuff is overblown. There isn’t a lot negative to write about with this team and the media is seizing on this stuff.
They had three issues re: lining up the rotation:
1. Pettitte’s elbow. If possible, you would rather he not bat since he originally hurt it batting in Houston.
2. Keeping as many guys on regular rest as possible. By doing it the way they are doing it, 4 of the 5 guys are on regular rest. The guy who has struggled the most isn’t. That’s the way it goes.
3. Vazquez.
In the end, they are doing what’s best for the team. They have their 4 top pitchers lined up to start against their biggest rivals. They avoid Pettitte batting. Somebody gets “shorted” in that and unfortunately, its Vazquez.
If they need him early in the week, its basically a throw day for him. It should not hurt his ability to start against the Mets.
Barring any weather interruptions, they go back to a regular rotational turn after this week.
It seems to make perfect sense to me. I don’t get what the fallout is about.
MTU, even if that’s so, it’s absolute hogwash that it’s NOT certain that he does. The guy has to prepare for his start; just when do the Yankees intend to tell him their plans? All they have to do is send freaking Boone Logan down when Park returns and keep Nova as the long man.
Blake-
I like your “Dice-BB” moniker.
He certainly hasn’t been Pair-O-Dice for the Sox.
Betsy,
Mo walked in the tying run and gave up a grand slam that cost him the game. That’s on Mo, not Joba. That’s reality. Its game where you pick up your teammate. Yesterday was the rare occasion Mo didn’t do it.
You don’t always get a clean inning to do your thing. Its not the first time Mariano has come into a game with guys on base. You give up a bases loaded walk and a grand slam, its pretty tough to lay that on someone else.
Blake, I have to tell you that would be a real disappointment if we ended up with the wild card. I don’t care how long the WC has been in existence; I still view it as a 2nd class way to get into the playoffs and the fact that WC teams have won the WS doesn’t make it any better. Of course it’s way too early to even think that, but I’m just saying………
If they need Javy as a long man, I don’t see how he pitches Friday.
I don’t agree at all, SJ. Neither man did his job – not Mo, nor Joba. There’s no way I’m laying the whole game at Mo’s feet.
SJ —
He didn’t ask Mariano to get one out, he asked him to get FOUR. That is my criticism. At his age and increasing susceptibility to minor aches and pains I think four (or more) out saves in the regular season should be off the table.
I agree with you completely on Vazquez
SJ,
It does make sense. However I think some folks question is whether in the long run its more important to get Javy straightened out or to line up the rotation for May baseball games. Obviously both have importance and over the long haul it doesn’t make much difference…I can see both sides of this arguement but I trust the Yankees know more about the situation than I do.
Betsy-
I don’t see how what has transpired thus far would prevent Javy from
following whatever routine will make him feel comfortable for his next start.
If he needs to pitch an inning or so that would be his side session as SJ has pointed out.
He doesn’t have to put it all in his “Day planner” IMO.
His routine should not be disrupted in all likelyhood and that should be the bottom line.
I think he will pitch Friday and will be all set up for another good outing but that’s just my take.
MTU, what are we talking about here? Per Joe, Javy is the long man – that means he’d go more than 1 inning in case one of the SP has a bad day. I’m still furious about this.
Betsy-
I do not think Javy will be needed in long relief even though he is technically designated as being available for the role.
I think Park will be activated shortly, and can handle multiple innings.
Secondarily, I don’t see any of the next four starters getting knocked out early enough to require a long man.
That’s just my take. Agree to disgree if you like.
Vazquez is to start on Friday. If he’s not needed in relief tonight, which is the only night we are talking about, he’s good to go on Friday.
He can have his bullpen on Wednesday and be ready to go.
They are hedging for tonight in case they need a long guy because Mitre isn’t available, Nova will probably be the guy sent down for Park, and they don’t want to blow out Park in his first day back.
They won’t need a long guy for CC tomorrow.
Not having a 100% set in stone answer for Javy today in no way impacts a Friday start.
well joba did get 3 outs, problem is tex couldn’t catch a ball, he had no business dropping and tex choked with the game on the line
The Yankees are getting through this brutal stretch and a very, very tough first two months just fine. A split of the next four would be OK, taking 3 of the 4 would be great.
If they can stay in contact with the Rays until the start of June, when they get healthy again (Granderson and Park primarily) we are good to go for the summer.
Betsy where exactly are you getting the cold hard fact that Vazquez is only going to be used as the “long man”? He said he would be available to pitch out of the bullpen for “a couple of days”, which literally would mean Monday and Tuesday. At no point did he say “he is the long man”. He also said his goal is to have him start Friday.
Meaning he is not going out of his way to burn the guy out by pitching him 4 innings out of the bullpen tonight or tomorrow. In fact he said it multiple times in his postgame that his plans are to start Vazquez on Friday. Girardi is just being cautious about the fact that he has to make sure innings are covered should a starter wash out terribly early in the week. If Hughes and Sabathia give them decent innings Monday and Tuesday it’s a non-issue because the pen will be well rested and Vazquez won’t have been used for a huge # of pitches even if he makes an appearance out of the ‘pen.
Can you imagine if the team got caught up in the finger pointing that fans do.
I kind of find it hard to criticize Mo and Tex too much.
Mo has been unbelievable his whole career. He gave up a hit – the other guys are trying to win as well.
Mo- got squeezed by the ump. And its jobas fault for tiein the bases.
the Twins lead the AL central and have the 3rd best record in the AL, right behind the Yankees. It is a bit unrealistic to think they were never going to win at YS, altho I doubt anyone would have predicted it to happen the way it did.
Today is another day, time to move on as I am sure the players have.
Why not send Logan down instead of Nova? Logan isn’t any good, lefty or not.
this blog just sucks lately, there arnt consistant updates & chad just takes too many off days & that guy bryan heyman is just awful
Somehow I don’t think they’re setting up their rotation and not telling the interested parties what’s going on.
I don’t think we need to “blame” anyone for every loss. You win some, you lose some, sometimes the offense scuffles, sometimes the pitching scuffles, sometimes the defense scuffles.
As for the Wild Card – Betsy, would you really feel disappointed and that it’s a second class inferior way of getting to the playoffs if the Yankees end up with the second-best record in the AL, maybe a game or two behind the Rays or whoever? If there’s no wild card, they don’t get to the playoffs at all in spite of having the 2nd best record. Plus, once the playoffs start, it’s a clean slate. Sure, it’s nicer to win outright, but the WC is nothing to be ashamed of or disappointed about.
i have to agree about being too hard on joba. i saw what looked like the third out. The usual sure handed Tex missed one he definitely should have had. THAT loaded the bases. It snowballed from there. But its a mistake and they all make them. Joba has been great, Mo is Mo, and Tex is unbelievable in the field and heating up at the plate. I think we are just fine, considering we are without Johnson and Granderson, who while struggling early, are huge weapons in the lineup.
Wild Card teams have won the World Series. There is nothing wrong with making the playoffs as a Wild Card.
I’m sure if the Yankees did, and they won the World Series again, they wouldn’t give back the trophy.
“I don’t think we need to “blame” anyone for every loss.”
Alex is the voice of reason.
well said tex’s friend…it was a TEAM loss…you could also blame Jeet, GGBG, Tex for striking out w/ 2 men on base in the 9th.
Even talking about being “disappointed” about getting the Wild Card, considering it’s May 17, is ridiculous. So much of the season remains and so many head-to-head divisional games, as well (13 with Tampa still to go after this week, if my math is right). No way it even needs to be discussed until the summer months. Plus just being 1 of the 4 teams in the AL in the playoffs, how can that be disappointing?! SO few teams make it in the end.
Baseball has the fewest playoff teams of any sport. If the Yankees get the wild card its likely at 95+ wins anyways, which will be more than any other division leader.
But like Matsui-san once said, “no wildcard”
“this blog just sucks lately, there arnt consistant updates & chad just takes too many off days & that guy bryan heyman is just awful”
I happen to agree.
The updates and lineups are late, the posts are too infrequent, and some of the posters are ruining the comment section.
IMO Betsy destroys about half the threads with her constant whining. She just kills them. Like this one.
The umpires didn’t “squeeze” Chamberlain…they didn’t “squeeze” Rivera. They just didn’t get the job done for once. Blame them if you find it necessary to blame somebody. while you’re at it, blame a large majority of the offense. The bottom of the order was about the only ones that actually did anything. You know..the same ones that you were complaining about yesterday when the line-ups were announced. Had it not been for them, chances are, the NYYs would have gotten shut out again Blame Jeter, Gardner, Rodriguez and Cano. There’s where the game was lost. They had 13 base runners and scored 3.
I can’t believe anyone actually believed that the Yanks would continue to beat the Twins. That’s too good of a ball club to keep losing to the Yanks. NYYs didn’t exactly maul them all last year. They easily could have won 4 of the regular season games and at least 2 in the post season.
It’s not even June yet – why is anyone concerned with the standings right now?
Doreen, it’s just how I feel.
As to whether the Yankees should feel bad and give any title they win as WC back, I never said that or even came close to suggesting that.
Any teams goal should be to be around .500 baseball at the all star break, and have a strong second half. The yankees, barring catastrophe, will be going into the ASB with probably one of their better games over .500 record in a while.
Good times.
Chip May 17th, 2010 at 10:08 am
It?s not even June yet ? why is anyone concerned with the standings right now?
************
Concerned with standings….
I don’t even LOOK at standings until the All-Star Break
Chip, I’m not; I wasn’t the one who brought up the possibility of getting in as the WC.
The Yankees are sending Nova down because they don’t actually view him as a reliever, he’s a starter and the best thing for the team is to let him continue to start in AAA. With the rotation healthy again Mitre will go back to being the long man.
Logan will stay up until Aceves is healthy.
Going back to something I suggested last week – with Johnson now out indefinitely and possibly needing surgery on his wrist – I would let Jorge get the lion’s share of time at DH, use Cervelli behind the plate where his defense will be a major asset, and either use Chad Moeller as a third catcher or reach out to bring in another catcher (Greg Zaun).
I would rather have Cervelli’s glove than Miranda’s bat.
I was referencing SJ’s comment about Wild Card teams – as if suggesting that it’s fine if the Yankees look towards that as a goal.
If I could choose the “executioner” though I would have preferred Thome end it yesterday.
Nothing wrong with Kubel but I like the big guy and if you’re going to have to remember a painful HR for a while it might as well come from a player you admire.
Not like freakin Marco Scutaro.
“I happen to agree.
The updates and lineups are late, the posts are too infrequent, and some of the posters are ruining the comment section.
IMO Betsy destroys about half the threads with her constant whining. She just kills them. Like this one.”
Pretty harsh. I’ve seen most of the other papers blogs. Which is better?
If you don’t like Betsy POV don’t respond. I for one welcome all POV that aren’t just nonsense or trolling. Betsy can be a bit “Chicken Little” but that’s who she is as a fan. There seems to be a lot more of that emotion since 2004.
I never said the Yankees “goal” should be the WC.
I said there is no shame in making the playoffs as a WC and there isn’t.
Big difference.
“I would rather have Cervelli’s glove than Miranda’s bat.”
Chip this makes sense but it could be complicated once Cervelli’s offensive performance to date levels off, which I think most people know it will (he isn’t going to continue to hit .390 and get a hit basically every time he comes up with RISP, which is no knock on his abilities but just a law of averages). I think they would live with Cervelli frequently at the bottom of the order if Granderson truly makes it back on time (1st or 2nd week of June) and Gardner continues to hit. But I really think Girardi will take the merry-go-round approach to the DH spot until there is a regular solution available (Johnson or a mid-season import). Meaning Thames, Miranda, a regular infielder and Posada all sprinkled in throughout a given week.
Betsy -
I didn’t say the Yankees shouldn’t be disappointed. And did you write this? It seems to me you are saying that getting the WC is a second class way of making it to the playoffs and you would be disappointed if that’s how the Yankees got there. If I’m wrong, I’m sorry, but that’s how I read this statement by you.
“Betsy – Hughes rules (Pleading the Fifth) May 17th, 2010 at 9:27 am
Blake, I have to tell you that would be a real disappointment if we ended up with the wild card. I don’t care how long the WC has been in existence; I still view it as a 2nd class way to get into the playoffs and the fact that WC teams have won the WS doesn’t make it any better. Of course it’s way too early to even think that, but I’m just saying………”
SJ44 May 17th, 2010 at 10:16 am
I never said the Yankees “goal” should be the WC.
I said there is no shame in making the playoffs as a WC and there isn’t.
Big difference.
——————————
And I was just suggesting that it is way too early to even start thinking about the Wild Card
Would people just back off Betsy?
I would rather have 5 Betsys for some the other posters who do nothing but argue and contribute nothing to the blog other than clogging 50% of the space.
Im over last nights loss. . It happens ! . . Time to prepare for the sox
The goal is to win a World Championship.
Does it really matter how they get there?
The goal is to win a World Championship.
Does it really matter how they get there?
–
No, but its much cooler winning the division. They don’t hang up flags for wild cards
I know it was unrealistic to think the Yankees were going to keep their undefeated streak against the Twins, but I just hate how it ended.
If Blackburn simply outdueled Mitre, I don’t think anyone would have been stunned. The Twins would have gotten their win, but it wouldn’t make them feel any more confident facing us in October, when Mitre won’t be on the mound. But for them to beat Joba, Mo, and then strike out the side in the 9th inning when every Twins fan thought they would cough it right up…I just hope this game doesn’t give them the confidence to get over the hump should we face them in the playoffs. The Twins are a very good team, yes…but that’s why it was so much fun to have their number.
Andrew –
I think the Yankee lineup is deep enough to carry Cervelli’s bat.
I like Cervelli because he’s one of those batters who makes himself useful every AB.
If a runner needs to be bunted over or the Yankees need a sac fly or groundout to score a run, I trust Cervelli over some of the hit-or-miss bats like Thames and Miranda.
Plus, Cervelli has been clutch and good at situational hitting ever since he came up in ’09. I still remember him getting 2 hits off Santana in one of his earliest games last season.
Chip the lineup definitely is deep enough to have Cervelli hitting 9th but right now with no Granderson, I’m not crazy about playing him almost every day just because I think he’s due to slow down a bit with the bat, while it’s possible someone like Miranda or Winn could heat up and provide some usefulness that holds the offensive tide until CG is back at full speed. Cervelli a few times a week is a great asset because of his defense and his aptitude for hitting in the clutch. Cervelli 5 times a week? Not sure about that one.
I didn’t see the game but just watched the replay of the grand slam. Looked like Mo actually made a good pitch – put it right where the glove was, on the low inside corner. Hitter put a good swing on it. It happens sometimes. Tonight should be a good game.
So if this Yankees team wins 100 games, but Tampa wins 100, it is a second class team?
new thread
Good morning,
I just wanted to say at least this conversation is constructive and not mean. Hooray for that.
The Yankees are going to win games like the one they lost yesterday, and they are going to win games that we thought were a lost cause. That is the nature of baseball. With all the knowledge some of you have about baseball, those facts are inevitable. There was blame to go around yesterday for lots of players; just as there are praiseworthy games other days.
We have a big week coming up where we can make ‘some hay’. That is what is on my mind for now. Yesterday is over. Looking up standings with over 100 games left to play seems senseless when the Yankees have one of the best records in the game.
Speech over.
He’s human. Maybe there was some Kryptonite on the field somewhere…