Postgame notes: Back to .500 for Vazquez
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Notes, Podcast on Jun 06, 2010 
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Javier Vazquez said it was hard for him to learn much from watching Andy Pettitte and A.J. Burnett face the Blue Jays the past two days. Pettitte is a lefty, Burnett is a power pitcher and Vazquez was going to have to find his own way to handle this explosive Toronto lineup.
It was a good night to have his best changeup of the season.
“They always take a big swing, hit a lot of homers,” Francisco Cervelli said. “We just tried to change the rhythm a little bit and offspeed I think is the best way… I think the last four starts he has really shown who’s Javy Vazquez.”
After that awful start to the season, Vazquez is now 5-5, an even .500 for the season. He would be 6-4 had the Yankees scored some runs for him during that doubleheader start in Detroit.
“It was a tough first month for him, but I give him a lot of credit,” Joe Girardi said. “He kept fighting, and he did what we wanted him to do. He missed a start when he didn’t want to miss a start. Got a big strikeout out of the bullpen for us. He did what we asked him to do, and for that I really applaud him. He never stopped trying, and he never got so down that he didn’t do his work and go about his business.”
Vazquez has allowed two runs or less in four of his past five starts. He’s pitched through the seventh inning in two straight.
“I’ve been feeling like that the last couple of starts,” he said. “I’ve been feeling a lot better with my command and what my pitchers are doing. I felt good that I could do it against an offense like the Blue Jays, of course.”
Here’s Vazquez speaking after the game.
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And here’s Girardi.
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• Vazquez said he was never thinking about a no-hitter. The one hit he allowed was the Vernon Wells home run, on a slider that was supposed to be off the plate. “It was just the wrong location,” Vazquez said. “For me it was the right pitch, but I just didn’t locate it where I wanted it. We wanted it for a ball away and it stayed over the plate.”
• Mark Teixeira was not surprised when the Blue Jays elected to walk him to face Alex Rodriguez in the eighth. “It’s all about the situation,” Teixeira said. “You’ve got a guy that throws the ball down. You want a ground ball there, a hard ground ball, and every single time that’s the right call. That’s just baseball. That’s basic.”
• Likewise, Robinson Cano was not surprised when the Blue Jays decided not to walk him later in the inning. “It was two outs,” he said. “I said, I’m going to go up there and keep the same mind and just get a good pitch to hit.”
• The Yankees saw Brett Cecil, Ricky Romera and Brandon Morrow this series. All three young starters pitched very, very well. “When guys make pitches, most people are going to struggle,” Derek Jeter said. “(Morrow) was throwing 97. Ball moving all over the plate. He was throwing a hard breaking ball. No disrespect to anybody else, but he was throwing the ball so well, I would have probably rather faced anybody.”
• What is it about Francisco Cervelli that leads to all these hit by pitches? “Another hit by pitch in my career,” he said. “I’ve got a lot of tattoos on my back and my arm. It’s part of the game. We scored runs after that, so I’ll take it.”
• Cano’s second-inning double snapped an 0-for-12 streak. Twelve at-bats is nothing, but when your as hot as Cano, it seems like an eternity.
• Mariano Rivera has allowed one hit in his past five appearances.
• Girardi was ejected for the second time this season, his first ejection since May 9 in Boston. It was his 10th ejection as a manager, eighth ejection as Yankees manager and 13th ejection of his career.
• Someone asked Girardi why his team seems to win when he gets tossed. “Sometimes I think I should get thrown out in the first,” he said.
Associated Press photos of Vazquez, Jeter and Teixeira, and Cervelli at the HBP.
I ws just telling my mom how much I <3 Cervelli.
her fav is Cano
Funny how Javy, Phil and Andy are carrying the staff the past month
# mick June 6th, 2010 at 7:14 pm
doreen
it seems kinda dead in here lately, could it be that without friction this blog is just not as interesting?
If the playoffs started tomorrow I would have CC-Andy/Hughes-AJ.
If the Yankees have HFA I go with CC-Andy 1-2 to get both lefties at the stadium. If they don’t, I would go with CC-Hughes.
I would keep AJ on a short leash and keep Javy ready in the BP to prevent a game like against the Jays a couple days ago where AJ just takes the Yankees out of the game.
But, if I was a betting man, I would wager Girardi goes CC-AJ-Andy-Phil.
Knowing Joe’s loyalty , he will probably go CC, AJ, Andy and whoever is hottest down the stretch for the 4th.
mick -
No, I think it was the type of friction.
This blog has never been heaven on earth – there has always been disagreement. I enjoy the back and forth and I like learning stuff from people even if I don’t agree with what they’re saying. And I think most of the “regulars” feel the same. Heck, I loved the exchanges during the great sabermetrics debate over this past off-season. Plus, this blog has weathered a few bumps in the road.
I think the imposter stuff is what has got everyone really upset. Exchanging ideas over the internet is a leap of faith, in a way. This blog has the feel of a community and you, wisely or not, come to expect certain things from the people you communicate with on a regular basis. The imposters really throw a wrench into that. Most times you can tell when a person is being impostered, but sometimes not. It damages the level of trust that existed here, and in an environment where most of us have never and will never meet, that’s devastating.
LGY
Good post. I agree with all except
“But, if I was a betting man, I would wager Girardi goes CC-AJ-Andy-Phil.”
Joe respects Andy a lot. CC, Andy, AJ, Phil
I don’t see Andy in the 2 spot. Game 3 is usually pivotal.
Rishi June 6th, 2010 at 7:09 pm
I ws just telling my mom how much I <3 Cervelli.
her fav is Cano
****************************
Your mom has very good taste.
BTW, I ♥ Cervelli too.
~Mark since you know so much about basic baesball. How do you play the game everyday and still can’t hit, Mr .211?
~Jeter it was obvious you wanted out of the batters box quick , you were out by the first or second pitch, until the 8th when you grew a pair!!
“If the playoffs started tomorrow ”
How do you start AJ over Andy? Not me.
Doreen
You are a pillar of this blog. I can only hope Chad, Sam et al listen to you.
Kevin “Useless”?
I dislike Youkilis as much, and more than the next Yankees fan, but Kevin is far from useless. An extremely patient and good hitter, without mentioning his excellent 1B defense.
doreen
I agree with you on the friction.
I think worse than the imposters, the immaturity puts off the more intelligent poster.
This place has been invaded and it’s a turn off but it seems inevitable that eventually , if not already, the hits will go down and something might be done.
Javy was clocked between 74-89 one time he hit 90. It was a good a good idea to attack their aggressive bats with off speed stuff.
Yet somehow, people have more of a problem with my measly use of asterisks in place of “foul words” than the impostering.
I mean, I go out of my way to avoid upsetting the apple cart, by using asterisks in the first place, and only for a total of 3 minutes during a 3 hour game, and yet somehow Chad ended up with 10+ emails for ASTERISKS!
In the voice of Allen Iverson, asterisks? Asterisks? We’re talkin’ about asterisks!!!
Who would you want if the series is tied at 1? Andy or AJ?
Tarheelyank -
Thank you so much. I hope Sam Chad, et al, read the posts, because I rarely communicate with them via e-mail. I figure, they’ve heard it all enough, why bombard their inbox? But perhaps I should…
******
Kevin Youkilis – ah, a complicated thing. I keep telling myself, for not good reason, really, except perhaps that he was a late bloomer, that he’s a mirage and that at some point he’s going to go away. Ha ha ha! The laugh’s on me. He’s really good. But he IS ugly!!!
Mick
Trick question. I call foul.
CR9
It wasn’t me, but the asterisks are annoying to me as well.
CR9
He’s Useless to me chowder town might think differently, but as long as he’s there,h he’s USELESS to me, ok?
“Who would you want if the series is tied at 1? Andy or AJ?”
Andy, he is a big game pitcher who doesn’t get rattled.
Tarheelyank June 6th, 2010 at 7:36 pm
Mick
Trick question. I call foul.
==================
These are the questions our President…I mean Joe G. faces on an everyday basis.
“Who would you want if the series is tied at 1? Andy or AJ?”
Andy, he is a big game pitcher who doesn’t get rattled.
===================
That is why he pitches game 3.
Makes sense, Horse face! Got it!
TarHeel
I appreciate your opinion. If I may ask you a question, though, other people on the board use foul language with asterisks within the word, allude to other foul language, or just plain call other people names (that are not foul).
I first start with the word scumbag, which people email Chad over. Without Chad warning me, I stop that, so as to not cause strife on the board.
I then move on to Mother and spelling out the EFF word, which others on the board have done many times in the past. I get asked nicely by Sam to knock that off. So I do without a question or a problem.
I move on to ASTERISKS, which can mean anything. ***** can mean “Hello”. **** YOU can mean “Hi to” You.
And now that gets attacked. Oh well, I guess I’ll have to find something else, but I have to be able to get my anger out on the board somehow, so I dont carry the anger with me. My anger on the board stays on the board!
I think our president has answered that question. Andy is his man. (especially if the playoffs started tomorrow)
I never asked a question, oops. Oh well. Im too tired now. Time to get rest before the Lakers game.
(repost):
“This is a fantastic article about the players who were selected above Jeter in the draft…….”
I remember that draft well. The yankees hadn’t had first round draft picks for much of the latter part of the 1980’s so in 1992 it still felt like a novelty for the yanks to have a first round draft pick – especially a top 10 pick. That was such a low point for the franchise, those years. I’d started following the draft a couple of year before then with Brien Taylor.
That year the big talent was Jeffrey Hammonds an outfielder out of Stanford. Hammonds was considered to have a huge ceiling and be a five tool kind of guy, with plus speed and good power. He was being compared to Rickey Henderson and Barry Bonds. He was generally thought of as a big time talent and a near “can’t miss.”
But the question with Hammonds was whether he would price himself out of being the first pick. The Astros had the top pick and as draft day approached it seemed like they were going to pass on Hammonds over price. They wound up selecting Phil Nevin, who went on to have a kind of roller coaster career going from #1 pick, to complete “bust,” and then kind of resurrecting himself as a jack of all trades kind of player, even learning how to catch. #1 pick as a power hitting 3b, to needing to learn how to catch to stay in the game. Remarkable how difficult it is to make it in the bigs.
Nevin was never particularly good but I always gave him a lot of credit. The Astros basically gave up on him and he really did look like he wasn’t going to amount to much. At the same time Hammonds made it to the bigs very quickly. But Nevin hung in there, found a niche and made a career for himself when all of it looked like it might slip away and amount to nothing.
I was really hoping that Hammond would fall to the yanks at #6 but it seemed very unlikely that a talent like that would make it out of the top 5, regardless of price. Early on there were leaks saying that the yankees were looking to draft a catcher and that they really liked Charles Johnson. He was a reach at 6 but the yankees wanted a catcher.
There was some talk about them possibly taking a high school SS out of michigan. It seemed kind of odd given that a lot of the emphasis was on college players at the top of the draft and the yankees were just so bad. Taking a risk on a high school SS? The position that repeatedly disappoints with high first rounders? I didn’t really think they were going to take him. It seemed like a rumor.
Hammonds fell but didn’t make it to 6. The orioles took him at 4. Hammonds went on to play for a long time but wasn’t much more than a mediocre LF. He never fulfilled his potential or his tools. He’s the kind of guy fans write off because he never lived up to the billing. But he made a professional career for himself.
Then the yankees passed on Johnson, didn’t take a catcher and instead took Jeter at 6. I was a bit disappointed because I figured it would be years and years before he could help the club and SS were such a risk. I kind of just filed him away. And then he was terrible in the minors in low A…
As time went on, we learned that the yanks loved Jeter pretty much from the start and they were on him the whole time. Charles Johnson was just a smoke screen ( though he did go on to have a good career behind the plate.)
And then there’s Jeter who keeps on performing at an all star level all these years and all these world series later.
Pick #6. I was a bit disappointed at the time. He wasn’t Jeffrey Hammonds.
mick -
The immaturity – eh – I scroll past most of what I don’t like. Unless it’s like before the game even started today, in which case, I’ll go away for awhile.
But I can see how, if you’re new to this place, and you see that silliness you might not come back.
Just for the record, the crassness of some people sinks to unbelievable depths, and it has existed pre-Chad/Sam. It drove away one of our most prolific posters whose presence is missed even now. She is intelligent and a gifted writer, and her input was really valued here. (Fortunately, she has her own blog and if you want to read her opinions and insights, you can still go there, but it’s not the same.) It seems to me that it’s the female posters here that get the brunt of that sort of abuse.
The other thing that’s becoming a turnoff is the belly-button examination that goes on here — and I’m contributing to it now — more discussion about the workings and dysfunction of the blog and its people than about the Yankees and baseball.
“Javy was clocked between 74-89 one time he hit 90. It was a good a good idea to attack their aggressive bats with off speed stuff.”
According to Gameday, Javy threw several fastballs above 89 today. A few were at 92 with the rest of them 90-91. He mainly sat between 89-90 today.
Andy would be the favorite to pitch a game 7 if necc.
Last year there were those days off, not so this year.
With 4 starters this year , if he were #3, he would probably go the 7th game.
If the real SJ were here he would agree with that.
Doreen
I always like your morning post with your morning coffee. You have a good way of stating things without being controversial.
I had to laugh at your thoughts on Youk.
WTH! (Maybe that will be reported to Chad also) The Lakers game is on at 8. I thought I had an hour to rest before the game on at 9.
Crawdaddy
Go back and read I seen some in the 90′s a lot in the 80′s and his slider in the 70′s!
The reason I NOTED IT WAS BECAUSE HE WAS AT FIRST HAVING A VELOCITY problem, until I seen the results and knew it was intentional.
“My anger on the board stays on the board! ”
Actually, your anger gets thrown at us. Your asterisks are transparent. Perhaps this is why other posters have issues with it.
I mean this in the nicest way possible, you should talk to a professional about the importance you place on sports in your life. O,r is it just part of the CR “persona” ?
Doreen
The only solution is to ignore them but there is always a few that will encourage them.
Like I said, something might be done about it but the fear of lesser hits might discourage the powers that be.
I really don’t think anyone but the smarter posters give a hoot about the quality of comments .
Thanks, MaineYankee.
The morning has slowed up lately, too.
Maybe we all are getting lives? Sleeping later??
XM has done much to neutralize my negative feelings about some non-Yankees. Guys I imagined were jerks sounding funny and intelligent during interviews. Sounding like decent people. I hate it!!!! Oh, well.
CB,
The Astros lead scout in the Michigan area at the time was Hal Newhauser, a baseball lifer and former excellent pitcher for the Tigers.
He loved Jeter and begged the Astros to draft Jeter.
Told the Astros he was a “future Hall of Famer”.
The Astros took Nevin and Newhauser was so distraught, he quit and never worked in the game again.
He still stayed in touch with Jeter over the years.
Game 3 is the pivotal game of the series and Pettitte would be the guy on the mound, especially if it’s a road game.
Girardi would also want to split up the lefties like he does the lineup.
He’d go with Sabathia, Burnett, and Pettitte. Right now, you’d have to go with Hughes as the Game 4 starter but there’s a lot of baseball to be played between now and October.
I’d probably go with Hughes as the Game 2 starter but that’s not what Girardi would do.
Out of all the guys on the staff, Andy would be my #1 choice to pitch a Game 7.
# SJ44 June 6th, 2010 at 7:56 pm
Out of all the guys on the staff, Andy would be my #1 choice to pitch a Game 7.
=====================================================
It’s funny how many think your best pitcher should go games 1 and 7.
In our case we go with our Ace in game 1 but look for Andy in game 7.
Andy gets all pivotal games. He just has such a track record – unbelievable.
As to #2 and #4, that will be determined over the course of the season. I think it’s a no lose situation though, for the Yankees, no pun intended.
What is the benefit of splitting up CC and Andy?
They are completely different pitchers.
Although, I completely agree that will play into Girardi’s decision.
Doreen
I know what you mean about trying to not like likeable players.
It’s easier for me to dislike most RS because of where I live.
You and I both have at times fought and lost the battle to stay out of the fray. You seem to have more restraint than I. Although I’ve been trying to just leave instead so as to keep my sanity.
“The Astros took Nevin and Newhauser was so distraught, he quit and never worked in the game again. ”
SJ-
I know – it’s just such an amazing story. I remember first reading about Newhauser’s story. It just expanded the scope of the narrative of that draft for the yanks and Jeter so much more.
Hammond was the guy that draft. And Newhauser tabs Jeter as the guy to take #1. He is literally giving the Astros the perfect out – take this kid out of michigan and not only won’t you need to pony up to hammonds demands, but you’ll get the top talent on the board.
Instead they went with Nevin. I’d guess they were prioritizing a college guy. From what Newhauser said, it sounds like they never considered Jeter seriously. Nevin played 18 games for the Astros before they gave up on him and traded him to the Tigers. Just amazing. A franchise never quite recovers from that.
The draft is always unpredictable but 1992 really turned out to be an interesting one because it exemplified, in this magnifying way, all of the issues that are involved with trying to find talent in baseball.
CC could do his Randy Johnson impression and win Game 6 and come out of the bullpen to get a key out or two in Game 7.
He is enough of a stud to be able to do it.
True, Doreen, it’s a good problem to have.
Ledger_Yankees Two Yankee fans going “we’ve got YES Network on our plane!” Ya know, @BloggingBombers and @BenShpigel ain’t chopped liver. They’re here.
less than 20 seconds ago via web
Maine Yankee -
Oh, I’ve succumbed, for sure. But there are times I type responses and then delete. I get it out of my system without infecting other people. It works for the most part.
CR9 -
Perhaps that’s something you can do – if you’re particularly in need of venting – type, but don’t submit – hit delete instead.
Giuseppe Franco
With all due respect “Game 3 is the pivotal game of the series” is only true if it’s 1-1. Not 2-0.
“Girardi would also want to split up the lefties like he does the lineup.”
While I agree it’s preferable, I do not think this is a deal breaker.
SJ,
Do you see Brad Lincoln being successful right away in the majors?
game 3 is more apt to be pivotal than game 2.
Doreen
I’ve done the same thing. Sometimes because what i typed would do more harm than good and my better judgement prevailed.
games 3 and 5 are known as pivotal because the series is either tied at 1-1 or 2-2.
of course game 7 is the most pivotal
right now is a microcosm of how this blog should be.
3 or 4 good posters talking baseball and a twit or two keeping out of it.
Probably not right away flash because the Pirates aren’t very good.
He’s got a good arm though and potentially is a nice #2-#3 type of starter in the rotation.
…waiting for the good posters to leave so that they can twitter themself.
CC is more apt to win game 1, setting up Andy, who is more apt win game 2. Maybe we should just agree to disagree.
CR9-
I’d like to say for the record, that I wasn’t one of the people who e-mailed Chad regarding you. I do think you make some interesting baseball insights and would love if you posted more of those. However the tone of some of your other posts are what bother people? Did you read the commenting guidelines I linked you to regarding cursing? (I’ll post the link again).
You are absolutely right in that respect that other people do it too. But the difference is, those people don’t do it consistantly or aren’t reguarly posters. You are.
Please do not think I am attacking you. I am really just trying to help you
http://yankees.lhblogs.com/200.....this-blog/
The Game 3 starter would most likely pitch a Game 7.
That plays into setting up your rotation.
That’s why I would pitch Andy in Game 3. He would then be available to pitch Game 7.
if we were up 2-0 in a series, wouldn’t game 3 still be pivotal? If Aj crapped the bed in game 3 and let a team back into the series with our 4 or 5 guy due up.
SJ, that’s not really you, right?
Tarheel,
Whether we like it or not, that’s the way Girardi thinks. He adopted Torre’s playoff philosophy “Game 3 is the most pivotal game of the series.”
Girardi likes to keep his guys in specific roles and he usually doesn’t deter from it very much.
Most people wanted Pettitte to pitch Game 2 in the ALDS last season and Girardi still went with Burnett for the reason I gave above even though Pettitte had clearly outpitched Burnett the last couple months of the regular season.
Maine Yankees -
Oh, yes. Self-censorship is a gift!
Tarheelyank -
The way I see it is if the Yankees are 1-1, Andy starting game three gives them the advantage; If they’re 2-0, Andy gives them a chance to win a 3 of 5 series and puts them 1 away from winning a 4 of 7 series; if they’re 0-2 (heaven forbid), Andy gives them the chance to stay in it. And he seems to have ice water running through his veins when he pitches.
But that’s if Andy maintains this level throughout the season and stays healthy.
90% of the problems are solved here once they solve the impersonator problem.
Trolling is something we have always handled here.
It’s the impersonating issues that are driving good posters away and curtailing others from posting more.
Story by Olney on Hal Newhouser and Jeter:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....id=1863947
# SJ44 June 6th, 2010 at 8:16 pm
90% of the problems are solved here once they solve the impersonator problem.
Trolling is something we have always handled here.
It’s the impersonating issues that are driving good posters away and curtailing others from posting more.
===========================
Nice reply, but you didn’t answer my question.
It’s me mick.
Just FYI for anyone who plays GTLU, I posted the schedule for the upcoming week on the GTLU site.
I haven’t really been in the comment sections much this year, but did they ever consider requiring logins (free, of course) for posting here, in response to said issue?
I really don’t care if it’s the real SJ or not , you seem decent enough to try to replace a good poster, but I still don’t understand it.
“But that’s if Andy maintains this level throughout the season and stays healthy.’
If that is the case, Joe will (rightfully) reward Andy with the 2nd spot. The spot that will (hopefully) be a home start
Disclaimer: other intelligent posters disagree with my assumption, So I may be wrong, but I am sticking to my guns.
SJ and CB – I’d read those same stories about the ’92 draft and Jeter, Newhauser.
What is it, only 1-2% of all minor leaguers make the bigs? It’s so difficult to project, just look at Andy Pettitte. He’s being talked about for the HOF, and he was a 22nd round pick.
Matt Wieters, former SI cover boy – a “can’t miss” major leaguer. I realize his career is just starting, but last year he hit, what, about .250, and he started today at .235, with a couple HRs.
Ken Singleton, when covering the O’s last series with the Yanks, said on air that however good these kids are in HS, college, and the minors, they’ve never ever played in a league this good before.
Disclaimer: other intelligent posters disagree with my assumption, So I may be wrong, but I am sticking to my guns.
===================
Tarheel,
That is how wars start.
“That is how wars start.”
Did they have blogs then?
what if they gave a blog and nobody came?
Joe,
Out of over 1500 players drafted and signed via IFA each year, less than 100 ever complete 2 full seasons in the majors. Less than 30 ever make an all star team.
That’s how hard it is to make it.
Out of all the guys on the staff, Andy would be my #1 choice to pitch a Game 7.
——————————-
YMH for me on this one.
He may not have Andy’s track record yet, but he is attacking the strike zone w/filthier stuff than even Andy has ever thrown.
I don’t think Phil would start in the post-season; there’s no way he’s going to start over Javy – he’s not experienced enough. Plus, the Yankees might look at last year and wonder if Phil can handle that. Last year, he admitted he was scared/nervous or something like that……..Would Phil be able to handle the pressure? Yes, I know he did in 2007.
CB, I remember Nevin – he did end up having a fine career. Paul Shuey was a big disappointment as a starter……and even as a reliever he wasn’t great. It must be very hard to project high school kids – I suppose that’s why Phil dropped to #24.
Tom in N.J.
Thanks for linking that story. I had not ever read it. Quite a guy, our Derek Jeter.
Last year won’t have any bearing on starting Hughes this year in the post-season.
If he keeps pitching like this, he’s starting in the post-season.
Girardi isn’t going to baby him. He is already one of the three best starters on the team.
Guys like that don’t end up in the pen in the post-season.
I think I remember reading that about Newhauser. I became familiar with him when I started watching those old WS on MLB network (thank you!)…….. That’s a shame that he quit because of that, but it sure speaks to his integrity.
SJ, any idea who the yankees are looking to draft?
Doreen/TarHeel/Erica
Thanks for the thoughts and suggestions.
You guys have no idea how many times I delete what Im typing and not post. If I post 30 times during a game thread on average, I delete 50 other comments that I never submit.
As a fan of any team, I dont think it’s necessary to seek professional help for getting angry. If I ran onto fields and got tasered, or I attacked an umpire like other sicko fans do, then I would need help. It is my belief that any Yankees fan should be angry – as angry as I get – when a Swisher gets rung up cheaply as he did today.
I looked at the blog post on posting guidelines. I dont see any one of my behaviors on there. Maybe Im just missing it.
SJ, yeah – I agree. So if we forget last year, do you think Joe would go with a kid? I’m not so sure. Phil has been one of the best pitchers in baseball thus far and if he keeps it up, he HAS to start. If he just merely has a good 2nd half, but not great, I don’t know. I guess it depends how Phil is throwing the ball, whether he shows signs of fatigue, that sort of thing. I don’t have a real feel for Joe……….I just have a gut feeling that he’d prefer the veteran if both are pitching well.
Andy over CC in game 7? Well, first let’s see how Andy does the rest of the year, but I go CC.
What did the Rays do today?
I was reading the scrawl at the bottom of the screen, and I thought I read they lost but my husband thought he read that they won. Go figure. Did I see what I wanted to see?
CC came up huge last year, so while I love Andy, I really do not see how you go with him over CC
game 7, CC is no brainer.
Betsy,
Robbie Cano barely hit .200 with RISP last year and Girardi had no hesitation hitting him fifth.
He won’t have any problem starting Hughes in the post-season.
Tom,
I’ve heard them linked to an OF from the University of Michigan and a few of the high end arms they hope drop because of money issues.
That’s all I’ve heard this year. They have kept their plans very close to the vest.
Doreen – Rays were beating Texas in the 9th. Red Sox lost to O’s in the 11th. Okajima losing pitcher.
Rays won
There’s so much baseball left to be played before Girardi lines up pitchers for the playoffs. But assuming the Yankees get there, if CC then is like CC now, and Andy then is like Andy now, and Phil is like Phil now, how he aligns them might end up being a surprise to all. And then there’s Javy and AJ – how are they going to pitch from here on out?
Lakers are in trouble, Kobe is nowhere to be found so far.
Thanks RMS and Joe from Long Island. I guess I saw what I wanted to see.
CR9
Once again, you have many redeeming qualities, and I don’t mean to harp on the bad ones, but when you say ” I dont think it’s necessary to seek professional help for getting angry.” that’s not exactly encouriging to me. There is room for doubt in your own mind, so If I am wrong, what will you have lost? However it works out- Good luck, I am now dropping the subject.
And the Rays won 9-5. They play the Jays next. ’twill be interesting.
Tom, that was a great article/excerpt; thanks for posting! LOL The Astros were poorly run then and they still are…………
There’s a long way to go before the post-season, so I guess it’s probably moot at this point. Let’s hope all our starters are pitching well into October………and if Phil still is, then he’s had one hell of a season. I hope Javy makes it a tough decision, lol.
“And the Rays won 9-5. They play the Jays next. ’twill be interesting.”
Joe,
I wonder, Did we see the real deal with the Jays staff? Or was that a whole team that got up to play the Yankees at home?
TarHeel
Dont worry. I understand and appreciate you trying to help out, both myself and the blog. Im not a believer in medicine. However, I got some beta-blockers recently to slow my heart rate (something musicians use). I did not like being so calm during a game when we were losing. In fact, I was actually laughing during games in which we were losing. Personally, I dont like laughing while my team is losing.
The better question is, what if Hughes continues to be excellent throughout and Javy comes on strong in the 2nd half but Burnett is his usual inconsistent self?
Would they ever go Javy over AJ in a game 4?
TarheelYank – I’ve always had the impression, in this latest Cito Gaston – era, that Gaston always has the Jays keyed up to play the Yankees. It wouldn’t surprise me in the least to find he juggled his pitching staff, and fed the players raw meat laced with testosterone and greenies whenever they play NY.
I’m only half-kidding.
Sj, Thanks.
For those sabremetrically inclined:
What is a good slugging average against for a pitcher? Phil’s is .299 – that seems pretty low.
He throws 4.17 pitchers per plate appearance (not sure if that’s good or not) and 16.5 pitchers per inning, with 105 pitches per start….
KObe was screwed by Ref.
Any thoughts, CR9?
See, this entire Celtics game has been a joke. From Ray Allen hitting every single god damn shot, to Kobe Bryant getting whistled for 3 cheap fouls while being guarded by Ray Allen. But RAY DAMN ALLEN cant be whistled for a foul while raping Kobe Bryant! MAKE ANY SENSE?!?!? I am so bleeping furious! Ready to smash something.
Pitches, not pitchers; I’m pretty sure Phil, while strong, isn’t strong enough to throw pitchers.
Basically, the Celtics NEED to steal a game at the Staples Center, and Ray Allen is 7-7 in 3 pointers. I mean, the playoff game of his life, right when they need. PERFECT LUCK! But when the Yankees scald balls all over the outfield, it’s right at people.
I think every team gets up to play the Yankees.
“But RAY DAMN ALLEN cant be whistled for a foul while raping Kobe Bryant!”
They always say… what goes around comes around
Ray Allen is singlehandedly destroying the Lakers.
Mike, if AJ is pitching badly and Javy is pitching well………….Joe might have no choice. However, if AJ is pitching badly enough where he might not even be in the rotation, the Yanks are going to have a tough time making the playoffs.
Lakers are in danger to be blown away
very poor job by Lakers to defend such a hot shooter like Allen
Betsy – slugging percentage against isn’t a widely-tracked stat among saber-circles, as they tend to look more at batted-ball types and true outcomes (BB, K, HR), but since a .300 SLG wouldn’t play for even a gold-glove catcher, I’d say it’s pretty damn good. Hughes might be getting a bit lucky in how many fly balls are leaving the yard against him, but there’s no denying that with his gaudy strikeout and walk totals that even a little regression in that area won’t remove him from the realm of greatness. He’s actually got a slightly lower walk rate this year as a starter than he did last year, pitching out of the pen so much.
CAPS LOCK is not allowed. That’s in the Commenting Guidelines.
Oh well. Time to find something else to watch tonight. Thanks for showing up, Lakers.
ESPN couldn’t find a better matchup to show us than Brewers/Cardinals? Why not Dodgers/Braves? Rays/Rangers?
Joe
I have had that same impression. It seemed he was pushing hard. As a Yankee fan, I should be used that.
BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 3 POINTER!! GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
oh, lucky one!
only 6 points down!
I guess my threatening to turn the TV off woke them up
Melancon’s AAA ERA is 3.98 now.
Way to cut into a 14 point lead before halftime. Excellent job! This is Phil Jackson, perhaps the greatest tactician to ever live. He needs to go into halftime and figure out a way to stop Allen from coming off the screens and being wide open for 3 pointers. It is IMPERATIVE. Allen was in foul trouble for the first half in game 1 – preventing him from getting into any type of rhythm. There has to be a way to stop him, even if it means moving Artest off Pierce and on Allen. And letting Pierce have the height advantage over someone else.
@Joba_62 said:
http://tweetphoto.com/26001667 Back in the USA. Great Job again by Javy and some clutch hitting! Congrats to Miguel Cotto on his win at the stadium!
“I think every team gets up to play the Yankees.”
Some of the Jays players said as much.
One said the number of fans in the seats, even if many are Yankees fans, helps them have a different energy than when they play some other teams.
Javy over AJ in a gm 4??
AJ over Javy in a gm 4.
pat
I didn’t read that, but certainly got that impression. I hope they can sustain it for the Rays. Goodnight all.
I’ve been out all day so I haven’t caught up but why is playoff pitching order being discussed on June 6th?
2 point game!
Bang!!!!
pat -
I think because they won today and Javy was good.
Of course, if they lost, the conversation would have been trade targets.
I think it depends on the opponent and situation.
If we win the division, we have homefield and will in all likelihood face the AL West winner (Texas or LAA)
If we win the WC, we will play the Twins on the road to open up.
Can’t believe we’re discussing this in June lol Slow night though
Kevin, thanks!
Lakers just pound in the zone, looks like Bynum is 100%.
Doreen
Thank you.
I hear there’s medication for that now.
I am this close to losing whatever sanity I have left. 5 fouls on Kobe Bryant. 4 of them were nothing fouls. The 5th one may have been one, but you cant call that garbage with 11:30 remaining in the game on the best player in the universe. The Celtics have yet to get called for a stinking single stinking god damn traveling violation all night. They have traveled at least 4 times, and have yet to get one call against them.
Let’s go Celtics
Can’t stand Lakers at all.
Celtics fans are not welcome in Yankee blog
Hate both these teams
Hate Boston more
This would be a huge game for LA to get
To bad I’m a Yankee fan and I hate Lakers so tough Luck.
These refs are way to whistle happy!!!!!!Let them play some bball!
joke joke joke joke god damn miserable every curse word under the sun joke! Kobe cant even play any defense with the 5 fouls, and he’s not even taking the ball right past Allen to the bucket for fear of a charging call. joke joke jome joke!
NBA wants this series 1-1
Sad that the best player in the league doesn’t even get the calls
NBA is a joke. I hate refs in every sport.
I can’t believe a Yankee fan would root for a Boston team’s victory.
Kobe has to play smart!cant foul out by smart i mean timid
I really suffered for Phil on Today’s hike.
9 miles @ 9500 ft. Hit the wall @ one point. Managed to recover though with a little help from my friends.
Scenery was beautiful and made it worth it. This old gray horse felt his age today.
Will post tribute in the AM. It’s a LOT harder to subtract calories than to add them.
Good day for the Yankees. Let’s take down Baltimore next.
Tired. Time to rest.
You put yourself on the line MTU… today you don’t suck.
Meh, I don’t really care about the Lakers or the Celtics. Love my Nets, despise the Knicks, don’t have strong feelings about any other team. I like Kobe and Rondo as individual players.
This is just sickening. After getting a possession they didnt earn, Doc Rivers comes charging out on the court to call a time out. Since WHEN IS IT ALRIGHT to just run on the court. And Rondo makes a key shot to go up 5. You give Jesus Christ himself that shot, he aint hittin it. But Rajon curse word curse word curse word Rondo just makes it.
Good hard foul Pao. Knocks his lights out. Teach the real rapist a lesson. Kobe aint no rapist. Kendrick Perkins is.
Bronx-
Chuckling. I am well aware that it represents only a temporary reprieve.
Lakers have not done a good job on Allen & rondo. But these refs have been bad. Atrocious.
CR9,
That’s what happens when you play in the National Boston Association. They want to give them the opportunity to clinch the championship at home. No way the Lakers get favoritism in Boston the way Boston got it tonight in LA.
They screwed ehim. long and hard. they did. i am so sick of this god damn bs. rondo can reach in any god damn time he pleases. kobe bryant gets screwed. kobe bryant gets screwed. how how how does that happen. kobe damn bryant gets screwed.
This is such a joke. NBA is giving this game to the Celtics. These refs are a joke !
Awful.
And the 2-3-2 format benefits the road team. Boston will probably go back to Staples up 3-2.
Expect the worst (Boston championship), hope for the best.
“National Boston Association” LOL !
Rick that is funny !
This is why the NBA is a joke
People complain about the baseball umps…. they are 1000x better than these chumps. Never let the damn players play. Always try to dictate the outcome of the game.
Randy Winn yes that Winn just hit a sac fly to tie the game for the Cards. Isn’t that fitting.
Rick
It’s all fun and games to you, right buddy. You’re enjoying this. In a home game in the NBA finals, the Lakers got jobbed like nobodys business. I was sick about this game all damn day. I would have given a Yankees victory today for a Lakers win. It’s just a crying joke. Just a crying joke. I hope nothing but the worst on these officials. Nothing NOTHING nothing but the worst. I hope one day later in the life they pay a steep price for their bias and their corruption. Whatever the price may be, I wish it upon them. I wish it upon them with all my heart and all my soul. I know its a disappointment of everything my family believes in, but these referees have to pay a steep price for anything to change. Whether it be loss of job and living on the streets, where their kids have to grow up on the streets. i wish it on them. all the hate in my heart has come to a boiling tonight. and its because of the crime that these referees committed. i wish nothign but the worst on them.
Tommy Heinsohn will celebrate this win by murdering someone at the airport.
I pray that the Lakers win the championship. I really don’t want to see a Boston team winning anything.
Donaghy is right. The refs referee the score. Last two minutes were ridiculous with the calls.
please ignore my last comment. i shouldnt have submitted that one.
CR9, I feel very bad now.
My nightmare will come true?!
Jeremy, I am with you.
Did they look at the monitor on that play where they gave Boston the possession even tho garnett was the last to touch it?
Either way the refs erred badly. I can’t get over that play. And the booth was like maybe gasol touched it. Wha?
And the 3rd & 5th fouls on Kobe were anything but. I’m so steamed right now. LOL
seriously, should I watch any National Boring Association games?
damn, refs decide the game.
sickening… i am sick to my stomach
to root against the city of sleeze, corruption, david stern, tommy heinsohn, peter gammons, dane cook, celtic barry, bill russell, larry bird, kevin mchale, scalibini, ben affleck, joe west, wendynix, michael smith, danny ainge, keith law, boston onley, jason starks, refs in all 4 sports, bruin mcguire, boston cream pie, clam chowder, boston legal, matt damon, dropkick murphy, godsmack, larry luchino, john henry, jim rice, eck, glen perkins, sam adams, the boston tea party, stranglers, apes, snakes, peter gammons, rats, thiefs, liars, mike breen, van gundy, orsillo, millar, nomar, delonte superman west (former celtic), schilling, nick cafardo, pete abe, dan shaughness, gordon edes, sleeze, corruption, sleeze, refs in all 4 sports
crime and corruption equals game 2 victory for the referees/celtics.
crime and corruption. thats all it ever is. there should be jails and prisons in this world housed with all referees/umpires. not tax frauds, but referees and umpires.
crime and corruption is their motto. crime and corruption is their key. crime and corruption is what they are all about. everything they do is crime and corruption.
Celtics earned this one. Lakers looked out of sorts on offense since about 3:00 in the first quarter. A combined 4-21 for Artest/Odom/Fisher and +5 on the boards for Boston.
NO THEY DIDNT look at the replay to see that the ball went off Garnett’s hand. Thats in the rules, for them to look at the replay, but they chose not to.
crime and corruption. they made their stinking decision and they made it. they made it. it was bold and it was clear for the whole world to see, and nobody cares. nobody will ever care as boston gets gifted another championship.
crime and corruption. boston/referees.
NBA has declined since the 90s
It’s a joke of a league and tonight proved it.
Unknown
He broke his bat too, they only use him for a pinch hitter.I cringe when the announcer says he’s from the Yankees.
BT
This isnt just a joke of a league. THE NBA is a crime. it’s one giant league of corruption. from kevin mchale to david stern to tim donaghy to the rest of the referees. every one of em.
CRIME CORRUPTION crime corruption. crime crime crime crime crime. nba = crime
nba cares…about crime and corruption.
The most disgusting aspect of this is that Kevin McHale is the reason the Celtics are good again. He gave the Celtics Garnett!!!
And now rumors are that if Doc retires, McHale will take over as coach!!
How the hell does this happen? Does Stern, the joke of a commissioner, even know what is going on in his league?
Reading posts by CR9 reminds me of some 9 year old who just found out how to swear and wants to make some cool friends on the internet by using his cool new words.
Really CR9 just give it up. You are typing. If you can’t control your language when you have all the time in the world to think about it than why don’t you just go to another blog.
Maybe a Lakers blog during Lakers games? Give it a try.
Joba tips his cap
Yep. Don’t want to see any Boston teams winning a championship.
Hey CR9. Maybe you should just post on whiner. com and crybaby.com.
What a complete loser you are.
Not a 9 year old. These are the posts of a borderline mad man, who has lost nearly all of his sanity.
That punk Scalbrini (which sounds like something I hate for dinner) gets more calls than Kobe.
I’d imagine the Lakers lost because they lack the skill to win.
Ray Ray dropped bombs all over the Lakers tonight.
Bombs away!!!!! Splash down Ray Allen.
Go Celtics.
oh well, it’s only one game. Im over it. It’s time to move on. I feel much better venting about the Corrupt NBA. If i had my wish, the nba would cease to exist in 3 years.
I have to admit that NBA has gone downhill. I always watched the games but not like before. The last three minutes of that game was pathetic.
A borderline mad man?
Why?
Because a bunch of professional athletes who probably care less about the outcome of the game than you do just lost?
Take up a hobby. Get over it. Lord knows The Lakers already have.
Why do you guys even watch the NBA?
It’s not a sport… it is a competition to see which groups of refs can make the most “money”.
Good night Yankee people!
“Not a 9 year old. These are the posts of a borderline mad man, who has lost nearly all of his sanity.”
Wow. I would hate to see you if the Celtics win the whole thing lol
Hey “youk”, go shave your chin pubes.
Why are Boston Red Sox trolls on a Yankee blog at this time. Do you guys just sit at home and read comments all day ?
Youk go to NESN.com or the Globe.
Right team won the game, but the officiating in this series has been brutal on all sides. Games are being called way to tight. So tight in fact, they’re calling fouls that never happened. It’s been even up though. Fouls were even tonight (29 each) and the Lakers took 15 more foul shots. Pace of the games have been pretty bad because of the tight game calling. Ugly to watch.
Wow… just read the box score of the cardinals game
Randy Winn got the game tying Sac Fly!!
Where the hell was that guy when he was with us? He had a chance to do that vs. Papelbon and whiffed, had a chance to do that vs. Detroit and failed.
Jeremy, it may be a Yankee blog but the focus of the discussion has been the Celtics and Lakers.
I just read a headline,
“Rockies Jimenez picks up 11th with, ERA climbs to 0.93″
Man how unfortunate for him to have his ERA climb to .93.
BFKAD
I have to agree with you. The Lakers have moved on, and the outcome of this game is not the end of the world.
I’d imagine the Lakers lost because they lack the skill to win.
__________________________________________________
So, what happened in Game 1?
Billy D,
Are you claiming there was fairness in the NBA game tonight?!
Blasphemous!!! If the Lakers lose someone cheated………
“So, what happened in Game 1?”
Lakers were a lot more physical in Game 1.
BTW, has anyone seen Lamar Odom?
I’d imagine the Lakers lost because they lack the skill to win.
__________________________________________________
So, what happened in Game 1?
__________________________________________________
Obviously they had the skill to win that day….. logic please.
Billy D,
So they had skill? Or did Boston lack the skill to win? See how absurd that observation by “Celtics Fan” was?
BFKAD:
Sure. The game wasn’t well officiated, but they were even in their badness. Boston was the better team this time around. Moved the ball better. Rebounded better. Shot the ball better. Lakers got away from what they did to win Game 1. They had ridiculous points in the paint in that Game. Tonight, they were settling for jumpers and the secondary guys like Artest, Fisher and Odom were just disasterous.
Lamar is too distracted thinking about Klohe
He forgot these were the NBA Finals.
Billy D,
I was being sarcastic. I could care less about whether the Lakers won or not and why.
Take no offense to that, I appreciate you explanation.
Yankees anyone?
How can anyone think the refs were helping the Celtics in this game? Before the last 3 minutes the foul/free throw ratio was almost 2×1 for the Lakers!! Explain that please? Rondo and Ray Allen what that game, and the rebounding edge. The refs are brutal, but it went both ways, clearly.
To steal a couple lines from Erica,
The sun will come out tomorrow.
Good Night Yankee (and AntiBoston) people.
*won that game,
BFKAD:
No offense taken
Great win today. Vazquez had the Jays off balance all day and the Yankees, led by Cano’s clutch hit, took advantage of the Jays late inning blunders the way good teams do. Nice to get out of Toronto with that W.
The Yankees? Well, they won because they had the skill to win today.
Die Lakers
DIE
Gasol 25 points, Bynum 21 points. They are not jump shooters. Boston bench outscored Lakers’ by 1000 miles.
“Lamar is too distracted thinking about Klohe”
LOL ! Maybe.
Brett,
Will the Lakers dying help us get Soria?
mike_boston,
The blatant calls were against the Lakers. The play where they mis-gave possession to the Celtics. It was a 3 point game at that point. They had video, and they either chose to not use it or not make the right call.
I think Artest (or Kobe) got their 5th foul when Pierce spun out of control. Untouched.
Boston played better, but the game really changed in the last few minutes.
People are not talking about the Yankees right now because the game was over hours ago. You can only talk about the Yankees for so long.
There is a report that the White Sox are about to begin dismantling. I would ask about Konerko and Putz. Thoughts?
Billy D,
Vazquez looked much better. His command is still a little skeptical, but he’s coming around. I can see him winning 10-12 games this year and a few quality outings in the playoffs (knock on wood) would make this trade a real success.
Thorton would be nice too… but I doubt he is available.
Kobe was getting the same Phantom calls. The biggest call wasn’t even a foul though. It was when KG touched the ball last and it went out of bounds. So happy I gave up watching basketball years ago.
Maybe the Yanks can get Thornton, Soria, and Strasburg too.
“So happy I gave up watching basketball years ago.”
You made the smart choice.
Odom and Artest sucked. The Lakers couldn’t get around on Ray Allen when he comes off screens. They couldn’t stop Rondo driving to the basket and couldn’t outhustle him for loose balls. That’s why the Lakers couldn’t hang with Boston.
The Yanks will sign everyone. Why not get Longoria, Crawford, Ichiro, Pujols, Lincecum and Randy Winn while they’re at it?
“There is a report that the White Sox are about to begin dismantling. I would ask about Konerko and Putz. Thoughts?”
Thornton would be the guy I’d want, but I doubt the White Sox are making him part of the dismantling. I think Jenks, Konerko and Pierzynski (sp?) are the guys who will go. Rios would too if someone were willing to take his contract.
The blatant calls were against the Lakers. The play where they mis-gave possession to the Celtics. It was a 3 point game at that point. They had video, and they either chose to not use it or not make the right call.
I think Artest (or Kobe) got their 5th foul when Pierce spun out of control. Untouched.
Boston played better, but the game really changed in the last few minutes.
————————————————————————
I said there were bad calls on both sides. If you think more of the blatant ones were against the Lakers that’s fine, the free throws were 42-22, sorry but I’m still not buying that junk. They earned the win with tough work on the boards, great clutch shooting/shot making and better passing.
Joe,
Win lose or draw, Soria is the next Yankees closer after Mariano Rivera.
Is Putz that much better than Park?
Jesus Montero is now batting .214 in AAA.
Um…
Montero is 20 years old. Let’s not get too worried about stats at the moment.
Jesus, why does God hate you?
“Win lose or draw, Soria is the next Yankees closer after Mariano Rivera.”
I hope so. They need to get him before MO calls it quits otherwise KC will have all the leverage and we will have no closer.
Carl,
Not to belabor the point, but really? When was he getting the phantom calls.
I scanned the play by play, and I think Kobe only drew 2 fouls. When from Ray Allen (and 1) and 1 from Rasheed (2 FTA). Which ones were phantom? The ones that didn’t show up in the box score or play by play?
http://espn.go.com/nba/playbyp.....8;period=0
No Montero trade talks please !
Can some Yankee fans for once be happy without talking about getting every all star player in baseball. The Yankees didn’t need a team full of All Stars in the 90′s.
No Montero trade talks please !
Can some Yankee fans for once be happy without talking about getting every all star player in baseball. The Yankees didn’t need a team full of All Stars in the 90′s.
“Jesus Montero is now batting .214 in AAA”
Really struggling of late. 3 for his last 32.
Still half a season to go.
These same people would have traded Rivera, Bernie Williams, Posada, Jeter and Andy back in the day.
Strange. Personal fouls were even at 29. Perhaps there was a differential in the FTA because they were different types of fouls? The Celtics packed the paint and that’s where they committed a lot of their fouls. Around the basket, resulting in FTA.
Anyway, at least the Yankees won today.
what should we talk about tomorrow night?
Joba,
It’s an off day. Trades? DFA Winn? Javy’s a mess? Joba’s whatever? Tex
?
m June 6th, 2010 at 11:50 pm
Carl,
Not to belabor the point, but really? When was he getting the phantom calls.
I scanned the play by play, and I think Kobe only drew 2 fouls. When from Ray Allen (and 1) and 1 from Rasheed (2 FTA). Which ones were phantom? The ones that didn’t show up in the box score or play by play?
That’s the one. You’re right, Kobe wasn’t in the game enough. It was a terrible game because the refs wanted to put their stamp on it. These are 2 physical teams. Let them play.
“The ones that didn’t show up in the box score or play by play?”
There was a 3 point play, half way thru the 4th, in which Bryant made a short floating jumper in the lane for two and a foul was called despite him being untouched. Think that was the one attributed to Allen. That’s the only one I can remember.
“Can some Yankee fans for once be happy without talking about getting every all star player in baseball. The Yankees didn’t need a team full of All Stars in the 90’s.”
________________________________________________________
Thank you!!! This blog (and a lot of Yankee universe) is filled with the idea that the Yankees need to have the best players ever to win games. Look at the Rays, they kind of fell into place with their star players and they are a fun young team. The Yankees have the formula for future success and they have the young talent to fill the pieces. Just take the Yankees for what they are. Trust me I 100% want the Yankees to win the WS every year. But if they don’t create the teams from the ground up it doesn’t mean much. That is why the team they have now is so enjoyable to watch. Cano, Jeter, Posada, Cervi, Gardy, Mo, Pettitte, Hughes, Joba, etc are all Yankee made players. You throw in the Swisher, Granderson role players, splash some FA superstar talent and and you have a great team.
JobaTips his Cap
We should talk about getting rid of Joba. LOL !
m, anything is fine.
Jeremy, good one!
Is that the one where Allen made a really ugly face? I thought that was a good call. But I’m still steamed about that possession mistake at 93-90. And no, I won’t let it go, lol.
Anyway, good pitching today, and thank goodness the Jays bullpen blew it.
Off day, and then Phil vs. the Orioles.
m, yes I agree. That possession call was huge.
good night, all!
# m June 7th, 2010 at 12:01 am
Is that the one where Allen made a really ugly face? I thought that was a good call. But I’m still steamed about that possession mistake at 93-90. And no, I won’t let it go, lol.
The funny part was the guy looked at the replay and still got it wrong.
What a great time for sports! NHL finals, NBA finals, Heart of Tennis season, US Open, MLB Draft, and not but not least the World Cup!
Montero’s BABIP is just terribly low which can be partly attributed to pure luck. If some of those outs start finding holes his average will go way up. Pretty sure he will be fine.
There was a great article on The Yankee Universe blog that outlined how hard the jump from AA to AAA is and that it likely is tougher than the famed A to AA jump with specific examples of guys struggling including Colby Rasmus of the Cards. Montero will be fine!
Montero destroyed AA as a 19 y.o.
Two months of playing a couple levels beyond his age is not going to get me worked up.
If Tex gets voted to the All-Star game, will he make up a mysterious injury?
Lorenz did a nice job on play-by-play
Unfortunately, Flarhety ruined the broadcast as usual.
# Billy D June 6th, 2010 at 11:52 pm
“Jesus Montero is now batting .214 in AAA”
Really struggling of late. 3 for his last 32.
Still half a season to go.
==============
Right, but there’s some people here who would want him sent down to AA or A, or dropped in the batting order, or sat on the bench for a performance like that.
who breaks out of their slump first – jesus or tex?
# Joba to the minors June 7th, 2010 at 12:34 am
Lorenz did a nice job on play-by-play
Unfortunately, Flarhety ruined the broadcast as usual.
They both sucks
As of today the Astros have the same record as the Yankees……In Reverse of Course, they are 22-35, Dead Last in the NL Central, 11.0 GB. Yankees play them this coming weekend.
Update on All Star ballot
1st Base
M Teixeira 610,851?
J Morneau
M.Cabrera
K Youklis
C Pena
2nd Base
R Cano 811.300
D Pedroia
I.Kinsler
O.Hudson
B. Zobrist
3rd Base
E. Longoria 915,247
A Rodriguez 632,268
M Young
A Beltre
B Inge
Short Stop
D Jetter 1,005,810
E Andrus
JJ Hardy
J Bartlett
A Gonzalez
Carcher
J Mauer 1,138,286
J Posada 427,310
V Martinez
T Teagarden
M Napoli
DH
V Guerrero 725,752
H Matsui 465,615
K Griffey jr
D Ortiz
P Burrell
Outfield
I Suzuki 604,675
N Cruz 541,052
C Crawford 532,201
J Hamilton
T Hunter
C Granderson 385,353
N Swisher 368,218
B Gardner 364,470
B J Upton
V Wells
B Abreu
M Ordonez
M Cuddyer
J Damon
J Borbon
guessing it is safe to return to the blog…
excellent job by Javy yesterday, the Captain came thru in the nick of time and what is there left to say about Robbie! That game was as thrilling as the previous one was heart breaking.
Kate-
Good morning.
Let’s hope it safe it here because I’m now in here with you.
We could just as easily have taken the Toronto series as lost it.
The middle game was a monumental struggle and just happened to Toronto’s way.
So, no big deal.
Now it’s on to O’s land and then we can feast on Houston at home.
2 more series we can and should win.
Watch out TB Yankees in first by the ASB.
MTU,
I’m sure Phil will be proud that you pushed through the pain and will reward you for your efforts tomorrow night.
My son who is playing in a summer wood bat league in Maryland has a ticket to see the Yankees game on Tuesday. Hughes is pitching. I’m jealous.
upstate kate
That’s why he (Robinson) has earned a spot on the All Star team, he has carried this team in so many games.
Ceto Gaston is being slammed in theCanadian papers for walking Alex, thought to be the dumbest move ever. I agree maybe he didn’t read Alex’s stats when you walk Teixeira what happens.
Blake-
Here’s my Phil tribute in pictures. I will repost in the next thread.
I have decided to switch to a simpler system which will be 1 win = 1 hike for Phil from now on. It’s a lot less complicated.
When you view the photos pay particular attention to the GPS readout on the Altitude – well over 9K.
Enjoy and I hope YMH returns the favor.
http://picasaweb.google.com/cy.....ringsLoop#
and last year people were concerned about Robbie w/ RISP!!!
MTU
great pix, as always. Have you hiked Pine Valley? We drove up there as my husband has never seen a mountain he didn’t want to climb, but there was snow even on the lower trails.
austinmac
I am jealous too! One of these days I hope to make it to Camden Yards, I hear it is a beautiful stadium.
MTU,
Nice pics…can’t see them real good on the blackberry but ill check uhh out better when I get home..those should inspire Hughes for sure though.
Karl Ravech MUST be kidding:
http://espn.go.com/mlb/noteboo.....-clubhouse
Kate-
“great pix, as always. Have you hiked Pine Valley? We drove up there as my husband has never seen a mountain he didn’t want to climb, but there was snow even on the lower trails.”
Yes Kate. Done it from both sides. There was still a lot of snow on yesterday’s trek in the Ashdown wilderness. At one point my leg sunk down to the knee.
It was no fun being turned from a realtively strong hiker into a weak little kitten. That’s what Altitude, Sun, and not enough calories can sometimes do.
One of my friends lost 4 lbs on that hike.
Maybe I should take up another hobby ?
Blake-
I sure hope it inspires YMH because it sure kicked the snot out of me.
The AL East is FAR superior to the NL East………holy cow. That was the shallowest article I’ve ever read and his reasoning for the Mets being among that golden foursome doesn’t make any sense. Yeah, every year they have injuries – it’s not because they’ve choked (Francesca was going crazy over them yesterday; imagine if the Yankees were 3 games over .500). Basically, he thinks the NL East will be superior to all other divisions because the Braves have 2 great youngsters, the Marlins have Ramirez and Johnson and the Phillies have Halladay. Hmm, the Marlins have had Ramirez and Johnson for a few years and are hardly an elite team.
I want to hear from him why the Rays, Sox, Yanks and Jays are going away – and even the O’s have a lot of young talent.
austinmac June 7th, 2010 at 7:56 am
My son who is playing in a summer wood bat league in Maryland has a ticket to see the Yankees game on Tuesday. Hughes is pitching. I?m jealous.
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I’m jealous too.
Betsy
what don’t you like about that article? The NL east is the only division where every team still has a good chance. Of course, the AL east is the toughest division overall.
ok Betsy, I went back and read that article more carefully…no way is the NL east superior to the AL east!!!
Betsy-
I hope you liked my tribute to Phil.
Like they say in beer drinking circles that one was for him.
It’s not superior now and it’s not going to be in the near future. As I explained, Ravech gave zero good reasons why the NL East is going to be the toughest beast for years to come
I haven’t had a chance to view the pics yet, MTU- I will later!
Camden Yards is a great stadium! And when the Yankees play the O’s it usually seems more like a home game because there are so many Yankees fans there.
Doreen@ 7:43 pm
You can find your favorite poster at River avenue blues, another sight like this one WITHOUT registration , go for it, maybe you’ll be happier!
actually many of us prefer that Doreen stay right here
Betsy-
I hope Ravech is right.
Not being in the strongest division would be a good thing for the Yankees, no?
If you are going to criticize Doreen, why not use the SN you post on here? Especially since, all she did was speak the truth.
Changing it to take a shot at her is gutless.
Then again, you know that which is why you did it.
What does SN mean?
SJ-
Any guesses on who the Yankees are going to take in the first 2 rounds of the draft ?
“What does SN mean?”
Screen name, you chucklehead.
Wow.
Good morning?
I think I’ll stay right here, thank you very much.
Good morning everyone
Especially you Doreen
Pat, I like being in a tough division – I take some pride in it. I don’t think Ravech has a leg to stand on, but then I think he’s an idiot anyway. I was just surprised that anyone would actually think another division could touch the AL East.
“I was just surprised that anyone would actually think another division could touch the AL East.”
They can’t.
MTU -
As always, amazing pictures, and thanks for sharing.
“I was just surprised that anyone would actually think another division could touch the AL East.”
NL East obviously isn’t as strong as the NL East, but the NL East doesn’t have the easy out that the AL East has in the Orioles. Didn’t read Ravetch’s piece, but if his argument is the NL East is the most competitive division, he has a leg to stand on insomuch as the gap between the best and worst teams in the NL East is nowhere near as wide as the one that exist in the AL East.
But the AL East, this year, is clearly the best division.
Doreen-
As always it’s my pleasure. Glad folks enjoy seeing what a beautiful country we live in.
Please don’t let the Gnats that ocassionally buzz in here drive you away.
They aren’t worth the trouble it takes to go get the flyswatter.
If you have to ask, you should spend more time paying attention in school and less time on the internet.
MTU,
No clue. I haven’t heard a lot of activity re: players attached to the Yankees in this draft.
I know they were looking at an OF from the University of Michigan earlier in the process.
They also are probably sitting on a few of the high end pitchers, hoping they drop for signability reasons.
Other than that, its been really quiet. They have done a good job keeping their options close to the vest.
People speak the truth on this blog everyday. If you disagree you revert to name calling. Such a double standard for a pious person. Your opinions aren’t anything special, you’re like a pit bull attack when a minion won’t drink your kool aid. You can’t stand an original thought.
SJ-
Thanks. I guess we’ll find out later. Let’s hope they get lucky that never hurts.
Billy D, Ravech said in short order the NL East would surpass the AL East as the premier division in baseball. That’s just wrong and he provided absolutely no sound reasoning; all he did was state that some of the teams have a couple of stars/superstars in the making. Even if if he were making the argument that the NL East was more competitive, he’d be wrong. Forget the O’s – the 3 best teams in the AL, perhaps in baseball – are in the AL East. I think, if I heard correctly, the Jays, in 4th place ,have a better record than all but one division leader. That’s a “wow” kind of stat. The article is a short one if you are interested in reading it.
I just hope they don’t draft any more catchers, lol; the Yankees truly need to restock their minor leagues with good position prospects – we’re just not in great shape there.
Betsy-
I want a SS prospect with Pena’s glove and Nunez’s bat.
Betsy – Hughes rules (Pleading the Fifth) June 7th, 2010 at 9:43 am
I just hope they don?t draft any more catchers, lol; the Yankees truly need to restock their minor leagues with good position prospects ? we?re just not in great shape there.
**********
I am not 100% sure I agree with that
Isn’t a highly rated catching prospect considered very valuable to the trade market? I don’t see anything wrong with drafting a strong catching prospect just for “trade bait” if it would fill an immediate need within the team.
It takes years to develop a prospect. You should never draft based on immediate needs
New Post: Coming Home
Erica, they’ve already stockpiled a bunch of catchers. The team is barren of position prospects at the upper levels because we concentrated on pitchers and catchers. That’s fine for a time, but our lack of promising OFers has hurt us this year; the best we had to bring up were Golson and Russo, who’s not even a real OFer.
Would you like some cheese with your whine?
You obviously got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. What did I say, exactly, that got you riled up? I thought it was innocuous. I didn’t point fingers, I didn’t place blame, I didn’t name-call.
And I don’t know what your point is, anyway? Because I said this place has always been imperfect? Because I said the imposter situation is the straw that is breaking the camel’s back?
What kind of atmosphere would you prefer here?
I know I should even engage in this, but I’m curious.
And by the way, I knew where to find that poster; I don’t care for RAB as a discussion venue, though their articles are often engaging.
Betsy
Baseball, like most things, is cyclical.
NL used to dominate AL in AS games, the Mets used to own NY, the O’s used to be a powerhouse in the AL East, the Twins were going to be contracted because they were futile, etc, etc, etc…
Ravech is being reactionary to the Strasburg/Harper situation but change isn’t always a bad thing. It keeps life interesting.
Would you like some cheese with your whine? June 7th, 2010 at 9:40 am
People speak the truth on this blog everyday. If you disagree you revert to name calling. Such a double standard for a pious person. Your opinions aren’t anything special, you’re like a pit bull attack when a minion won’t drink your kool aid. You can’t stand an original thought.
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I think that it’s terrible that somebody on here would call you names. You deserve more than that. You’re a cowardly idiot and a dimwitted gerbil.
I have been hearing how great the Mets are for years. How their 3B & SS were superstars and unquestionably better than Jeter & Arod. Now the Yanks have key players at 1B, 2B, CF, RF & even LF who are position players that are better than the Mets too. Add to that the Pitching of CC, AJ, AP, JL, & PH along with Joba and it isn’t even close.
Why the Orioles would be as good or better than the Mets in the NL. Of course Toronto would be with all that young pitching and a good team defense and loads of hitting.
No one in their right mind would think of the Mets as even close to TB, RS or Yanks. Laughable.
The Metropolitans got old quickly, which happens with injuries or undisciplined players.
Betsy
The 5 best teams in the AL based on win/loss 4 reside in the AL East right now. This will change but his article is a pipe dream, he must be a fan of one of those teams.
Philly has nothing after Halladay, just like last year after Lee!
Hard to “speak the truth” when you don’t even have the guts to write your original SN when you attack Doreen, isn’t it?
You are right, people speak the “truth” here everyday.
You just aren’t one of them.
MTU (aka GBURL) June 7th, 2010 at 9:44 am
Betsy-
I want a SS prospect with Pena’s glove and Nunez’s bat.
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Actually, Eduardo Nunez’ defense has improved a thousand fold. He’s made more errors at 2nd and 3rd than at shortstop. Only 3 errors in 49 games at shortstop. Not sure why there has been such a drastic change, whether it is better field conditions, maturity or better instruction. Whatever the cause of the improvement, it’s been huge. He doesn’t make the careless errors of the past. The footwork was a huge issue before.