Postgame notes: Pick your moment
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Notes, Podcast on Jun 28, 2010 
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The early deficit. The big at-bats by the young guys. The home run off the lefty. The two innings from the closer. There are almost too many moments to choose from in this game.
“I don’t even remember last year having a win like this,” Alex Rodriguez said. “That was quite a miracle.”
It’s hard to be shocked by Robinson Cano these days, but George Sherrill had owned him until that 10th inning home run. Cano was 0-for-11 against him, but he hit the second pitch he saw for a two-run home run.
“You see a ball like that hit to left-center by a left-handed hitter, it looked like a right-handed power hitter hitting,” Rodriguez said. “It was awesome.”
Here’s Girardi’s postgame. The quality’s not great, but it’ll have to work.
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• Joe Girardi said he doesn’t want to make this a habit, but after the ninth inning, he went to Mariano Rivera and asked for honesty. “He said, ‘If you are ready to go back, don’t lie, be truthful,’” Rivera said. “I said, ‘I’m ready.’” Of course he was.
• Great at-bats by Chad Huffman and Colin Curtis in the ninth. Huffman had the better result — a two-run single — but Curtis might have had the better at-bat, fighting through 10 pitches from one of the better closers in the game.
• Truthfully, the most amazing thing might have been that Huffman got to first base and stood next to James Loney, his old high school teammate from Missouri City, Texas. How often does that happen in the big leagues? “Since we were kids in Pony ball actually,” Huffman said. “High school, winning state championships together. It was fun to see him out there at first base. It’s something I’ve been hoping to do for a long time. He wasn’t too, too happy with me.”
• Girardi said there were no communication break downs in the third inning, Andy Pettitte just didn’t make good throws. Pettitte said he was kicking himself because he was sure he had cost the Yankees the series. “For a guy that’s been throwing strikes all year long, been painting,” Girardi said. “He didn’t hit his spots.”
• Hard to say what the right play would have been on the Curtis ground out. “It happened so fast,” Girardi said. “To me it looked like it was right on top of the bag. I really believe if he makes a good throw – and he’s very, very accurate – he’s out. It was a chance and it didn’t work.” Curtis said he was worried out of the box that Loney would go to second base to try to start a double play. “He stepped on the base and wheeled home and the ball almost took my head off,” Curtis said.
• Rodriguez on his pregame conversation and hug with Joe Torre: “I thought it was important for me to go over there. I thought it was the mature thing to do. I thought it was important not to let things linger and to build on what I’ve started to build on here the past two years here.”
• Just for good measure, Pettitte talking one more time about Rivera: “You can’t compare Mo to anybody else. Mo’s the best. Mo’s the greatest there is. You can’t even say enough about Mariano. Mariano is in a league of his own. No one can compare to him the way that mentally and with the command that he goes out there with almost every single night.”
Associated Press photos of Cano, Posada and Pettitte.
Long Live Mariano, the King.
They played like champs! (except the throwing errors)
I don’t think I’ve seen anyone mention marte after the game, he did a good job tonight.
Gotta say the rookies, especially Huffman because Curtis could’ve GIDP there. The rookies because that was a big spot, and they didn’t fold under the pressure.
Alex’s & Cano’s HR were big, too.
Hopefully the swelling goes down for GGBG, and he’s back very soon.
Mariano Rivera is this generations Sandy Koufax, not to be redundant
Rivera isn’t a Dick Raditz/Rich Gossage gunslinger type. He’s more of the silent as ssain. He moseys into town, finds his sniper’s perch, does his job and goes home to wait for his next as signment.
No fuss, no mess, no clean-up………..It ain’t over till it’s over…..Someday people here will come to understand that …..Good night all
Have a great night, Pat. My best to your family.
It’s a good thing that Kuo had arm problems and can’t pitch on back to back days. Bascially they had to give Torre the Kuo rules otherwise he would of had a 5th shoulder surgrery. If he was available he probably would of been brought into the 9th inning in the middle of Broxton’s mess or definitely in the 10th to face Cano. Good thing he pitched yesterday.
What happened to the Gritty Wonder?
If you’re talking about GGBG, Kershaw hit him in the wrist in his first AB. Ran the bases (well, technically he was stranded at 2nd after the sac bunt), but pulled himself and Curtis replaced him in LF.
Broxton only gave up 4 runs (3 earned) before tonight’s game. And he gave up 4 in one inning to the Yankees. Cliff Lee has only walked 4 so far. Let’s hope we get 4 walks in one inning. And hits and runs too.
If the Yankees take anything away from this game, I hope they understand the importance of putting together good at-bats in innings 1-8, too.
La times second article, says Joe used Broxton 4/5 nights in a row, and the 5th time in that per he did warm up but wasn’t used. Joe is irresponsible if that’s true.
I’m glad to wake up to a comeback win for the Yanks… Glad I was wrong last night when I thought the game was over at 5-0 early… Go Yanks!!
Take that Torre !
You and your team of bad sportsmen.
Some of those Dodger players were acting like they just escaped from the asylum.
Martin was lucky not to be suspended.
The better team definitely won.
Was Jonathan Broxton’s poor ninth inning another example of Joe Torre’s abuse of a bullpen pitcher’s arm? Inquiring minds want to know…
Nice to wake up to this. Wish I had been able to stay awake to see it, but seeing that picture of Cano’s face is like a dose of sunshine!
For me that was the best game of the year so far.
A vision of things to come.
So many positives I don’t know where to begin.
Something to continue to build on.
Just an awesome team win.
Greatness in action.
Matt June 27th, 2010 at 9:44 pm
“The game is not over they play 9 innings!!!”
Well obviously, but do you really think they have a chance at winning this game? And be honest when you respond. Use your head, not your heart.
When I went to bed, the score was 5-2, and I did have the feeling that they could pull off a win. I have to get up early for work, and couldn’t stay up late a 3rd night!
It was very satisfying on many levels. Torre getting showed up after the 3 bunts inning that Jon Miller was gushing over. Key contributions by Arod, Granderson, the new kids and of course, our fav MVP, Robbie.
And good for Alex, going over to Torre before the game, and giving him a hug.
Sandman > Ironman
Anybody still think the Yankees lack heart ?
Anybody still think they can’t beat good pitchers ?
Anybody still think they can’t rise to the ocassion ?
Not a great team ?
Anybody ?
Yup. They just suck. Suck so bad they are best time in baseball, and they proved it once again last night !
“team” not “time”. But they are a great time. sorry for the typo.
MTU (aka GBURL) June 28th, 2010 at 7:45 am
Take that Torre !
You and your team of bad sportsmen.
Some of those Dodger players were acting like they just escaped from the asylum.
Martin was lucky not to be suspended.
The better team definitely won.
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They sort of remind you of some of the LoHud posters, don’t they?
GB-
Without a doubt ! That was a sickening display. Total lack of diginity.
Disgusting and pathetic IMO.
Between Matt The Mook’s dissertations on proper baseball fundamentals and his constant use of old baseball cliches, he has to be the most boorish entity on here…..including the trolls.
GB-
The game threads have been trashed. I don’t do them. Not worth the trouble. The Owners of the Blog should have instituted an “ignore” function and/or registration long ago. Thank goodness there are still a few islands of sanity to land on.
It’s nice to have a day off to savor the victory, especially with the M’s coming into town riding their horses Lee and Hernandez. The Yankees might have overall good #s against Lee, but that was before he became who he is now. The last few times he’s pitched against them, he’s been great, especially at YS.
I did not know that Huffman and Loney were HS teammates; that is very cool.
Not that it matters in the long run in terms of game outcome, I’m still trying to figure out how they charged Pettitte with 4 earned runs in that game. Two at the most and probably just one earned run.
I’m not suggeting the results will be the same, but as someone said last week, Curtis’ swing reminds me very much of O’Neill’s. He does look like a battler.
It is amazing how the Rays went from the greatest team in the history of baseball in the media to a team that the media now says is unraveling. I prefer this story. I have always loved to watch Upton play, but he has lost all plate discipline. I wonder if this is who he is and will be.
Betsy-
Lee will be auditioning for his next big payday with the Yankees but Phil is going to give the M’s all they can handle (I hope).
If YMH knocks off Lee I’ll give him an extra nice trubute.
I am still buzzing off this win.
Austin-
In my opinion BJ could benefit from a change of scenery.
Damn. “tribute” not “trubute. Can’t type. sorry.
I remember that quote from Matt as well….pretty funny and typical.
Great win last night from the Yankees. As G.Love said though…I hope these two inning saves from Mo don’t become too commonplace even before an off day. Need to save his bullets as much as possible.
MTU–I do think he would. I bet a team with a number of veteran stars would help him achieve. Any ideas?
And the correct answer is not the Red Sox.
Rich-
And well you should. Something to savor.
Austin-
Great minds think alike even if it is just fantasy.
Blake-
On our off day we get to have another pithing orgasm.
Mr. S. and U-Jim in the same night. OMG.
Watching the game last night on Tivo by myself. So glad to read on the blog about Torre blowing that game with that poor kid in the 9th. I too remember the games when Torre would bring Proctor in the 7th with a nine run lead the night after he pitched in a 2 run game. The guy could not manage a bullpen to save his life. I really beleive this team is better off without him. Also, never been a huge A-Rod fan, but who looked like the better man when he ran over to Torre after his book. If I was A-Rod I would never had gone near him or give him the benefit of any respect. The guy ripped him in his book and talked about the team dynamics in a locker room. Not cool….
GB7
Matt should stop posting here and just save it for his how to hit book.
I’m sure if you asked he’d probably give you the first copy. Autographed of course.
If typing would save my life I would have been dead ten times over by now. “pitching” not “pithing”. My humblest apologies for my mischievious digits.
MTU, it will be interesting to see how Phil phares. I expect him to be climbing the walls right now to pitch, so his adrenaline is going to be through the roof……..similar to when he started against the Angels. He’ll probably be throwing very hard early, but his command will be off……He’ll have to give up nothing with the Yankees facing Lee, so it’s a real challenge. On the Joe Girardi show last night, upon being asked by Kim, Joe said that because the Yankees play fewer games in the 2nd half than they will end up doing in the first, they won’t have to limit him quite as much as she suggested they’d have to. We’lll see
The Yankees don’t have a good pen outside of Mo and that’s the problem, Blake. I don’t trust anyone there except Mo…………but someone is going to have to pitch these innings as I agree that we can’t keep letting Mo go 2 innings. The problem is, who’s going to trade us their set-up man?
Betsy-
Phil has earned our Phaith in him.
MTU,
Yea not bad for off day entertainment huh.
Pretty good pitching matchup tomorrow as well with current and future Yankee studs lining up;).
Blake-
Almost as good as Jack Daniels.
Almost as good a beautiful Tennessee Walker.
Almost as good as Nashville.
Almost.
Matt was ok last night. He was just his usual self.
He made it clear he only comes on here to vent and criticize the team when they play poorly.
To me, he gets points for honesty. It makes him easier to ignore.
The folks that are more disturbing are those who masquerade as Yankee fans and whine non-stop throughout the game thread.
The game is “over” as soon as the fall behind. Mass firings and fantasy trades need to take place to improve the team.
They top it off with their complete paranoia of the Boston Red Sox. Nothing the Yankees do can top the Red Sox in their small, unformed minds.
I’d rather read a Matt dissertation on hitting than read post after post from paranoid children worried about the Red Sox.
MaineYankee June 28th, 2010 at 8:25 am
GB7
Matt should stop posting here and just save it for his how to hit book.
I’m sure if you asked he’d probably give you the first copy. Autographed of course.
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I swear that he sounds like he taught Ted Williams how to hit, Cy Young how to pitch, Ricky Henderson how to run the bases, Mays and Ozzie Smith how to play defense, John MaGraw how to manage and Branch Rickey how to be a general manager. That’s the reason that he gets ridiculed on here. That and the tired cliches, such as every time a player hits a hard deep fly that’s caught, it’s because they’re going up trying to hit 5 run homers.
Of course, the fact that he only shows up when NYYs are losing. You can set the atomic clock by his appearances.
a game destined to be Yankees Classic
MTU, I missed this, lol…………Phil is the phace and the phuture of the phranchise. Gee, words look so nice with “PH”s instead of “f”s, lol
MTU (aka GBURL) June 28th, 2010 at 8:32 am
Blake-
Almost as good a beautiful Tennessee Walker.
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You mean like Dolly?
Sorry, had to say it. I swear though that I love that lady. She makes no excuses about herself and calls it like she sees it. My kind of broad (and I mean that in the kindest way possible). She reminds me of a better looking Bette Midler.
Betsy-
Phil has been nothing short of Phantastic !
He has been getting wins at a Phrenetic pace.
GB-
She has that Mae West quality.
MTU (aka GBURL) June 28th, 2010 at 8:43 am
GB-
She has that Mae West quality.
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absolutely.