Postgame notes: “We don’t want to wear this big guy down”
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Notes, Podcast on Aug 13, 2010 
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Between every inning CC Sabathia pitches, he drinks a cup of Gatorade and a bottle of water. That’s the case regardless of the weather, which led to an obvious question after tonight’s game. How many times does the big guy pee in the course of a game?
“A lot,” he said, and he was laughing.
Tonight in Kansas City, the heat index at first pitch was 106 degrees. The Royals pulled their center fielder after four innings because of heat exhaustion, and Joe Girardi pulled Nick Swisher in the ninth because he was worried Swisher was on the verge of cramping.
Sabathia said he began hydrating yesterday in preparation for this start. Between innings, he sat beneath the stands with a fan blowing, and of course he was drinking a ton of liquids. With two outs in the ninth, Girardi didn’t like the matchup of Sabathia against Willie Bloomquist — he’s a career .357 hitter against Sabathia and already had two hits — but he also didn’t like the big man laboring any longer.
“We don’t want to wear this big guy down,” Girardi said. “… It’s a tough call, but that’s what I get paid to do.”
Sabathia said he likes pitching in the heat. He feels like he gets loose easier, doesn’t have to work as hard to throw hard. He said he could have stayed in the game, but he also said he worn out when it was over.
“That’s Joe’s job to judge when I’m done,” he said. “And I think he did a good job.”
Here’s Sabathia after the game.
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And here’s Dave Robertson.
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• Mariano Rivera was not available tonight, but Robertson didn’t know that until he was told to get lose in the eighth inning. Obviously the ninth didn’t go as smoothly as he would have liked, but he picked up his second career save when he struck out Jason Kendall to strand the tying run at third. “That’s the hardest out I’ve had to get in a long time,” he said.
• For the first time in his career, Sabathia has 15 wins through 25 starts. Is he thinking about 20 wins? “I try to stay away form personal goals to be honest,” he said. “I’d rather win a World Series than win 20 games and win a Cy Young.”
• Curtis Granderson’s new swing was very effective tonight. He had two hits, a walk and an RBI. “I just felt comfortable,” he said. “I felt like I was able to see the ball. Felt like I wasn’t up there contemplating too much where I was at or where I was standing. Those are good baby steps.”
• Chad Guadin was getting loose in the ninth inning, but Girardi said that was strictly for Gaudin to get some work. The game was Robertson’s no matter what.
• If Rivera were available, Girardi said he “probably” would have started the ninth inning.
• Girardi said he had no plans of pulling Swisher until he noticed him laboring late in the game. “He just looked like he was exhausted,” Girardi said.
• Before being pulled, Swisher had three hits for the 12th time this season.
Associated Press photos of Sabathia and Robertson with Francisco Cervelli
makes sense by giradri, should let cc finished what he started
CC is the ace of our staff no doubt. He proves it over and over again. Great game tonight. Should have ended with only 1 ER but what the heck…Hey, am I the first post? Yipee!
Somene really asked CC that question?
I would love tosee CC win 20 games; he deserves it.
darn..i was beat
The extra time you took to type “Hey, am I the first post? Yipee!” is what ultimately cost you that lofty position.
Is that ironic?
indeed u r right!
Goodnight late night folks.
do i get like a prize or something
Why was Swish laboring and others not? Did he catch Cano’s cold?
Everyone is different.
The how often do you pee question came as the session was breaking up.
I lingered to ask if he really drinks a Gatorade and a bottle of water between every single inning. He’d mentioned it in passing, but it seemed like way too much. When he said yes, there were still five or six of us standing around and I think everyone had the same question in their head. It was Mark Feinsand who finally asked.
Sabathia instantly laughed when said, a lot.
that’s a lot of Gatorade
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRx0bup8ubM
I know his pitch count was manageable, but if you don’t want to wear the Big Guy out on a hot night, then give the ball to the bullpen. I think the decision to send him out in the first place was dictated by Mo’s availability.
*in the ninth.
And of course I re-read the postgame notes and saw that Girardi would probably let Mo start the 9th had he been available.
So it was the personnel, not CC’s well-being that dictated it. I didn’t watch the game, so I’ll just assume that CC wasn’t laboring in the 9th.
Nice win by the Yankees. 4th 1 run game in a row. A Yankee blow out win tonight would be nice. A lot less stressful.
great game last night, a bit of a nail biter in the 9th, but D-rob came thru.
Grandy looked good w/ his re-worked swing, definitely less motion. I wish they would have shown the old swing to compare. Kenny and Flash talked about his load, so thanks for explaining that term Blake.
espn had a classic line this am during the jays/sox highlights. Neil said that when Bard came in, sox fans should grab 2 beers and jump
Fran
any hints for GTLU today?
Kate,
I know Posada is catching. Girardi already said that if we believe him
Don’t think Posada will be the DH, so just have to decide on the DH.
Posada may be behind the plate tonight. However, catching, throwing, and thinking are optional.
I am sure that CC is used to drinking that much water, but while drinking enough fluids during hot water is important, you can over-hydrate which can be as bad as not drinking enough.
The gatorade is good because of the electrolytes it contains. Water alone can wash too much out of your system.
I guess you proved the thinking part.
Kate,
No problem. I’m sure there are others that could put it into words better than I. I liked the changes. Looked like he was a little more closed in his stance and had his hands a little more back in a ready position. I’d love to see a before and after from the side with him (you can tell much more that way). To me the biggest thing with Curtis is getting him in a position where he can track the ball better. It just didn’t look like he was seeing it very long before. If he tracks pitches better and trusts his hands I think the improvement can stick. He was hitting before like a guy with no bat speed…out in front and guessing…that’s not the problem with Curtis, he has plenty of bat speed. The double down the line last night was a great swing. You can hit a ball there by getting out in front and hooking on your front side but that’s not what he did….he stayed back and hammered it with a short, quick swing. Its just one game but as CB said last night, the difference jumped out at you.
You can also hit the ball hard down the line when the pitcher you’re facing tops out at 86 mph.
Granderson
April-.221 batting average—-.310 on base percentage
June .239 batting average—-.297 on base percentage
July .266 batting average—-.314 on base percentage
Aug. .192 batting average—-.276 on base percentage
The guy is 30 years old. He is who he is. Dream on if you think he’s going to change in two days, or two weeks or two months.
So the beat writers engage in bathroom humor with the players? I sure hope that after the game tonight, Feinsand doesn’t ask Mosely whether he is a stand up folder or a sit down cruncher.
nobody thinks he is going to totally change in 2 days…however he recognizes a problem, has asked for help and has seen some positive results.
LOL Chad – it’s a reasonable question to ask and if he didn’t ask it, Feinsand was surely thinkng of it. I”m sure the Yankees can’t wait to go to a dome – any place where there’s air conditioning. Home is an oven and away is an oven…………
nobody said Granderson was magically cured or a great hitter all the sudden….is it a step in the right direction though…..maybe….hopefully. Last night certainly wasn’t a bad thing.
Baby steps……..
Your post and that picture of CC brought thoughts of Baby Huey
“he recognizes a problem, has asked for help and has seen positive results” Is he in rehab?
We all know the likelihood of that leading to long term success.
Let me clue you in—Granderson is a bum, and he is likely headed to a career as a platoon player. The trade for him was an absolute bust, and hopefully he will be gone next year.
“Why was Swish laboring and others not?”
My guess is Red Bull. Too much caffeine is a diuretic.
What is Granderson’s contractual status?
bum
I don’t need you to clue me in to anything. It is more than obvious to all of us from your many negative comments that you don’t like Granderson or Posada.
Yogi-
All hiker’s know of the danger. It’s called “Hypernatremia”, and can be deadly as you know.
Maine-
Better call Matsui’s translator.
It’s not necessairly that I don’t like them. More to the point, I am objective enough to realize and then state that both of them have the best yea4rs behind them, are marginal performers now, and certainly not worth the 2011 contracts of 10 million and 13 million respectively.
BumKnee August 13th, 2010 at 8:23 am
“he recognizes a problem, has asked for help and has seen positive results” Is he in rehab?
We all know the likelihood of that leading to long term success.
Let me clue you in—Granderson is a bum, and he is likely headed to a career as a platoon player. The trade for him was an absolute bust, and hopefully he will be gone next year.
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You have the wrong screen name, it should just be ‘Bum’-how’s the windshield washing business on the Bowery going?
MTU
Trying to get the first salvo in?
MG
You are kinder than I am.
I was thinking higher up.
MG–the truth doesn’t hurt–unless it ought to. I have stated nothing but the obvious. On the other hand, you state something you know nothing about, and quite frankly, are very wrong. I feel no need to return the personal compliment.
Maine-
Those were my words of Iron.
Had to even the score for the Dustmops.
We’re square now as far as I’m concerned. Is it war or peace ?
Life or death ?
Choose.
MG
I meant I’m kinder than you.
Guess I’m not awake yet.
MTU be quiet.
A catcher with an OPS of .812 is a ‘marginal’ player? Interesting.
Calling a trade a bust after 5 months doesn’t make you objective, it makes you an idiot.
Bum, why not just start your own blog, call it ‘Jorge and Curtis Suck and I’ll repeat it 50 times a day until someone listens’. I’m sure you will get a big following.
And, for the record, Granderson’s will make $8.25M in 2011, not the $10M you claim. Jorge is being paid for career achievement at the end of his contract, that’s the way it goes and he has earned every penny by being a career Yankee and playing his guts out for almost 15 years. If you don’t like it, go root for the Mets, they need fans like you.
Granderson’s new approach was evident. Staying quiet can be the answer as long as he doesn’t stray away and fall back into bad habits again. He’ll be watched closely by Kevin Long to see it doesn’t happen. It looks like Brett Gardner may need some fine tuning by Long.
Maine-
You mean you don’t like Clint Eastwood movies ?
Not talking about the batting–talking about the work behind the plate. Talking about the skill level there deteriorating to a shocking level. Are you watching the throwing? Did you watch the run-down the other night? Are you satisfied with tag plays at the plate? Have you seen him forget the number of outs there are more than a few times? Are you happy with blocking balls in the dirt. With framing pitches? With game calling?
This guy is on the other side of the mountain with a body that is beaten, battered, brusied, and unable to bounce back as it once did. I can see it–you should be able to, as well.
BumKnee
Maybe you should go join RS fans because they are ready to throw their guys under the bus also. You can be the president of the what have you done for me lately club.
Posada has always been better with the bat than with the glove. So because he’s been injured he’s now a marginal player? I’ll take a marginal catcher that’s OPS .800 over what most teams have behind the plate any day.
You’re also wrong about how old Curtis is by the way, he’s 29 not 30.
Betsy -
The question is – Where isn’t it hot. Just had the coldest winter on record here in NC, and now we’re having the hottest summer on record.
I don’t know how anyone plays at such a high level in this kind of heat and humidity.
Granderson’s salary over the next three years average 10 million dollars. CBS sports.com ranks him as 21st in their ranking of centerfielders. Posada is ranked as 12th for catchers. Pretty marginal to me.
LimpingDwarf aka BumKnee the Sox troll here for an early morning visit.
Must be a depressing group on the Sox sites this morning his reason for being here is to try to spread the gloom.
Well. On to bigger and better things.
Anybody happy with my work on on Dustin Moseley in that I have
turned him into an Aaron Small clone ?
I kind of though it was a pretty neato trick.
A person judging a player based on their fantasy rankings. Oh yeah Bumknee you’re a genious.
This is the 3rd straight year that Posada has been injured–after signing a lucrative 4 year contract. Would you care to project his health for 2011? Try believing that management doesn’t regret this 52 million dollars. Think maybe that had a part to play in Damon, Matsui and even Abreu not being here?
So what to do BumKnee? What’s the final solution for you? Shall they just cut those players?
Personally, I suggest you write a letter to the Yankees. Perhaps they’ll offer you a job.
RhapsodyInBlue August 13th, 2010 at 8:59 am
Must be a depressing group on the Sox sites this morning his reason for being here is to try to spread the gloom.
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They are about ready to run Paps. out of town on a rail.
New Post: Granderson’s work in progress
Anybody happy with my work on on Dustin Moseley in that I have
turned him into an Aaron Small clone ?
I kind of though it was a pretty neato trick.
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That was you? I thought I had noticed your handiwork but I wasn’t sure.
It’s a ranking. It compares who he is to others playing the same position. We all project who we’d rather have than the guy who is currently pitching, batting, throwing, running, catching the ball, or stealing for us. Where do you rank him? Get back to me in the playoffs when Tampa steals 7 bases in a game, or if Boston makes it, Ellsbury again steals four himself. Don’t be blind.
Bronx Jeers August 13th, 2010 at 9:01 am
So what to do BumKnee? What?s the final solution for you? Shall they just cut those players?
Personally, I suggest you write a letter to the Yankees. Perhaps they?ll offer you a job.
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Would that be wise to add someone that’s injured to the payroll?
Maybe they should ask Posada for his 2009 World Series Ring.
The Yankees like every other team have their share of warts.
Having the best record in MLB in it’s most difficult division would tell me they have less then any other team.
How’d your boy Paps do yesterday?
Jeers-
Yeah. Kind of like the Javy thing. I’m working on tweaking AJ’s consistency gene right now. That’s a tough one.
I think you got mixed up on who Tampa steals bases on.
Check their line versus the RS and then tell us who they run on.
i refuse to get person like you guys do. I am also a Yankee Fan, but don’t drink the Kool Aid. I’d rather have Melky there and Molina there. they were part of championship chemistry and their absence may hurt them badly in the next few months
Get lost troll.
Tough talking internet guys always amuse me. The ferocity of a fruit fly
A catcher with an OPS of .812 is a ‘marginal’ player? Interesting.
What makes him a little more marginal is that he doesn’t catch enough. Only 50 games started this year. If he’s not catching, the long time offenisve advantage at that position the Yankees have enjoyed over other teams is greatly diminished…for a year or so, anyway
.
That said, the Yankees do rank 4th in the AL (tied with the Halos) at OPS from the catching position at .723, trailing only Minnesota (duh!), Boston and Toronto. Yankees have the 2nd best OBP from the catcher’s spot and are tied to 4th in RBI. It hasn’t been a black hole or anything.