Postgame notes: “I wouldn’t say it’s any worse”
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Notes, Podcast on Aug 20, 2010 
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Alex Rodriguez said the tightness he felt tonight was roughly the same as the tightness he felt on Monday when he first injured his left calf. This was the first time he’d been back in the lineup — though he had taken batting practice for three straight days — and he felt that familiar discomfort when he swung in his first at-bat.
“Just felt something on my swing,” he said. “Might have been my swing. Probably my first step out of the box… I wouldn’t say it’s any worse. I think it’s probably the same. I didn’t run fast enough or do any violent move to make it worse.”
Joe Girardi has been notoriously protective of his players. Even given the setbacks to Rodriguez and Andy Pettitte, it’s hard for me to accuse him of rushing his players back from injuries.
“I talked to Alex. I talked to our trainers. I talked to our doctors,” he said. ” “Everyone felt that he was ready to go. We thought today was the day, and obviously it wasn’t.”
Girardi said he did not know of any additional tests planned for Rodriguez and said he doesn’t expect Rodriguez to go on the disabled list.
“I’ve never had a calf situation before so it’s hard to gauge what you can play through or what you can endure,” Rodriguez said. “I don’t know (about the disabled list). I’m just trying to play and do the best I can. It’s obviously not my decision.”
The Rodriguez audio is pretty much limited to the quotes I’ve already posted. Here’s Girardi’s postgame instead.
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• Obviously A.J. Burnett’s outing wasn’t good — “I gave up six runs. They have every right to boo,” he said — but it was surprisingly how many balls he kept on the ground and how many of the Mariners hits were singles. Of the 12 Mariners hits, only the Russell Branyan homers went for extra bases. Only four of Burnett’s outs got the outfield.
• Pitchers rarely sweat singles no matter how many there are, and Burnett was no different. “I gave up two hard-hit balls,” he said. “If those balls don’t leave the park it’s a 2-0 game. Those are the only two pitches I’m worried about.”
• Those two pitches: A bad curveball over the middle of the plate and a fastball that was supposed to be inside.
• Felix Heranandez is the fourth Mariners pitcher to beat the Yankees three times in a season. The others are Bill Kreuger (1991), Jeff Nelson (1995) and Jeff Fassero (1997). That’s according to Elias. I did not know that off the top of my head.
• “Nothing’s really straight,” Curtis Granderson said. “Today in all three of my at-bats I had two balls that I could have done something with. I didn’t get an opportunity to do anything with them, and so you start eliminating the opportunity to get good pitches to drive.”
• Austin Kearns extended his hitting streak to nine games, his longest of the season.
• Burnett threw a season-high 122 pitches. He also matched a career high of 12 hits allowed, which he’s done five times.
• The Yankees were 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
• Girardi said he pinch hit Marcus Thames in the ninth inning because he wanted to give Thames an at-bat against lefty Garrett Olson. The Yankees have a bunch of left-handers coming up.
• One last thing to keep in mind about Rodriguez’s injury: The Yankees next series is on that turf in Toronto. “Our listen to our medical people,” Girardi said. “That’s all I can do.”
Associated Press photos of Derek Jeter and Burnett. Didn’t see an A-Rod pictures after tonight’s game.
I would rest Alex the rest of this series and the next and take it from there…….
Felix is great and was terrific tonight.
But ultimately he’s lost more games than he won. The Mariners have lost more of the games he’s started than they won.
Through no fault of his own. To give a bit of perspective…
The Mariners have scored a grand total of 10 runs in Felix’s 10 losses (0 or 1 in 8 of them)
I do believe he owes Mr. Burnett a steak dinner or some such
===========
Has any modern pitcher ever thrown 4 straight complete game wins against us? Halladay might have, but damn, we might have found a new Yankee killer.
Sorry if I missed an answer to this, but they mentioned it on the pre-game show…
Dave Stieb (Toronto) from 83-84
A’s just tied the game
Please get the name correct. Its NOT AJ Burnett. His name is TIN MAN. Remember him? He’s the guy with NO HEART.
# Betsy August 20th, 2010 at 11:37 pm
I would rest Alex the rest of this series and the next and take it from there…….
I agree. Wouldn’t mind seeing him miss Toronto with the carpet they have their either.
Carl, yep – Toronto is their next series. Ugh, it’s frustrating, but it’s the only thing to do.
mernaloy August 20th, 2010 at 11:45 pm
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The stupidity of your posts knows no bounds. This crap of yours wasn’t worth posting the first time, much less repeating it.
Bring him back in Chicago, at the earliest.
evening, Rosy. Nice to see you around, again. I think you might be the only non-Yankee fan besides Dennis and Ray from those ugly red socks guys that comes over here to gloat in secret. Congrats to your fine pitcher. How much better do you think your team would have been had they resigned Branyon, regardless of the back issues he had at the end of the year? And what’s with Lopez and gutierrez’ bats this year?
Toronto just walloped Boston today. Overbay had a pair of 3 run jacks.
And I heard that Bautista hit his 38th HR of the season. WOW.
Go, Athletics!
A’s give the run back
Any talk tonight on this blog about giving up McAllister as the PTBNL in the Kearns deal. What did NY give up for Woods. Were those two separate deals or the same? Also, isn’t Zach too good a player to be giving up as PTBNL?
another big outing by burnett. did not see the postgame comments. he stinks, plain and simple. any idiot that thinks he is starting over the 24 yr old hughes in the playoffs is delusional.
mernaloy August 20th, 2010 at 11:45 pm
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
evening, Rosy. Nice to see you around, again. I think you might be the only non-Yankee fan besides Dennis and Ray from those ugly red socks guys that comes over here to gloat in secret. Congrats to your fine pitcher. How much better do you think your team would have been had they resigned Branyon, regardless of the back issues he had at the end of the year? And what’s with Lopez and gutierrez’ bats this year?
GB ~
No gloating here. Kinda hard for a fan of a last place team to gloat about anything. But, yes, we do love our Felix and have been aching for him all year long with this pathetic offense. To his credit, he has not shown frustration about it … he is mature beyond his 24 years in that regard.
I don’t know that having Russell from the beginning would have made much of a difference – he missed the first month with those back issues (which is why the M’s didn’t re-sign him in the first place) and has missed a bit of time since the M’s re-acquired him. No doubt he could have made a difference in a few games (M’s are only 17-22 in one-run games this season after going 35-20 last season) but not enough to make a difference in the standings.
Why stop at Guti and Lopez?
There’s also Figgy and Casey and Kotchman and Bradley, I could go on…. heck, even Ichiro isn’t up to snuff this season.
I’m anxious to see the kid’s play …
Tui’s been on a roll lately, as was Saunders prior to injuring his shoulder. Smoak and Ackley might get September callups along with a couple pretty exciting young arms.
Yes, such is the life of a fan of a losing team
And in something that continues to amaze –
Marlins C Paulino suspended for positive drug test
By TIM REYNOLDS
AP Sports Writer
MIAMI (AP) — Saying catcher Ronny Paulino’s decision to take a banned substance was “extraordinarily disappointing,” the Florida Marlins will begin a top-to-bottom review of the organization and how it educates players on what they can legally take under baseball’s rules.
Paulino was suspended 50 games Friday after he tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance under Major League Baseball’s drug policy.
In a statement released by the team, the 6-foot-3, 250-pound Paulino said he took a diet pill.
“It is extraordinarily disappointing,” Marlins president David Samson said. “And I’ll leave it at that.”
The Marlins have had four players suspended under the minor league policy this season as well.
Paulino’s suspension begins immediately, and since the Marlins have only 42 games remaining, will extend into the 2011 season. The Marlins hosted the Houston Astros on Friday night.
“To control my weight this season, I used a dietary pill,” Paulino said in a statement released by the team. “I recently learned that the dietary pill contained a substance banned under Major League Baseball’s drug policy. I am ashamed and saddened for disappointing and distracting my family, my teammates, the entire Florida Marlins organization and baseball fans.”
Neither Samson nor general manager Larry Beinfest said they had spoken with Paulino, whose belongings were still in his locker as teammates arrived for work Friday.
“It’s a tough situation for this whole team, for Ronny,” said catcher Brett Hayes, who was in Friday’s lineup. “All I heard is that he got banged for 50 games. I don’t know what he took. … All that stuff is scary stuff especially nowadays in sports. I feel for Ronny. It’s a terrible situation. He is a great teammate, he’s still a great teammate, he’s still a good person.”
Beinfest was first to hear of the 50-game suspension, then contacted owner Jeffrey Loria, who ordered the team to review its practices on educating players.
“Everything we do, from the Dominican League up to the major leagues,” Samson said.
Samson said players at all levels of the organization are taught to look for what’s known as NSF certification on anything they choose to ingest. NSF International is a company that gives athletes and consumers another resource to ensure the products they take are clean.
Otherwise, Samson said, it’s DNT – Do Not Take, in Marlins vernacular.
“I don’t care if it’s a Flintstones vitamin or something in a hypodermic needle,” Samson said.
Paulino is batting .259 with four homers and 37 RBIs in his sixth season in the majors. He got off to a solid start this year but has struggled since the All-Star break, hitting .195 with just one home run.
Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez called a pregame meeting Friday, just to remind players of the consequences for taking anything illegal.
“I have to say I was surprised,” Rodriguez said. “Nobody expected that. It’s a very complicated matter, but then again, what happened happened and we have to move on.”
Florida (60-60) began the day 10 1/2 games behind the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves and eight back of the Philadelphia Phillies in the wild-card race.
Paulino figures to lose about $272,000 in salary. The Marlins placed Paulino on the restricted list and recalled catcher Brad Davis from Triple-A New Orleans.
“I accept full responsibility and all consequences for this mistake, and therefore choose not to challenge my suspension,” the 29-year-old Paulino said. “I was irresponsible for failing to take all precautionary steps in confirming the approval of the dietary pill. Without a doubt, I have learned from my mistake.”
Paulino is the second player to be suspended this year under the major league drug policy. Cincinnati Reds pitcher Edinson Volquez received a 50-game ban in April for a positive test for a performance-enhancing substance.
Paulino, a native of the Dominican Republic, began his big league career with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was traded three times after the 2008 season, landing in Florida when the Marlins acquired him from San Francisco for a minor league pitcher.
“This is not behavior we tolerate,” Samson said. “This is not how you get ahead. This is, for any kid who is playing baseball and wants to play baseball, you do not become a major leaguer or a better major leaguer by violating policies. You just don’t.”
**oops, didn’t mean to list our first baseman as if he was two people …
GB – thank you.
Burnett is delusional. The reason most of the balls were only singles was because the mariners are crap. On nearly all the hits his location was awful and the pitches were left over the middle. Just because most weren’t smoked just speaks to the caliber of team they were playing. Bottom line he was garbage and him trying to justify it is a joke. Against a good hitting team he easily could have given up five bombs the way he was locating tonight.
Agreed Real Kev. It’s like his mind process was such that he was upset about not getting any runs last Sunday when he actually pitched pretty well,, SO tonight he figures he is just going to dog it and gets lit up. As it is the Yankees didn’t score again for the second straight game when he started. Just gives that inked up disaster more ammo to deflect blame.
Burnett is simply VERY VERY, did I say VERY inconsistent, and always has been as a Yankee.
Rosy, I’d only tease you about gloating. You’ve been just one of three people from other teams that have never done that.
As far as why I only picked on Lopez and Gutierrez was because I was never impressed with Figgins or Kotchman. The two bats that did impress me were the two I named. It’s like they forgot what to do. Lopez has always made a habit of annoying me against the Yanks. Gutierrez could always hit and where baseballs hit to center went to die.
If/when Phil masters the change, he can be about as good as Felix.
here come the A’s
Oh those gritty gutty A’s
Way to go Athletics
“Burnett is simply VERY VERY, did I say VERY inconsistent, and always has been as a Yankee.”
Actually, he’s very consistent.
Hopefully the A’s can win this one
http://mlb.mlb.com/media/playe.....b&v=2
I remember when Phil had a nice change up. Man he abused Tex with 3 in a row.
Sorry here’s a better link
http://tiny.cc/u4gf8
MLB Extra Innings – the 2nd greatest thing ever
the greatest? Sunday Ticket, of course.
“Actually, he’s very consistent.”
Yep – flip of a coin last year, flip of a coin this year.
It is unfortunate that he has to start in the playoffs, he can’t be anything higher than the 4.
Start Burnett in Game 2 would be a Torre move… hope Girardi does the right thing.
A’s take the lead on an error!
# stuart a August 21st, 2010 at 12:11 am
another big outing by burnett. did not see the postgame comments. he stinks, plain and simple. any idiot that thinks he is starting over the 24 yr old hughes in the playoffs is delusional.
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Couldn’t put it any better
Good job Zobrist
ty, Ben Zobrist.
Nice Zobrist
Did he stop taking his steroids, BTW?
Thx ellis and pennington also. Ellis with a helluva at bat and then pennington rifled that. Slow roller and its fielded cleanly. Then pennington srsly busted down the line. I love it
GB ~
Yeah, Lopez and Guti were definitely two of the best bats last season.
It’s just that the entire offense had been so anemic, it’s practically epic…. hard to single out one or two when you have SO many of the regulars batting SO far below their career average. There’s been speculation that the defensive switch (Figgy to 2nd, Lopez to 3rd) had an adverse effect on on both of them from an offensive perspective – don’t know if that premise has any merit.
The good news is, M’s have scored 30 runs in their past 6 games, homered in their last four and have won their last four series. While it’s obviously too little, too late for this season, maybe it will help give them a bit of a confidence boost for next season AND enable them to play “spoilers” during the last few weeks.
OK, I won’t hide it … I’m pulling for a Rangers-Padres World Series
Bailey hurt?? Crap
Anyone who doesn’t think there is still a huge problem with PED’s in baseball, just check the minor league players caught using the past few years. And yes, most, by a large majority, are foreign born, mostly from Dominican Republic. But, they are certainly not alone.
This, as a long time MLB fan, to me, is a definite spitting in the face of baseball and it’s records that are deeply revered by true fans of the game.
World Doping Association has it right, baseball is a long way from clean. As are the other major sports.
Oakland A’s shortstop Pennington needs a gold glove
A’s win
Yanks should send Pennington a bouquet.
benoit has been lights out all year. glad he is lost it tonight.
What a play, damn, pennington is slick… Cannon for an arm also… Exciting win there, badass
tough losses on back-to-back nights for the Rays
sweet
You can never figure baseball out. Certain teams, pitchers, hitters do absolutely different things against each other. That’s why it’s a great game.
Carl August 21st, 2010 at 1:08 am
Oakland A’s shortstop Pennington needs a gold glove
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Maybe last year, but, with 18 errors this year, not a chance.
He didn’t play enough last year, but, Pennington is really inconsistent in the field.
benoit is coming back to reality. his era is up to almost 1.50. no way he could keep things up at the previous pace. he will falter further then this also… he is a career middling pitcher in his mid 30′s.
burnett is a joke and until he goes a 1/2 a season minimum with consistency he will continue to be a joke. his act is old. the statement he has great stuff is old and meaningless. he is 9 and 11 on a team 27 games over 500, enuf said…………
Well, you can forget about Burnett being any help down the stretch. Unless the offense can outscore the other team when he pitches it’s an automatic loss.
This FA signing is one of the worst for Cashman.
Now the team has two reliable pitchers, Hughes and Mr. Cy Young. Vasquez is giving it all he’s got, but it just isn’t happening for him. And Moseley is … well, Moseley.
Without Pettitte the Yanks are going to have a very hard time making the playoffs. With him they have a chance to go all the way again.
Rodriguez is injured, Posada is injured, and Teixeira is a crap shoot.
This is going to be a whole lot harder than last year.
@Trisha: I’d appreciate it, and the writer of the article would probably appreciate it also, if you didn’t post entire articles. It’s a pain to scroll through, and a copyright violation.
A snippet of 1 to 3 paragraphs and a link would be great.
“Well, you can forget about Burnett being any help down the stretch. Unless the offense can outscore the other team when he pitches it’s an automatic loss.”
If you look up the word frustrating in the dictionary you will find AJ’s picture, but he will pitch well at times between now and the end of the season, maybe more often than not, but you can’t count on him.
I predict that at some point before the expiration of his contract that will either buy him out or put him in the pen, or maybe both.
I still think the Yankees will make the playoff, but it’s a crapshoot once they get there, as it always is.
Anybody up yet ?
Guess what. The A’s helped bail us out again. They beat the Rays.
Let’s take the series.
Wake up this Morning to find the Yanks still in first place.
Gee, after skimming last nights game thread (bad idea) I thought the Yankees were the only team that had flaws, didn’t play well at times, and lost games to bad teams.
Thanks Oakland…now let’s take care of business this weekend.
MTU,
What’s up…you climbin today?
Blake-
It would be good if we abused seattle in the next 2 games because we have to play Toronto on the road next.
The object for the Yankees right now is to get the regulars healthy, and get them ready for the stretch run.
Reinforcements will arrive at the front Sept. 1. Until then at least hold the Fort.
Good morning blake & MTU -
I joined in with the AJ whining last night. I simply had to – as I posted to SJ last night, it was somewhat cathartic.
I just heard that Tampa cooperated and lost. So yesterday ends up being just another crossed off day on the calendar. Cano will be batting cleanup today, so I have high hopes for the rest of the weekend.
I had a thought this morning. Back at the beginning of the season, with the rotation the Yankees had, I believed the Yankees would never suffer a long losing streak. And that has indeed been the case. However, I also believed that they would have a few long winning streaks, and that’s only happened once – 7 games I read the other day. Not a complaint, just an observation.
The worst luck the Yankees had this year was Andy getting hurt. He was on his way to a 20-win season.
Blake-
Yup. Gonna do one of my favorites today. Up and over a mountain and down a wild stream through the water back to the vehicles.
It astonishingly beautiful. I’ll try to post some photos when I can.
If it were me, I would have given Javy a blow for 1 game and replaced him with Nova. It seems like the rest would do him some good.
MTU,
Yea I agree..would be really nice to take these next two. The Jays are tough at home and seem to go HR crazy every time they play there.
On paper, today would be the crucial game because you like your chances tomorrow with the big man pictching. Hopefully Javy can give length and give the Yanks a chance to win today .
MTU
What you doing up so early?
Doreen-
I don’t blame anyone for being frustrated with AJ. He’s probably feeling the same about himself.
IMO this season some of the Yankees are showing their age.
It’s good the Yankees are in the process of building a new core.
Maine-
It’s time to milk the Cows. And I’m used to it. The last time I was a world champion sleeper was in my college days.
Gonna do one of my Favorite hikes today. I’m looking forward to it I guess.
MTU,
I think I may have done that too..I don’t know of Nova is on Javys schedule though and they may just want him to try and pitch through it….he was pretty good til his last two starts.
Doreen,
You never whine. You’re one of the best posters here. Being frustrated with AJ isn’t whining….he frustrates me as well. He really didn’t give the Yanks a chance last night..that said, he pitched well in his last two outings and may throw a shutout in his next…thus is life with AJ.
MTU
Talk about feeling your age, I am today. Just turned 29.
Here’s a link to a conservation camp my grandson went to this week.
It has alot of things you would enjoy.
When I can I’ll post some pitcures.
http://extension.umaine.edu/br.....ograms.asp
MTU
By the way a true farmer would have the cows all milked by now.
Maine-
Thanks. Always look for ward to pics. Nice of your wife to get you away from those bulky stone tablets.
And by the way, I’m still salivating over that fish chowder. Any chance to get some Lobster thrown in next time.
I’m like Erica on the farming thing- pretend only.
It seems that it’s all or nothing when Burnett pitches..burnett=beckett
Good morning all-
Well, on the brightside, we saw a brilliant show of pitching by King Felix. That was pure dominance.
Going to the game today. Here’s hoping the guys cooperate and serve up a win. I’ve seen my share of stinkers over the years, but with everything going on for me right now, I’m just not in the mood today for another loss and lost series.
Joe-
What’s going on, you OK ?
Joe
Have a good time.
I’m planning on seeing Trenton play tonight.
Not the same as you but easier for me to get to Portland than NYC.