Game 138: Yankees vs. Orioles
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Gameday Thread on Sep 06, 2010 
Print This Post
| 
Email This Post
YANKEES (86-51)
Derek Jeter SS
Nick Swisher RF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Marcus Thames LF
Jorge Posada DH
Francisco Cervelli C
Brett Gardner CF
RHP A.J. Burnett (10-12, 5.15)
Burnett vs. Orioles
ORIOLES (51-86)
Brian Roberts 2B
Felix Pie LF
Nick Markakis RF
Luke Scott DH
Matt Wieters C
Ty Wigginton 1B
Corey Patterson CF
Cesar Izturis SS
Josh Bell 3B
LHP Brian Matusz (7-12, 4.72)
Matusz vs. Yankees
TIME/TV: 1:05 p.m. / YES Network
UMPIRES: HP Laz Diaz, 1B Wally Bell, 2B John Hirschbeck, 3B James Hoye
WEATHER: Another good day for a day game. Temperatures in the 70s without a cloud in sight.
HAPPY HOLIDAY: Since 1961, the Yankees are 33-26 on Labor Day. They swept a Labor Day double header against Tampa Bay last year, and the last time they played the Orioles on Labor Day was 1992 when the Yankees won 6-2 at Camden Yards. That was a 13-inning game.
GOOD MATCHUP: The Yankees first two starters this series are A.J. Burnett and CC Sabathia, who are 24-4 in their careers against the Orioles.
BAD MATCHUP: Nick Swisher is returning to the lineup just in time to face Brian Matusz. Swisher is 0-for-12 with one walk in his career against the young Orioles lefty.
ABOUT A.J.: Burnett has allowed a .362 opponents batting average in the first inning this season. From the second inning on, he’s allowed a .265 average… Burnett has allowed a major league leading 34 stolen bases in 157.1 innings this season. According to Elias, that’s the highest total by a Yankee since Roger Clemens allowed 34 in 220.1 innings in 2001… Burnett went winless in August but won his first start of September. According to Elias, Burnett is winless in his past 13 August starts dating back to 2008.
JUST AN OBSERVATION: Yesterday, the Yankees starting outfield was Brett Gardner, Curtis Granderson and Greg Golson, which very easily could have been the fastest outfield in baseball this season. Today the starting outfield is Gardner surrounded by banged-up Nick Swisher and heckuva-hitter Marcus Thames. I’m just sayin.
UPDATE, 1:15 p.m.: A 1-2-3 first inning for A.J. Burnett. That seems like a good sign.
UPDATE, 1:52 p.m.: Brett Gardner nearly made a great catch. Instead the ball fell for a double, and two batters later, a double play drove that run in for a 1-0 Orioles lead in the third inning.
UPDATE, 2:16 p.m.: The Yankees still haven’t scored, but A.J. Burnett is through four innings with only one run on two hits. He’s been plenty good enough.
UPDATE, 2:17 p.m.: Scratch that. Alex Rodriguez is back, and he just homered to tie the game at 1.
UPDATE, 2:30 p.m.: RBI single by Brian Roberts the Orioles the lead again at 2-1. Still, so far this game is on the offense. Burnett has been perfectly fine.
UPDATE, 2:56 p.m.: Burnett’s been able to limit the damage, which is the reason he’s been alright today. But for the third time, he has the first two batters of an inning on base in the top of the sixth.
UPDATE, 3:04 p.m.: One run on a sacrifice fly. Burnett continues to keep the damage to a minimum, and he’s made some big pitches, but he has the Yankees in a 3-1 hole.
UPDATE, 3:12 p.m.: After Rodriguez got his 100th RBI of the season on a sac fly, Teixeira did a nice job on the bases, getting pretty far off third base just in case a blooper from Cano fell. It did fall, Teixeira scored and the Yankees have tied the game at 3.
UPDATE, 3:19 p.m.: Burnett is back out for the seventh. Joba Chamberlain is up in the bullpen. Curtis Granderson is playing center, Brett Gardner has shifted to left and Marcus Thames is out of the game.
UPDATE, 3:26 p.m.: Another lead-off man on base, another run off A.J. Burnett. He hasn’t had one of those big innings when he gets absolutely crushed, but his start has become less and less solid as it’s continued. He’s now allowed a run in three straight innings.
UPDATE, 3:36 p.m.: Greg Golson is here for his speed. Getting thrown out trying to steal second, that’s not part of the plan.
UPDATE, 3:57 p.m.: Boone Logan gets in trouble, Dave Robertson gets out of it and the Yankees have two innings to score at least one run. Still down 4-3.
AJ get us through the 1st and we will go from there. Lets score a bunch today boys.
The Decline and Fall of #2, Derek Jeter, #2
Batting Av
Apr: .330
May: .281
Jun: .243
Jul: .245
Aug: .239
Sep: .176
Derek, for the good of the team, ask Girardi to drop you in the batting order.
Let’s go Yankees!!
From prior thread, GB7-
Yankees have some pieces these days, don’t they?
GB – given how Swish has played this year, and his improved hitting – you’d still deal him for Rasmus? With Rasmus’ rep as a handful? Again, as was discussed late last night, we don’t know firsthand that clubhouse in St. Louis, but it doesn’t sound pretty scene.
AJ please give the team a chance to win today. Thanks, Go Yanks!!!
Yeah, they do, Doreen. More importantly, they have pieces that are of value to a lot of other teams…pitching, catching and some decent middle infield types. NYYs need outfielders.
Come on Yanks, we just need 14 more wins!
It starts today!
Woo hoo!
I’m fired up.
Joe, unless the Yanks have trouble finding a relacement for Swisher, I can’t see him being resigned at the end of his contract.
Nasty, nasty 3rd strike pitch.
Oh yes, AJ, it’s a whole new month.
where this curveball been all year aj
Good AJ
Who is this new guy that the Yankees got. He is wearing AJ’s old number. Haha
looking good through 1.
Lookin’ good. AJ looks to have good stuff. His breaking ball looks tight.
Probably the best first inning that Burnett has had this year.
Very good inning by AJ. Orioles or not we need him to pitch well.
Nasty breaking ball!! It’s nice to see that he has the feel for it so early in the game. That has been one of his problems during the bad stretch.
# GreenBeret7 September 6th, 2010 at 1:14 pm
Probably the best first inning that Burnett has had this year.
Yep. First time I’ve seen him with great fastball command in the first.
Ok come on Offense!
joe will not drop jeter in the lineup. if they were in 3rd place, maybe this would come up, but with all the issues, they have stayed in 1st with the best record in baseball. making such changes can do more harm than good.
Matusz has been very good his last couple of starts. So the Yanks need AJ to pitch well.
woo Jete
good job jeter
Great hit by Jeter!
Jeter is about to break out. I heard he has been sleeping on the other side of his bed the last two nights.
Best swing and hit in 2 weeks.
Go Jeter, driving the ball.
And Captain Jeter responds to the Lohud pressure…
that’s the Jete we know and love!
It’s a Labor Day rennaissance for our struggling Yanks.
Jeter continues to be much better v. LHP.
Move him over Swish, make a productive out
They should’ve extended Jeter a week ago, that double will cost them millions.
/needlessly worried about Jeter’s contract’d
Jeter finally get’s a double we need to score him!!!
# Rich in NJ September 6th, 2010 at 1:19 pm
Jeter continues to be much better v. LHP.
————————————————————
That’s good point.
Jeter vs:
Lefties: .310
Righties: .240
==============
Day: .317
Night: .233
==============
Home: .298
Away: .230
==============
Stark splits
His best games are at home, during the day, versus a lefty.
AJ we just praised you and now a lead off walk. Come on!!
Now its bad AJ this this inning is not odd
this is why with aj, you go inning to inning.
Man AJ is annoying.
since this
As good as he looked in the first, he looks equally as bad here in the second.
We shouldn’t even be surprised, this is AJ. Unhittable and then can’t find the plate. He is impossible to watch from inning to inning.
Typical AJ.
Get the bullpen up and get ready to get him out of there before the full meltdown takes place.
He’s just not a guy you can give a lot of rope to because he’s just too unreliable.
Nothing more than a #4 in the rotation. Hopefully he doesn’t go until Game 4 in October.
Keep everything in front of you Cervy. Don’t give up a cheap one
Here comes the hardest out for AJ. Let’s see if he can actually get out of this, for once.
aj will walk people. as long as he doesnt give up the long ball.
this is a man who had a no hitter with 9 walks.
Nice recovery.
AJ is just a guy you have to go batter to batter with because the consistency isn’t there.
He can be great or awful and in between.
Unfortunately, he’s been trending awful for most of the season.
Even if he getting out of this, you still have to plan ahead for the inevitable meltdown.
Got to land on your stomach and slide.
And that’s Thames playing the outfield
Great effort by Gardner.
Unfortunately, AJ gets tagged by a #9 hitter hitting under .200 against righties this year.
Followed up by another hit, and it starts all over again.
Can’t stay much longer with him. If he gives up another two hits, pull him or he will be in full meltdown mode.
Great turn by Tex
Good choice, Tex.
AJ will have a good game today – Let’s Go Yankees!
Great job there by Tex and good decision. Always take 2 outs and give up the run in the 3rd inning. Now hold them there. AJ has to get ahead more often.
Tex made the right play.
AJ is just falling behind too many hitters.
Even against bad teams, if you do that, you will eventually get burned.
That was a better sequence to Markakis. Got ahead and got the out on a breaking ball when he was ahead in the count. Can’t pitch behind in the big leagues unless you have incredible stuff and even then you’re making it hard on yourself.
I feel good. Like I knew I would. Let’s go Yanks!!!
AJ can’t get ahead of hitters.
Effort is there. Results are not.
He has become nothing more than a batter to batter starting pitcher.
He will get a post-season start because they have nobody else to make that start.
Girardi will have a short hook on him the way Torre has with Denny Naegle in 2000 and Kenny Rogers in 1996.
All you can do with him at this point.
It’s a crime batting BG 9th.
AJ loses concentration vs btm of lineups.
If you had the day off would you bring your family to your place of work. Jack Curry is a Yankee fan and an asset to Yes.
Often times people judge young pitchers by their aggregate statistics or general performance. That can be very misleading as young pitchers aren’t in an equilibrium performance position. As such their mean statistics can lead to information loss.
Matusz started the season well and then struggled significantly – especially against RH hitters. So his overall season and statistics aren’t particularly good. Lately he has been better and seems to be figuring things out.
You watch him work – he’s just extremely impressive. Two examples. In the first inning with jeter in scoring position and ARod up, Matusz is aggressive and works his fastball in on Alex’s hands. Matusz throws his fastball in the high 80′s. Most kids who don’t throw that hard wouldn’t think about trying to work Alex the way Matusz did. He makes a mistake in that area and Alex is going to hit it a long way. But Matusz has the confidence in his ability to locate to work Alex the way Tommy Glavine would have in his prime.
Then in the following inning Matusz falls behind Posada. And he comes back to strike the RH hitting Posada out on curve balls. Just remarkable. Matusz throws Posada back door curve balls that catch the edge of the plate.
You watch a young pitcher do those two things – successfully work his fastball in on ARod and then work the outside edge against Posada with his curve ball – that’s just dynamite stuff.
In many ways that tells you more about Matusz than his ERA does.
The bullpen better be prepared to dominate the post season if AJ n Hughes r starting.
Gardner should bat leadoff for another week or so until Swish and Arod get the rust out of their bats. Girardi makes too many changes when there is a lefty on the mound. He should just leave it the way it was with Arod out.
He’s a very good young pitcher.
Excellent command and he’s an example of why velocity isn’t as important as some fans think it it.
He barely touches 90 on the gun but, is a very tough guy to face.
Great 2 seamer on that 1-1 pitch…wish AJ to use that more often.
but he just can’t consistently locate it as evidenced by the 3-2 pitch. ….
Ahead 1-2, and walks.
Same script, different day.
Three walks already in 3 1/3 innings against a team lacking patient hitters.
It’s hard to understand why it’s such a struggle for him.
So much talent. Yet, so much inconsistency.
He’s the very definition of an enigma.
The contrast between the 23 year old Matusz understanding of how to pitch vs. Burnett the “veteran’s” is really an ugly difference.
23 or not he knows more about how to pitch than AJ does.
Here is a fisher cat
http://www.google.com/imgres?i.....CBoQ9QEwAA
I’m starting to see ads for Ruby Tuesday on this site.
Were those pitches a foot off the plate that were fooling no one just to set up the DP ball????
Good turn by Robbie there…
This is the inning to pounce. Let’s get it started.
CB is nowhere to be found now. He has no chance to throw it for a strike.
That makes it tough on Cervelli because AJ is no down to being a one pitch pitcher.
He located the fastball well to induce the DP.
They may have to go to a few changeups now and see if that pitch can work for him today.
AJ’s doing his job. Let’s get the offense going!
The strings haven’t come undone yet..Key word yet…
Burnett will wiggle out of jams just so much and hitters like Markakis, Scott, and Wigginton will hurt with the long ball.
Gaudin is likely to see mound time today.
what if they told aj that he’s only throwing 86 and needed to learn to pitch like maddux?
this guy needs to start throwing all his pitches for strikes?
i think that AJ has so far looked a lot better on the mound today. He hasnt seemed to melt down when men get on base and he looked like it didnt bother him much when the ball jumped out of Gardners glove. hopefully he can continue playing well. Now we need to start hitting against Matusz
sorry, no question mark. we need edit buttons!
Yanks not looking so good at the plate this afternoon.
A-Rod!
Go Arod!!!
I am going to take a different route, AJ will go 8ip, 3 runs or less.
(fingers and toes crossed)
great job arod whoo!!!!!!!
Still clutch…
he is still hoping for the 30/100 season.
That was a Rodriguezian blast!
I love watching Alex hit HR’s…
Yeah Alex! Now that was a good at bat!
8 more lets do it!
Rodriguez has had two really nice at bats in his 7 since returning. One today, and one yesterday
sweet….i just tuned in and actually said to myself, here comes a Home Run from A-Rod and PRESTO !,,,,,yes, I know I have no proof !
Tar, I’m with you, I think AJ is going to keep the Yanks in this game.
It’s not like we’re facing a tough SEC opponent or anything.
Pitching is about keeping pitchers off balance and uncomfortable.
You can do that in a lot of ways. It’s not just throwing hard.
Matusz does a very good job keeping hitters off balance. Especially for a young pitcher.
Arod’s HR not withstanding, he’s going to be a front of the rotation starter for the next several years.
You could see Alex was tracking the ball really well in that AB…
ARod gives the lineup a lil more than Pena/nunez
A-Rod !
I bet A.J. Burnett gives the run right back.
You could see Matusz trying to set up the inside fastball on Alex that entire at bat.
Last time he started out working Alex inside with the fastball and tied him up. This time he tried to change up the pattern by first working Alex outside.
But that fastball missed it’s location. He tried to get it in on Alex’s hands. But that’s why it’s such a dangerous pitch for a left hander to try to throw. If it misses in location it’s going to get hit a ton. And it did.
In those two at bats Matusz summarized what it’s like to be a young pitcher with potential.
Same mature, advanced strategy in both at bats to Alex. But the mistake the second time hurts him greatly.
Matusz has a little bit of a young Glavine in him…back when Glavine had a fastball.
dont really need 8 from aj. use the pen if you have to. cc going tomorrow so they will probably just sit back and watch cc get #20.
A shutdown inning here would be nice.
What a beautiful swing by alex!
“A shutdown inning here would be nice.”
yes, yes it would.
Rodriguez has one more homer in his bat today. Add a double or a single and he’ll be just fine.
Buck brings buzz back to Baltimore baseball?
Balderdash!
I thought AJ might actually have one clean inning. But I guess after the 1st inning that is not possible.
“It’s not like we’re facing a tough SEC opponent or anything.”
AJ is going to be very predictable with his fastball now. He has no feel for his curveball.
“AJ is going to be very predictable with his fastball now. He has no feel for his curveball.”
That’s been his problem all year…well that and being behind all the time.
Does it help that I was rooting for Elon????
behind again
shocker… Burnett gave the run back.
Dammit AJ
arod ties then burnett gives it up.
unbelieveable
should walk to face pie.
Again, got behind and Roberts singled on a 2-0 fastball down the middle…nice cut off and relay work to stop in there though.
nice heads-up cutoff and throw to 2nd to end the inning.
wonder if Gardner could have made a play at the plate if he was in LF ………
Thames looked like my grandmother as he charged that ball – but they got an out at 2nd base. Sometimes a bad outfielder gets more assist than a good one – an odd stat…
I wasn’t an assist but the argument is the same
Of course more AJ bs. His act is so old already. Keep falling behind 1-0, 2-0 and then have to come over with a fastball. The batting average against AJ and Hughes with 2 outs must be like .500.
“Does it help that I was rooting for Elon????”
No. I am not used to this passive aggresive behavior from you. What happened, the Heels blow the spread for you.
It’s remarkable how much pitch to pitch variation AJ has in his mechanics. He does not throw the ball the same way two times in a row. There are substantial changes in his deliver all of the time.
Alex ties up the game and AJ gives back the run.
Izturus stinks. Josh Bell has struggled horribly this season. Both hit the ball very hard. No way hitters like that should be able to square up AJ. Yet they do.
Then Brian Roberts – who is an absolute shell of himself right now because he’s been plagued with a bad back all season – knocks in the two out run because AJ can’t finish off the inning.
Three hitters who have no business hitting the ball hard all square up AJ.
Typical AJ.
Fall behind, throw a fastball down the middle of the plate, and puts his team behind again.
Make this be his last inning.
At some point, you just can’t keep him out there as a one pitch pitcher.
No CB since the first inning. Refuses to throw a changeup or two seamer.
Can’t survive as a one pitch pitcher who can’t locate.
Go to the bullpen and see if they can hold it at 2 because AJ won’t be able to do it as a one pitch pitcher.
They need to counter.
That’s why you hit cut off men…great job by the Yankees on that play. Plays like that help limit damage and win games over the course of the season.
I hate it when I’m right.
taking the lead this inning…so sad when AJ vs. the O’s pitcher is a BATTLE, huh ?
I was actually rooting for the Heels, no month on that game. Too much beer + sun at the Cal game ealier that day, I still haven’t recovered. I can’t be held responsible for anything I say until… hmmm, how about tomorrow. Or kickoff tonight.
Just don’t turn on Cal. Anything but that.
No money on that game, I mean.
Bottom line, if AJ Burnett doesn’t use this off-season to refine his two seamer and changeup, he will be worse next year than he is right now.
He has to adjust. If he can’t, or refuses to do it, he becomes the most expensive EIG in baseball history because he will be incapable of being a functional starting pitcher at the ML level.
nick,
that cal game was glorious. i spent a little too much time in the sun as well.
go bears
Yanks should score more runs in this game but AJ is getting away with a lot right now….If they weren’t playing the Orioles the score could look much different. Have to make a move quickly from here on if AJ gets in trouble…
Eiland must pull his hair out of his head being AJ’s pitching coach. Every game it’s the same crap. Walks, 2 outs runs and nobodies hitting his fastball hard. You would think at some point AJ would say to himself enough already with this bs let’s get going. I guess not.
We heard over the past offseason that AJ finally realized the importance of the changeup from watching CC. I doubt anything is going to be different.
Beautiful 2-2 change up to get Posada. Great arm speed on that pitch.
Posada had the right approach that at bat. He kept trying to shoot the ball the other way was Matusz kept working him away. But that change was just too good after all of those fastballs.
Burnett at 72 pitches.
Good AB.
how about brett trys for a bunt hit here
“He has to adjust. If he can’t, or refuses to do it, he becomes the most expensive EIG in baseball history”
Can’t discount the possibility that Beckett overtakes him in that category.
“Just don’t turn on Cal. Anything but that”
OK truce. I kind of adopted Cal because of you anyway.
“I still haven’t recovered”
I can relate, but for different reasons. What a roller coaster ride.
AJ has talked about “finally” seeing how important his change up is for years now. Every spring training it’s his story.
Even back when he was on the blue jays he would talk about how the “light bulb” went on and this was the year he was going to use his change up.
You can literally take those quotes from his days on the Jays and they are almost the same as what he’s been saying since he’s been on the yankees.
But there’s never any difference in what he does on the field.
The sad thing is that he has a plus change. It’s a potentially great pitch.
CB,
it was a beauty….threw another nice one to Cervelli 3-2 but he was able to stay back and foul it off then draw the walk. That was a nice AB from Cervelli…really two nice AB’s from him today so far.
kd, how great did Keenan Allen look? Our next superstar receiver, I just hope Riley can get him the ball when the competition gets tougher.
gardner should have tried to sneak a bunt down 3rd base line.
A first guess rather than second guess. It’s a mistake putting AJ out there for the 6th inning.
If they aren’t careful, he will pitch them out of this game.
As soon as a baserunner reaches, they have to get him out of there.
Trust is earned and AJ hasn’t earned the trust to stay in this game.
for all of you complaining on every pitch about AJ, you may just as well deal with it because he is going to be in the rotation through the postseason, the Yankees have no other viable options as they will need 4 starters.
He’s going to have to find a consistent curveball between now and the end of the season because without it he’s not capable of a good outing. In the 1st inning he threw several beauties and had an easy inning, since then I doubt he’s thrown one for a strike.
Jeter with the 2 out 2 run hit and the Yankees take the lead !
Big spot for the captain
AJ’s 2 seamer and change up are potentially plus pitches. When he throws that come back two seamer to lefties that hits the inside corner its just gorgeous. He just can’t throw it there consistently because of what CB said before…he can’t repeat his delivery often enough to get any kind of consistency with anything.
‘Trust is earned and AJ hasn’t earned the trust to stay in this game’
Joe has had a quick trigger lately. He Showed no patience with Nova or Javy, so well see.
Its discouraging that Burnett can’t throw up more zeroes against a lineup like this.
It looks to me like he needs to completely overhaul his approach this offseason and perhaps become more of a sinker/two seamer guy. His fastball just doesn’t have the velocity or life it has in the past and he doesn’t command his curve within the strike zone to balance out those deficiencies.
“for all of you complaining on every pitch about AJ, you may just as well deal with it because he is going to be in the rotation through the postseason,”
First of all, it’s not complaining, it’s merely describing the reality of the situation.
Second, whatever you call it, I think everyone recognizes how limited the Yankees’ options are in the rotation right now.
jeter will not see anything on the outside part of the plate.
at least they are running matusz’s pitch count up.
nick,
you’re right. i am also super excited about the new running backs. i should remember their names, but as i said… too much ‘sun’
riley looks like he got rid of his happy feet, a little more solid in the pocket. but it was just davis, gotta see what they do against real competition.
man, jeter needs a hit here
blake September 6th, 2010 at 2:43 pm
AJ’s 2 seamer and change up are potentially plus pitches. When he throws that come back two seamer to lefties that hits the inside corner its just gorgeous. He just can’t throw it there consistently because of what CB said before…he can’t repeat his delivery often enough to get any kind of consistency with anything.
——————————–
Blake, since he rarely throws either I have to assume he lacks confidence in them so we’re stuck with the 4 seamer and breaking ball. Somewhere along the line he will have to decide to throw them with some regularity and no care whether he gets hammered or not. If not he’ll be a .500 or less pitcher for the rest of his career.
Hmm – a Wated opp. But at least they made him work, and the O’s bullpen is not a strength…
So if AJ keeps the game close I like the chances
Yankees are fine hear. Try to keep knocking on the door. Runs are going to come. Need a pitcher I am sure Joe will stick with AJ to hold them at 2.
Girardi’s has no choice but to let AJ start the 6th inning. They can’t keep going to the bullpen in the 5th or 6th inning. Someone besides CC has to give them length and quality innings.
Pretty good AB there from Jeter…fouled off some tough pitches…almost got it through there. If AJ can keep it here then they should scratch a couple across in the next couple innings.
They may have limited options but, that shouldn’t matter.
They have had limited options in the past and made it work by limiting the chances for stuggling pitchers to beat you.
AJ Burnett hasn’t had a CB all year. Hrs not finding it in September.
Aside from the first inning, he has not pitched well today.
He’s fortunate he’s facing an awful team.
Despite that, he still can’t get ahead of hitters and can’t pitch to the bottom of a bad batting order.
Keeping him out there is rolling the dice.
Hopefully, it doesn’t come up snake eyes.
Leadoff guy reaches. Pull him now or he will fall apart.
Now Joe has to be hitter to hitter. Is anybody even warming in the pen?
burnett doesnt get a lot of 1-2-3 innings does he?
AJ’s location of the fastball is so poor this year-the pitch to Pie missed the glove by at least a foot, then the 1st strike to the next batter was supposed to be outside and was middle in. It sure makes it tough to get outs consistently when you miss the glove all the time.
“Somewhere along the line he will have to decide to throw them with some regularity and no care whether he gets hammered or not. ”
But the amazing thing is that he’s already getting hammered. He’s been awful this season. He was awful for much of last season.
Who cares how much confidence he has in the pitch. It can’t be much worse than he’s been this season. He’s getting drilled.
What’s the difference between getting drilled doing the same thing over and over vs. possibly getting drilled by using your change up more in the hopes that it could make you a much better pitcher over all?
But that’s not the way AJ is built. He just keeps banging his head against a brick wall because he’s “confident” in that approach.
“AJ has talked about “finally” seeing how important his change up is for years now. Every spring training it’s his story.”
————————————
The best was when he said he had a revelation on the bench watching King Felix dominating the Yankees with his changeup at the Stadium.
That awakening lasted about1 start.
AJ looks very bad. The wheels are coming off….
he walks him they need to get someone warming.
CB September 6th, 2010 at 2:52 pm
“Somewhere along the line he will have to decide to throw them with some regularity and no care whether he gets hammered or not. ”
But the amazing thing is that he’s already getting hammered. He’s been awful this season. He was awful for much of last season.
Who cares how much confidence he has in the pitch. It can’t be much worse than he’s been this season. He’s getting drilled.
What’s the difference between getting drilled doing the same thing over and over vs. possibly getting drilled by using your change up more in the hopes that it could make you a much better pitcher over all?
But that’s not the way AJ is built. He just keeps banging his head against a brick wall because he’s “confident” in that approach.
—————————————–
CB, he’s from Arkansas, that might explain some of it:)
pitch out. safer that way
Staying way too long with AJ.
He’s in the process of pitching them out of this game.
Big mistake having him come out for the 6th.
AJ’s tempo out on the mound today is terrible. He has no rhythm at all. He’s working extremely slowly.
AJ is a 5 inn SP
Hopefully it’s still 2-1 after this inning and not 5-1. With AJ you expect him to give up another 2-3 runs or so here.
Anyone warming? If not, why not?
Just a horrible curveball 3-2.
Burnett is a thrower – not to be confused with a pitcher.
they are getting the pen up now.
Went too long with AJ
Girard is basically allowing AJ to give up the game. Which AJ will gladly do…
Hard to understand why he’s still in this game.
They have 14 pitchers on the roster.
Only Mitre and Hughes are unavailable today.
He never should have started this inning.
He will now pitch them out of this game.
Just a matter of time.
has burnett thrown the changeup today at all?
I see AJ giving up a homerun in this inning…I hope I am wrong but his location is awful with his fastball.
If the offense actually showed up this wouldn’t be a major jam.
“has burnett thrown the changeup today at all?”
3
http://www.brooksbaseball.net/pfxVB/pfx.php?
month=9&day=6&year=2010&game=gid_2010_09_06_balmlb_nyamlb_1/&pitchSel=150359&prevGame=gid_2010_09_06_balmlb_nyamlb_1/&prevDate=96
whats the point of cervelli putting the glove where he wants the pitch. he throws nowhere near the glove…
“It sure makes it tough to get outs consistently when you miss the glove all the time.”
I posted about this last year – even when AJ was “on” and seemingly pitching well, it was remarkable seeing a pitcher miss his spots so often.
Even when AJ was seemingly dominating in games he was consistently missing his locations.
But he had the stuff to get away with it.
What we’re seeing this year is that his stuff is down a tick and he can no longer afford to have that poor command. He no longer has that leeway.
Hitters are now hitting mistakes in location inside the zone that they used to swing through or foul off.
That’s probably the biggest longer term concern with AJ and what he can provide to the Yanks moving forward.
He has walked a tight rope his whole career. With his stuff down a notch he no longer even has a net to brace his falls.
Well that WP was right on cue.
Sorry for the link. I won’t do it again.
“I see AJ giving up a homerun in this inning”
I say AJ will now strike out the side.
This is just sad from this guy Burnett
What a clown show, typical
where the hell has that curve been since the first?
Thank you, Luke Scott. You helped us out, a lot.
there’s the AJ we have come to know so well this year….
Luke Scott bails out Burnett
1 down, 2 to go
Big big break to get Scott chasing. Sac fly here and a ground out limits the damage. 3 to 1 is fine
AJ is a scrub. He’s gonna cost us this game. It’s the same damn thing with this guy every game.
He’s lucky he’s getting a free strike on the outside.
the back door breaker is the only pitch working consistently for him
An AJ start would not be complete without a wild pitch. Walk, wild pitch and all we need is a homerun here to finish off a usual AJ start. It’s like watching a rookie making his 2nd major league start who has no idea how to pitch. He is a joke…
“Burnett is a thrower – not to be confused with a pitcher.”
Actually, AJ isn’t even much of a thrower. His throwing mechanics are terrible.
In many ways throwing is his biggest problem. His problems pitching right now are secondary.
9 baserunners since the second inning.
Now the usual WP.
I could see this coming which is why I wanted no part of him to start this inning.
He’s a batter to batter SP.
Treating anything other than that is a mistake and will get you beat.
Seriously why is it I’m just seriously disgusted with even seeing Burnett’s face anymore
It seems a bit irrational to feel that way about another person
I’m usually a level headed guy, but he just Grrrrrrrrrrr
Gardner in LF may have saved two runs.
Thanks to the wild pitch, a run scores.
I miss Gardner’s gun in LF.
pie is fast… gardner wouldnt have thrown him out
If the Yanks get out of this inning with only one run scored, they will be fortunate. AJ can’t possibly start the 7th. If he misses on Wiginton, he should be pulled. You can argue that he should be pulled now, if the BP is ready.
If he can get out of this giving up 1 run then that would be very fortunate.
is it just me or did burnett click after the wild pitch? weird how it comes and goes.
Against a real team AJ would have let in 5-6 runs easily by now. Very fortunate they’re playing the O’s with AJ on the mound.
They aren’t a patient team and keep getting themselves out. That’s what’s limiting the big inning for them.
There is the run you can’t allow by keeping a guy this bad in the game.
That’s on Girardi.
You can’t give a guy who can’t pitch this much rope.
A garbage start today against a bad team.
No excuses. He left him in the game too long and he has his team playing uphill against a guy who can pitch today.
The bats need to get going now. 6th already and 1 run on the board is embarassing.
overall AJ is not bad today, now offense
AJ is a #4 starter at best…I know the O needs to score more…but if he cant stifle the mighty O’s, he has NO chance to handle a playoff team !
Start the next inning with Robertson. Enough with Burnett already.
Hmm, last time I checked six innings, 3 runs is a quality start. Why don’t you people lay off AJ and start giving the offense shit. One run vs the worst team in the division and it’s our pitchers fault?
I would be shocked if AJ doesn’t start a game in the first round.
“quality start” by AJ: 3 runs in 6 innings…..
“What we’re seeing this year is that his stuff is down a tick and he can no longer afford to have that poor command. He no longer has that leeway. ”
Totally agree. He’s just not getting away with mistakes like he used to and has no consistency with the one offspeed pitch he throws. He’ll throw a 3-2 breaking ball that’s nowhere close to the plate…then spot 2 back door curveballs to the next hitter on the black…its flip a coin batter to batter…pitch to pitch even.
If the Yankees want to win their division and not be the wild card these games left against the Orioles should be must wins because Tampa finishes the season with 10 games against Mariners, Orioles and Royals.
Notice how Thames has been involved in all 3 runs scoring. That ball wasn’t hit deep at all and earlier if Gardner is in LF that would of been a very close play at the plate if he makes even a decent throw. Girardi is just giving up runs by playing him there.
The WP, not Thames, cost them the run.
CB is right. Against a real team, this is another 6+ run start for AJ.
Girardi stayed too long with him and got the usual predictable results.
It doesn’t even really matter I just have next to no faith in Burnett on a big league mound,
The Yankees would do real well to score, because if Girardi sends him back out there for the 7th it could be a bigger gap than 2 runs.
Quality start by Burnett. Yankees ought to be able to score 3 more in the next 4 innings.
I think the orioles know Thames is in left field. They seem to be hitting every ball to left field.
That should be it for AJ…if the pen can keep the O’s at 3 then the Yanks have 4 more AB’s to get some runs and they have been getting better swings at him the last couple innings.
That’s why the generally accepted definition of a quality start is such a misnomer.
Baltimore Showalters twelve outs away from another monumental victory.
Yanks starting to make some adjustments hopefully.
IBB?
‘No excuses. He left him in the game too long and he has his team playing uphill against a guy who can pitch today”
I wonder if Joe is trying to let AJ “figure it out”. With the post season all but in the bag, getting AJ fixed is critical for the Yankees. Just a thought, I could be wrong.
Didn’t the O’s just take 2-3 from both the Soxs and Rays they have been playing better.
not joe can take the sac bunt sign off
now
3 run jack, JACK !!!
This game is on the offense.
arod’s 100th.
Nice Alex. Great AB
100
To be fair, the O’s have been playing like a ‘real’ team since Buck took over.
Thank you.
yes
ACK !…leave the bum in to pitch to Robbie, PLEASE !
no panic, guys
That’s baseball!
Tied game.
I will take it…
hahahahaha. buck is going to tear them a new a-hole.
It wasn’t a quality start.
It’s why that stat is meaningless.
Given the competition, the guys who beat him today, and what he did from innings 2-6 (10 baserunners, 3 runs and a WP), it was actually an awful start.
A start in which he should have never seen the 6th inning.
If he didn’t see the 6th inning, they would be ahead by now.
thank you !!!
Except in this half of the inning, of course.
Nice job from Alex there….Matusz is very lucky its not 4-3 right now given that pitch location…Alex just got tied up a little bit there or it would have been deposited in the seats.
Good job by Robbie to tie the game
Now our pen can come in
A.J is giving has given they Yankees a chance to win thats all I want.
if AJ comes out for the 7th, Joe is definitely out of his frickin mind !
Wow thats just horrible baseball from the O’s there.
Alex just missed that pitch.
Give Swisher credit for playing today. He was running very poorly even tagging up on that ball. That knee is really bothering him.
The O’s are a horrible defensive club. Not a good at bat by Robbi but they got lucky on the result.
Get Matusz out of the game here. The O’s bull pen is horrible.
Cmon Jorge 2 out RBI
Girardi can’t be foolish enough to send Burnett out there again. Put the game in the hands of the bullpen.
“Good job by Robbie to tie the game”
Better job by the Orioles. That was a gift.
the way burnett gives runs right back, may be better to just end him here and bring in robertson.
I’d send AJ out there, but go batter to batter. He hasn’t really pitched that bad.
AJ can’t see the 7th inning of this game.
They played with fire once and got burned. Can’t do it again.
The way that Kay carries on about certain players convinces me that he is gay. His carrying on about Wiggington is absurd. Decent scoops but nothing to the level he gets to.
No more burnett please. My nerves can’t take it.
Alex could’ve had 120rbi buy now
Jip Jip !!!
He has pitched Jorge very tough today.
If Girardi it going to be consistent as he was with Vazquez he doesn’t send Burnett out for the 7th.
Any chance Cano gets to 2nd on that bloop hit? Anyways new game and what will be a battle of the pens. I like New Yorks chances.
Okay, all you ever want from a starter is to get innings, and give the team a chance to win. Correct me if I’m wrong, but that’s exactly what aj did today.
I’d go Robertson, Joba, or Wood here.
AJ has pitched very poorly today. He’s not keeping the yankees in this game as much as the poor, undisciplined Orioles offense has.
“He has pitched Jorge very tough today”
definitely. Some real nasty off-speed stuff to Jorge.
send AJ for the 7th
Cano seemed to dog it on that fly ball, he was looking at it until the camera switched away.
We have an effective bulpen use it
The team got lucky to tie the game up
Don’t need Burnett giving it back, go to the pen and take your chances
Nothing left to prove with Burnett, this is what he is
AJ better not be coming out for the 7th inning. You can’t put 2 guys on base every inning and expect to be successful. Eventually you run out of magic.
“Okay, all you ever want from a starter is to get innings, and give the team a chance to win. Correct me if I’m wrong, but that’s exactly what aj did today.”
Extending your logic, the strength of the opponent and luck on balls in play don’t matter. But they do. Context is everything.
If A.J can’t pitch the 7th inning vs the O’s then cut him or take him out of the rotation.
Joe????
never an easy inning.
Girardi is too stubborn for his own good.
Time to say goodbye to AJ. Leave him in and Patterson steals second.
Yeah lets send AJ out again
Hope some of you are happy
Joe is coaching different in this game. He is giving AJ every chance he can to figure it out.
Is Girardi on drugs??? Seriously how many more runs are you going to allow this loser to give up??? 2 baserunners every inning is not a receipe for success.
AJ and Vazquez can be very effective pitchers down the stretch as long as Girardi can recognize that they are not to be trusted in a close game. Neither has proven they can consistently hold a lead. They need to be treated no different than a long reliever – first sign of trouble get ‘em out. OK Joe, now get him out – allowing the leadoff hitter is a bad sign after your team rallies.
Couldn’t believe some of you wanted him out for another inning, but moreso the manager did
Glutton for punishment
Of the last 20 hitters AJ faced, 10 reached base and three of them scored. This against a last place team.
That’s not a quality start. It’s actually a bad start and Girardi compounds it by having him start the 7th and he gives up another hit.
That’s 11 of the last 21 Oriole hitter who have reached base.
Horrible managing and it may end up costing them the game.
There is no logical reason to have AJ in this game.
This is unreal. Girardi is treating this game like a spring training game.
The O’s letting AJ off the hook a little by Bunting. Right now I’ll happily take the out
The only reason I can think of for Girardi leaving AJ in right now is that Hughes has become just as ineffective and unreliable. Joe needs to spend September looking for a #2 and #3 starter for the playoffs. Someone needs to step up.
If Pettitte can’t be the #2, the rest of the rotation probably doesn’t matter.
Here comes the famous 2 out hit….AJ’s speciality….
AJ facing Roberts isn’t smart.
The way I see it is this game is not critical for the Yankees post-season success.
Having an effective AJ is critical. That’s my story and I am sticking to it.
SJ44 September 6th, 2010 at 3:22 pm
Of the last 20 hitters AJ faced, 10 reached base and three of them scored. This against a last place team.
That’s not a quality start. It’s actually a bad start and Girardi compounds it by having him start the 7th and he gives up another hit.
That’s 11 of the last 21 Oriole hitter who have reached base.
Horrible managing and it may end up costing them the game.
There is no logical reason to have AJ in this game.
_______
Trying to build some confidence, trying to get him going. So if A.J can’t pitch the seventh inning vs. the O’s how do you expect him to pitch in the playoffs? What is he doing on this team?
“# SJ44 September 6th, 2010 at 3:24 pm
AJ facing Roberts isn’t smart.”
+++++++++++++++++
AJ facing anyone isn’t smart, I just have no confidence in him from pitch to pitch and he is a veteran, wow
O’s gave away an out there…not sure I would have done that will the way AJ has struggled with location.
So much for building confidence.
Girardi is a pedestrian manager.
the gamble failed
and in true aj fashion, he gives the run right back. It would be weird if he didn’t.
AJ is so freaking f……
I don’t see Pettitte being effective after such a long layoff, not at his age. I can see Girardi doing a masterful job in the playoffs by getting great starts from CC and piecing together every other game with 4-5 from a starter and a dominant bullpen.
What the hell is Girardi thinking??!!
What a surprise. ROFL
What a surprise
Hey, thing as last time……should have let Logan face Robertson.
Good job head case. I hope Girardi got what he was looking for out of that inning. Roberts against AJ was a terrible matchup. Roberts is their best hitter and had AJ squared up all day.
Yankees had the game tied up, and Burnett gives up the lead the very next inning!
Unbelievable!
same thing I mean.
AJ still in line for the win!
Let’s get some runs and get AJ back in the WIN column.
As a manager your job definition is to put your players in the best situation to win a game. Girardi has not done that today at all.
Knock, Knock, where have all the give AJ another inning folks gone
Having watched this guy how could anyone support such a notion, when you have an effective bullpen
Seriously
That’s on Girardi. Burnett has failed to make big pitches all day, and that was no different.
Had to go to Logan with RISP and Roberts up.
Ugh. AJ gives up a run every time the Yanks score for him!
On the positive side, I am happy that it is just a one run lead.
Look at how badly Brian Roberts is limping. Look at how much pain he is in. He can hardly stand straight up because his back is so bad.
Roberts has been killed by his back for much of the season.
Yet AJ Burnett is unable to get him out with 2 outs to avoid giving back runs.
Patterson, Izturis, Bell – all are horrible hitters. Roberts is half a player physically right now. These are the guys AJ can’t finish off.
Terrible pitching.
I can’t blame Giradi for trying to get a guy that well be getting the ball in the playoffs some confidence it didnt work .
Actually from AJ you would like a little more. What’s now expected is a totally different story.
You guys act like 7 innings and four runs is a awful game. The fact of the matter is that this team should not struggle to have to get four runs. Still plenty of time for the yanks to score though. No need to panic people.
Luckily Roberts got hung up twice trying to go to 2nd and the Yankees made two good plays to stop the inning. If the Yanks come back and win this game then that could be part of the reason.
Alright, Fat Elvis vs. Fat Albers, let’s get this going right now.
Tar,
If that’s the case, and I understand what you are saying but, you can’t give away games.
This guy can’t pitch. Leaving him out there to get you beat is dumb.
He pitched like crap today. He should have been out of the game 2 innings ago.
It was dumb baseball and they deserve to lose for it.
We all know what AJ Burnett is at this point. A batter to batter starting pitcher.
Staying with him too long is dumb and the results were predictable.
Might as well have him pitch the 8th now and have him give up 4 more runs.
An absolutely horrible job of managing by Girardi today.
This should be it. Burnett should be on a short leash for the remainder of 2010. He can’t be trusted for the postseason. Last year was last year.
No reason why he should even be on the postseason rosters.
“I can’t blame Giradi for trying to get a guy that well be getting the ball in the playoffs some confidence it didnt work .”
He would have had more confidence by taking him out with the game tied.
Like I said. Girardi should have gone batter to batter with AJ and brought in Logan to pitch to Roberts.
Unlike Vazquez/Nova, Girardi knows he needs Burnett for the postseason.
We’re going to the playoffs, these games are mere formalities. He was right in letting AJ try and show he can step up and keep the game where it was. Also see if he can help him get some confidence back.
Girardi is using the rest of the season as a trail run for Burnett. Vazquez/Nova get quicker hooks because they are not important to us in the playoffs. They have to see how Burnett responds in these situations. And he is getting his answer loud and clear.
Blake-
Roberts is a switch hitter, and is hitting righties better, and lefties poorly. Bad move by Girardi.
LOL at all you guys about confidence and A.J.
What confidence
I hate to be a negative nancy, but when it comes to Burnett I have thrown in the towel on him
Confidence means nothing with him
He can be pitching a no hitter and give up 6 runs the next inning
That is A.J. Burnett for you
A headcase
“You guys act like 7 innings and four runs is a awful game. The fact of the matter is that this team should not struggle to have to get four runs. Still plenty of time for the yanks to score though. No need to panic people.”
Panic? Heh.
pinch run now
I won’t blame Girardi for not going to the bullpen yet, though. They’ve been pretty overextended, yesterday notwithstanding. And though it wasn’t pretty, AJ is keeping the Yankees in the game – or, maybe it’s the Yankees who are keeping AJ in the game???
“Patterson, Izturis, Bell – all are horrible hitters. Roberts is half a player physically right now. These are the guys AJ can’t finish off.
Terrible pitching.”
CB, we’ve seen worse from AJ. As AJ starts go, this one really wasn’t as dreadful as you are making it out to be.
Good at bat by Berkman.
Y. Trader,
I meant to say should have let Logan face Roberts….didn’t mean to write Robertson.
If AJ Burnett pitched a playoff game like he threw today the Yankees would have had not shot at all of winning the game.
The quality of his pitches was awful. His inability to execute against terrible hitters and with 2 men out was ridiculous.
The Orioles just gave away at bats and ran themselves into stupid outs on the bases.
Rich in NJ September 6th, 2010 at 3:30 pm
“I can’t blame Giradi for trying to get a guy that well be getting the ball in the playoffs some confidence it didnt work .”
He would have had more confidence by taking him out with the game tied.
_____
So should A.J burnett be taken out whenever there is a man in scoring position? A.J will have to pitch in the playoffs Yankees need to do whatever they can to get him on track.
Respectfully disagree Tabbert.
I do expect AJ to do better than 4 in 7 innings against a bad team. I don’t see anyone in a panic. Just commenting on the game in progress. As for the offense you are exactly right.
14 baserunners and 4 runs in his last 6 innings of work, and giving up the lead twice, against a last place team, is a horrible and inexcusable outing.
Girardi stayed 2 innings too long with him and got burned.
It was dumb pitching and even dumber managing today.
Horrible job, have to get that bunt down.
“I won’t blame Girardi for not going to the bullpen yet, though. They’ve been pretty overextende”
Robertson hasn’t pitched since 9/3, Logan since 9/4. They aren’t overextended.
This jerkoff can’t event lay a bunt down….
The Yankees have to win in spite of not because of Burnett and Vazquez, that’s the sad reality
You hope that in the playoffs they can limp to 5 innings, Burnett that is and the pen is rushed in.
SJ44 -
Usually I agree with a lot of what you say. But AJ is pitching in the playoffs whether we like it or not. As long as he didn’t totally blow up, and as long as the Yankees were in the game, AJ was staying in. It’s not ideal, but it is what it is at this point.
Gardner is a terrible bunter, and you pinch ran with a stolen base threat, and the batter is so fast he almost never hits into a DP.
Albers just walked the previous hitter. WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU HAND HIM FREE STRIKES, and possibly a FREE OUT?
Of course, now Gardner puts himself in a hole and has a terrible at bat as a result. Having someone who cannot bunt try to bunt when he is a good enough hitter to do have a competitive at bat in his own right is just stupidity.
September is not the time to play around. Don’t give away outs like that.
You really think Girardi leaves him in there in the 7th inning if this is a playoff game?
He tried to see if AJ could man up and keep the game tied.
“CB, we’ve seen worse from AJ. As AJ starts go, this one really wasn’t as dreadful as you are making it out to be.”
Not being “dreadful” should not be a litmus test for a starting pitcher.
He failed to make big pitches all day. When his team tied it up, he lost the lead the next inning on both occasions. He missed location terribly all day.
It’s unacceptable that Gardner still doesn’t know how to bunt. Total waste of an at bat.
Well there goes that inning.
“So should A.J burnett be taken out whenever there is a man in scoring position? A.J will have to pitch in the playoffs Yankees need to do whatever they can to get him on track.”
After the 5th inning in a close game, when he hasn’t pitched well, yes.
What a terrible AB from Gardner there. Love the guy but not good. not good bunting technique and can’t take strike 3 after not getting the job done with the sacrifice.
Jeter’s up: bet nobody’s think DP….
Because he also has to preserve his bullpen – those innings are precious, bullpens are tricky things, and you don’t want them overextended before the playoffs begin either. IMO.
One thing you can depend on is AJ giving up runs when the Yankees score. Never can shut down a team when his team scores. Doesn’t matter if the team is in first or last place, AJ will give it up. Can hardly watch him pitch.
the point is that burnett constantly gives runs that are scored for him right back in the next half inning. happened again twice today.
Got to send Golson here. Can’t afford another double play.
Wow that is just shameful from Gardner to not be able to fundamentally execute in that spot
he isn’t going to slug the ball, its the least he could do for the team, get the bunt down.
I don’t know how Girardi doesn’t make Gardner spend 30 min per day practicing bunting as bad as he is. What exactly are coaches for?
Good job Golson. Giving a last place team 2 easy outs in the 7th inning.
Idiot Yankees just gave away a potentially huge inning off a terrible Orioles bullpen by being stupid out there on the field.
Gardner cannot bunt, so let’s have him put himself in an 0-2 hole or possibly pop into an out by bunting. Albers walked the first hitter so let’s bunt and run on the first pitch before we see if he will get himself in trouble.
So many stupid plays, what do you expect to happen?
What wasted the AB was forcing Gardner to bunt in the first place. Gardner is likely to get on base via hit or walk.
leadoff walk…..gone.
Rich in NJ September 6th, 2010 at 3:35 pm
“So should A.J burnett be taken out whenever there is a man in scoring position? A.J will have to pitch in the playoffs Yankees need to do whatever they can to get him on track.”
After the 5th inning in a close game, when he hasn’t pitched well, yes
______
If thats the case I don’t want him pitching in the playoffs. Yankees need to find themselves another starter.
Rich in NJ September 6th, 2010 at 3:35 pm
“So should A.J burnett be taken out whenever there is a man in scoring position? A.J will have to pitch in the playoffs Yankees need to do whatever they can to get him on track.”
After the 5th inning in a close game, when he hasn’t pitched well, yes
______
If thats the case I don’t want him pitching in the playoffs. Yankees need to find themselves another starter.
Giving a bad pitcher outs – why?
are we going to lose this game?
No!
“we’ve seen worse from AJ. As AJ starts go, this one really wasn’t as dreadful as you are making it out to be.”
But look at how you’re grading AJ on a bizarre curve.
Better than sheer incompetence is ok?
If you called up a marginal pitcher from AAA – a pitcher who has say AAAA talent like a Jason Hirsch type – he would have provided more value to the yankees than AJ has.
So you’re really trying to draw distinctions between shades of terrible.
It’s the pennant drive. There’s no more moral victories or grading on a curve.
Perhaps AJ was “better” than his prior 2 inning outings. But he was still terrible today. The quality of pitches he made was extremely poor.
Just disgraceful. I don’t care how well the Orioles are playing, they are not a good team and the only way they beat you is if you play like garbage like the Yankees have done today.
Well at least Tampa faces Lester tonight and Boston is due for a win, after getting swept at home
Not impressed by the Yanks today at all.
What wasted the AB was forcing Gardner to bunt in the first place. Gardner is likely to get on base via hit or walk.
__
Says who?
Gardner needs to be able to bunt.
How is confidence going to make AJ any better?
Is confidence going to give him command of his curveball or realize he should throw his changeup and 2 seamer?
This is who AJ is. No amount of mental games Girardi tries to play is going to make a difference and he may have cost the Yankees the game pursuing the impossible goal of trying to fix Burnett.
Jerkface September 6th, 2010 at 3:36 pm
What wasted the AB was forcing Gardner to bunt in the first place. Gardner is likely to get on base via hit or walk.
———————
Agreed he is not likely to hit into a double play either. Should of let him swing the bat. Albers isn’t a very good reliever anyway.
Burnett gives up runs and the offense gives up outs. Leadoff walk then a failed bunt, strikeout, then caught stealing second. That is just a poor execution right there. This is a team effort, so if your going to give aj shit then you also needs to wake up and realize how bad of a offensive inning that just was.
“Because he also has to preserve his bullpen – those innings are precious, bullpens are tricky things, and you don’t want them overextended before the playoffs begin either. IMO.”
Yet he removed both Nova and Vazquez with two outs in the 4th. Consistency?
“If thats the case I don’t want him pitching in the playoffs. Yankees need to find themselves another starter.”
I’m not sure why taking Aj out a little earlier changes anything in that regard.
the Yankees are IDIOTS? the team that is the defending WORLD CHAMPIONS with the BEST RECORD IN BASEBALL IN 2010?
You are the idiot, moron. You are the one who only comes out when they are behind, coward that your are. Go eff yourself.
If they can’t claw out at least 1 run in 3 innings against the Os pen, they don’t deserve to win anyway.
no more than 3 guys in their lineup show up today
That was a pathetic inning. Girardi is treating this game like it means nothing so I guess that inning won’t bother him. There is absolutely no excuse for Gardner to not know how to bunt. He is not on this team for his bat.
SJ
I agree. But it’s the only explanation that makes sense to me.
Joe is not coaching today the same way he was when Javy or Nova started. It’s almost as if winning the game is secondary to figuring out AJ. Otherwise why not go to Logan for Roberts? This game is also why I thought it was important for it to be 2 team race. Joe can afford to experiment.
You know a lot more about how this stuff works than I do. But that’s my guess.
If he can’t beat the Orioles, he isn’t winning post-season starts.
The idea is to win games. To do so, you limit the guys who can cost you games by not putting him in a position to cost you games.
Girardi didn’t do that today.
Forget confidence builders. You want confidence builders? You take him out if the game when it’s TIED.
What did Girardi learn today? Nothing new.
He’s a batter to batter starting pitcher. Something we have all seen all season.
If this guy pitches a post-season game, he can’t be more than a 2 inning starting pitcher.
No idea why he took Burnett out now.
Why not continue to build his “confidence”.
It’s worked out so well today.
Says who?
Gardner needs to be able to bunt
–
He should be learning to bunt for a hit, and should be able to lay down a bunt for situations where the yankees only need 1 run. HOWEVER, in that situation you shouldn’t be playing for 1 run. Its the 7th inning and you need 2 to win, the pitcher just walked a guy he had 0-2 and Gardner is facing a righty and has a near .400 on base percentage.
You have 2 fast batters so its not likely to be doubled up, infact, if Gardner gets beat and squibs one its more than likely it ends up a swinging bunt hit or a swinging bunt.
Bunting was stupid. Its a free out!
There was no reason to have Gardner bunt in that situation.
You bunt to avoid a DP or to move a runner into scoring position. Well Gardner is too fast to hit into a DP and if he hits into a force out, Gardner could just as easily steal 2nd base himself.
Gardner leads the team in OBP and is hitting over .285. The pitcher just walked the previous hitter. Let him prove he can throw consistent strikes before you hand him a free out like that.
The problem was not the fact that he didn’t get the bunts down, but that he was bunting in the first place. It’s the wrong move, especially in light of the fact that EVERYONE knows Gardner is a terrible bunter. When you put a hitter in an 0-2 hole, what do you expect to happen?
Even if Gardner put the bunt in play, he may have popped into an out or possibly a double play. Gardner has done nothing to prove he can get that bunt down, stop messing around and use your head.
Burnett was okay. His last 2 starts are at least decent. Before that he was terrible. Girardi messed up and left him in to face Roberts. I would of brought in Joba there.
And you wonder if Logan couldn’t have done that against Roberts last inning.
I don’t care what you donkeys say! I would sell high on Gardner. I would see what I could get. Crawford a YANKEE.
“Idiot Yankees…..”
You should hear what they say about you.
Rosters are expanded.
There are plenty of arms in the bullpen to eat up innings. No reason to risk using AJ with the way he was throwing today to save the bullpen. That is the benefit of September baseball.
“I don’t care what you donkeys say! I would sell high on Gardner. I would see what I could get. Crawford a YANKEE.”
Trade him, but it won’t matter. Gardner doesn’t make enough money to impact a decision on Crawford. If you want Crawford, either Swish or Granderson have to be moved.
Gardner not knowing how to bunt is a disgrace, and the Yankees are doing nothing about it.
Gardner not knowing how to bunt is a disgrace, and the Yankees are doing nothing about it.
–
Gardner was working on bunts in the cage before one of the games this homestand.
If Gardner is as bad a bunter as he looks to be, then Girardi has to recognize that and manage accordingly.
It is the same thing when he puts Gardner in to pinch run and he doesn’t move. It is the same thing he does by trusting AJ. These players “should” be able to do these things, but should does not get the job done.
If Girardi has this information he is just as much to blame as Gardner or AJ.
Jerkface September 6th, 2010 at 3:44 pm
Gardner not knowing how to bunt is a disgrace, and the Yankees are doing nothing about it.
–
Gardner was working on bunts in the cage before one of the games this homestand.
____
Yet he still sucks at it.
“But look at how you’re grading AJ on a bizarre curve.”
Unfortunately, CB, that’s how I think when it comes to AJ. If he doesn’t give up 6 or more runs and takes the team out of the game by the 3rd inning, it’s a blessing.
“You are the idiot, moron. You are the one who only comes out when they are behind, coward that your are. Go eff yourself.” That is what you type on a family site because of something you read on the internet? You need to attain help, sir.
Gardner doesn’t know how to bunt or read a pitcher to steal bases. I mean seriously doesn’t he work on anything with the coaches?? What a waste of speed.
Gardner can’t bunt, that is what his skill set is at the moment.
If you know he can’t bunt, DO NOT HAVE HIM BUNT and give away an at bat.
Yes it’s not good that a player like him cannot bunt, but you have to know what your players can do and you cannot put them in situations in which they are going to fail.
When everyone knows the guy can’t bunt and you force him to do so anyway, you can’t be surprised when the result is bad. Why do you think someone like Giambi would not bunt to pick up a hit from the shift? Because his chance of getting that bunt down did not warrant giving the pitcher a free strike when he could have hit the ball out of the ballpark.
Gardner is what he is, but Girardi has to know what his capabilities are and not put him in a situation to fail.
Crawford-Granderson-Swisher and the Yanks P/U Butler from KC or Thornton from Chisox
you have to almost hope they DO lose this game, because if not, Girardi’s dumb@$$ move of keeping AJ in the game to give up the lead again ends up being a moot point and something needs to get through his THICK SKULL that you don’t give away a game to the frickin’ O’s because you want to keep giving a crappy pitcher more chances than he EVER deserves…..IDIOT !
“Crawford-Granderson-Swisher and the Yanks P/U Butler from KC or Thornton from Chisox”
Is the payroll going to $215m or is Jeter playing for free next year?
Look at the way Torre used Kenny Rogers and Denny Naegle in their post-season starts.
That’s how they will have to use AJ. That’s not hard to do.
What you can’t do is what Girardi did today. Leave him out there to beat you.
How is that going to help his confidence?
He will pitch in the post-season and you will either have to pull him at the first sign of trouble or just chalk it up as a loss.
He was awful today and Girardi has to stop with the nonsense of giving a guy who can’t pitch so much rope.
If they lose today, he’s 3-11 in his last 15 starts on a team that is 35 games over .500.
Do you know how bad you have to be to pitch this badly on this team?
Not even Kenny Rogers was this bad.
That’s how bad he has been.
Let Girardi go manage the Cubs next year and talk Lou out of retirement !
“How is confidence going to make AJ any better?”
A better question is How is sitting him on the bench going to make him better.
I don’t for one minute think this was about confidence, more about mechanics and innings.
Reality is, this game is not very important. Figuring out AJ is.
No one is happy with AJ. Or satisfied or anything. At this point, you try to justify anything. AJ is in the rotation no matter what. There is nothing that can be done at this point. So what is the point of the hand-wringing? He is what he is; he’s not gonna change; he’s not going to surprise us with a killer outing.
We have to hope that Andy comes back strong. Then CC and Andy. That’s 2. Maybe Hughes. And then choose between AJ, Javy and Nova. At this point, the Yankees are not in a great position unless all the named pitchers pitch to their expectations, and aside from CC none of them is. I exclude Hughes from the same judgment for innings limit reasons, but, he’s in that rotation, too.
Not getting Markakis really hurt. Scott is their hottest hitter and now Logan had to be careful there.
is BOONE the only pitcher in the pen….WTH is this ????
# Don Vito A. Bellamo September 6th, 2010 at 3:47 pm
you have to almost hope they DO lose this game, because if not, Girardi’s dumb@$$ move of keeping AJ in the game to give up the lead again ends up being a moot point and something needs to get through his THICK SKULL that you don’t give away a game to the frickin’ O’s because you want to keep giving a crappy pitcher more chances than he EVER deserves…..IDIOT !
————————–
No thanks, I’m going to continue to root for the win.
Because Lou did such a great job with the Cubs and seems rarin’ to go for another team? Seriously, Lou Piniella is not an answer.
Girardi gave Nova and Javy quick hooks. Should have done the same with AJ. Why is he any different? AJ is a head case and not really that good.
Having said that, logan should have faced Roberts.
The Yankee starting pitching going into the playoffs is C.C. Sabathia and … uh …
flip a coin?
I wouldn’t want to stake my playoff life on Burnett, or Hughes, at this point.
I wonder if Logan is tired. Girardi has used him a lot recently because the rotation is so bad. The Yanks are going to blow out the back end if the starters don’t start giving them quality innings.
SUPER managing job today…..is the knucklehead asleep in the dugout or WHAT ?
Just like last year A.J will be one major key to the post-season like it or not.
If we lose this game 4-3 it’s on the offense. No reason why this team can’t produce more then 3 runs.
Don Vito A. Bellamo September 6th, 2010 at 3:51 pm
SUPER managing job today…..is the knucklehead asleep in the dugout or WHAT ?
__
Good thing this guy is here to tell us how he would manage and assure us our first 162-0 season.
Still like the Yankees chances in this game if they can escape here.
Robertson has to hit his spots with fastball hitting Wigginton.
Bobby V says the Yanks are do for an extended losing streak. I think he is campaigning for the job if Girardi leaves.
“If we lose this game 4-3 it’s on the offense. No reason why this team can’t produce more then 3 runs.”
Yet it’s still a loss, and deploying the pitchers better may have prevented that.
“I wouldn’t want to stake my playoff life on Burnett, or Hughes, at this point.”
Pepy, exactly why Joe is giving them extra innings to figure things out.
If somebody is stuggling, benching them is almost never the answer.
It’s why Javy and Nova had such short ropes, they are not that important to the post-season roster. Burnett and Hughes are.
# Mark-Cant Touch This September 6th, 2010 at 3:52 pm
Just like last year A.J will be one major key to the post-season like it or not.
True, and if he does well will Girardi get all the credit? It seems that some assign him all the blame. No?
“Just like last year A.J will be one major key to the post-season like it or not.”
A key that will not open the door marked WIN.
if joe leaves, i vote pena or pinella.
That wasn’t an easy catch for Teix.
Doreen,
I don’t dispute that AJ is in the rotation the rest of the way.
My issue is, you have to manage accordingly.
There was no logic to what Girardi did today.
Starting him in the 6th was a mistake. He dodged a bullet.
Starting him in the 7th was a mistake.
Leaving him in after the leadoff man reached was a mistake.
He dodged all those dumb moves and Roberts comes to the plate with 2 outs in a tie game.
Roberts is already 2-3 off AJ in the game.
I don’t care if AJ is CC Sabathia, in that game situation, there is no way you have Burnett face Roberts in that situation.
Yet, Girardi does it, and AJ spits the bit.
That’s just dumb baseball and Girardi has to be better than that.
with cc on this team, there is no chance of an extended losing streak.
Throw from Posada is 100% bad.
Nice job by Robertson. Time to score some runs off this bullpen.
5 hits and 3 runs against the friggin Orioles?
JobaTipsHisCap September 6th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
Throw from Posada is 100% bad
——————–
Huh?
and despite our idiot manager, we are still very much in this game
JobaTipsHisCap September 6th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
Throw from Posada is 100% bad.
___
Posada threw from the bench?
They have 2 innings to score 1 run. If they can’t hit the Orioles pen then the loss is on the offense as much as it’s on AJ. The Orioles pen is absolutely dreadful.
I swear I’m not making this up. I just got in because I went to a wedding and am between the church and the reception. I turned on our game and it was between innings. I turned on the Sux game and found the score tied 5-5 in the top of the 9th. It seems that Papeldone once again blew the save. And the relief pitcher walked in two runs, both charged to Papeldone.
We don’t have to wait for their postgame to hear his comments. I lost a little focus out there, one or two pitches, and I don’t feel bad at all for the pitchers who had to come in after me.
Oh okay now it’s official. They lost the game.
“Not even Kenny Rogers was this bad.”
Luckily the Yankees were able to get rid of him after 2 years. We’re stuck with AJ and his NT exorbitant contract.
“I don’t care if AJ is CC Sabathia, in that game situation, there is no way you have Burnett face Roberts in that situation.
Yet, Girardi does it, and AJ spits the bit.”
I can’t argue that, The Roberts AB really doesn’t make much sense.
this is where we win it.
No. If they lose the game it’s because Girardi left a guy who can’t pitch out there too long to beat you.
Sometimes, you have to win 3-2, 4-3 games.
Leaving Burnett in the game too long, especially to face Roberts, was dumb managing and that’s what will cost them the game if they lose.
Right now the only dependable starter is CC. Hopefully Andy comes back strong. Then you’ll have 2 dependable pitchers.
Javy and Nova are important pitchers. They will pitch when Girardi gives AJ a quick hook in the playoffs.
trisha – true pinstriped blue – That was a replay of yesterday’s game. You surely knew that?
Wiggington is playing out of his mind at first today.
Hughes has given up 3 runs or less in 7 of his past 9 starts. That will do fine in the playoffs.
If aj doesn’t give up the last run it’s still 3-3. So, the yanks would still had to have scored 4 runs. So, if they finish they game with 3… Then it wouldn’t gave mattered anyways.
time for cano to get hot again
Cisco bad throw, LOL
It’s time to restart the MVP push, Robbie.
They pitched around Alex to get to Robbie….make uhm pay.
JobaTipsHisCap September 6th, 2010 at 4:04 pm
Cisco bad throw, LOL
__
0-2 bro. moeller.
“trisha – true pinstriped blue – That was a replay of yesterday’s game. You surely knew that?”
If I surely knew that I wouldn’t have posted what I just did. Surely you could have figured that out? And cut the phony gentleman’s lingo. Surely I don’t buy it.
How does a 6+ ERA pitcher make the heart of the Yankee order look helpless?
why do I get the feeling either Long neglected to tell Cano that this guy has a hard sinker or that Cano just ignored him when he told him. Who swings like that against a sinkerballer?
Cano has not looked good at the plate here lately.
“If aj doesn’t give up the last run it’s still 3-3. So, the yanks would still had to have scored 4 runs. So, if they finish they game with 3… Then it wouldn’t gave mattered anyways.”
But they wouldn’t be on the hook for a loss, which was your point.
3-3 is better than being behind.
If you play it the way it should have been played, he’s out after 5.
There is no logic to have him face Brian Roberts in a tie game, when he hasn’t gotten him out the entire game.
It was a dumb move and indefensible given the situation.
If the Yankees go far in the playoffs it will be because of their bullpen
This team left too many on base. AJ also doesn’t know what a shut down inning is. Annoying.
5 hits and 3 runs through 8 innings against the last place Orioles?
The team with the worst bullpen shuts down the likes of Texeira, Rodriguez, and Cano?
Wow.
Moller hits 3rd the inning lol
trisha – true pinstriped blue – It was not my intention to step on your toes. Intention was to merely let you know it was a replay, surely. You surely could have thanked me…. and, please quit calling me Shirley
From these several comments at the end I am taking it that AJ didn’t pitch well – or at least that’s the opinion of the several posts I have read.
Offense has gone cold again… 2nd straight game where they didn’t do anything.
“If the Yankees go far in the playoffs it will be because of their bullpen”
And/or the offense.
AJ never should of started the 7th inning and that move made no sense. But the offense has done absolutely nothing today. If they cant score 1 run against a dreadul bullpen then the game is on them. They are being given 3 innings to score 1 run. Whenever the Yanks play a dreadful team they seem to let their guard down. They never play these last place teams with the same energy as they play Tampa or Boston with.
You’re a fool if you think I’m not on to you pal so just shut up and post to someone else. Get it?
Berkman is my pick to click in the 9th.
“The team with the worst bullpen shuts down the likes of Texeira, Rodriguez, and Cano?”
Alex was 1-2 with 2 RBIs. Hardly shut down.
The Yankees are 14-22 in the last 2 seasons when scoring 3 runs.
It’s hard to win when you score 3 runs regardless of who is on the mound. Which starter in the rotation right now would have won this game other than CC Sabathia?
And scoring 3 runs in the American League when Baltimore has had to go to their pen for 3 innings is not anywhere close to enough to exculpate the offense.
# jackamir September 6th, 2010 at 4:10 pm
Berkman is my pick to click in the 9th.
He was pinch ran for.
I’m listening to Kay. Are you telling me that you consider 2 runs through 5 to be a bad outing by AJ? Hey I didn’t watch it, you all did. So I will go to the gameday and look at the play by play. I guess it’s possible that despite giving up 2 runs through 5 he was in danger the whole game.
Berkman is out of the game.
Granderson, Posada and Moeller will have to try to score some runs.
I hope this is the last game Girardi puts Burnett in a position to cost the team a game.
Absent some pie, that’s what Girardi did today and it has to stop.
AJ Burnett has been one of the three worst starting pitchers in baseball the last three months.
That’s who he is this year and it’s not changing now.
Manage accordingly. That’s his job.
It’s not to put the guy in a position to beat you.
You don’t have to make a lot of in game decisions with this team. Knowing when to pull a pitcher is a big one though.
If Nova and Vazquez get short hooks, so should Burnett.
Especially since he’s the worst of the three pitchers at this time.
They’ll hit for Moeller, and lose the DH if needed.
maybe colin curtis for moeller? Gotta try to win and not worry about losing the DH.
Have the Yankees had any innings today where they had no one get on base?
I’m just curious, I didn’t watch the first 3 innings.
Sorry, My Bad – I missed that. I took a quick shower in between innings.
“Replay overturns Inge’s tiebreaking homer”
How many of these have we been reading? How many teams got screwed in the past without it? I’m ready to have robots replace umpires.
The Yankees have only had 2 innings in this game in which they have not had a runner on base. They have had a ton of base runners and have not capitalized.
“If Nova and Vazquez get short hooks, so should Burnett.
Especially since he’s the worst of the three pitchers at this time.”
I think Girardi is too deferential to AJ because of his role in the WS win, and I don’t see it changing. Sadly.
Trisha
Not terrible, not good. Typical frustrating AJ. Joe stayed with him longer then most on here thought he should. Including a 7th inning AB against Roberts with the tying run on.
I thought Joe was just letting him figure things out in prep for the post-season. But the Roberts AB was a head scratcher.
Trisha,
AJ gave up 4 runs in 7 innings. 12 of the last 22 guys he faced reached base.
He gave up the lead twice after the Yankees fought to tie the game.
He was awful today. Unless, we are grading on a scale that makes awful pitching acceptable because he wasn’t putrid today.
SJ okay that doesn’t sound like a great outing. I didn’t know if he had been having a good outing and went bad fast.
The offense looks as lost today as we have seen in a long time.
trisha – true pinstriped blue – Umpires do their best. They cannot all be perfect. The human element is a fundamental part of baseball.
This game has been quite frustrating to watch. Between AJ and the offense I can’t decide who was the more frustrating today.
Trisha
I should have said Winning run on. I don’t consider it terrible because he did get through 7 innings, but it wasn’t pretty.
And I will say a king size duh and really laugh at myself about the Sux game. It felt like I was stuck in ground hog day because the same thing happened two games in a row!!!
I forgot they and Tampa begin a series tonight.
***********
These are no longer your grandma’s Orioles. If Buck continues to work them the way he has, we could truly have he most formidible division in the game, top to bottom,
it’s team’s effort to lose the game.
Yanks went down without a fight.
“The offense looks as lost today as we have seen in a long time.”
Yep. Couldn’t even get 1 run with 3 innings to play against their horrid pen.
At this point, I’d manage AJ like Torre managed Kenny Rogers.
First sign of trouble pull him, or he will cost you the game. Like today.
His feelings are meaningless. It’s about winning games and Girardi cost him this game treating AJ Burnett as if he’s CC Sabathia.
Dumb move, deserving result.
US Open time
2nd game in a row that an umpire has ended a game on a pitch 4 inches off the plate.
And despite what SJ continues to say, this game is not on AJ Burnett.
When you score 3 runs and get to face the worst bullpen in all of major league baseball in an American League park for 3 innings, that’s just unacceptable.
No team has good enough pitching to easily win games when they score 3 or fewer runs, and when you do that against a terrible pitching staff, you have no defense for the performance.
1-2-3 they go in the ninth against the mighty O’s!
Pathetic display by this offense.
Umpire again wants to go home and gives balls as strikes.
That was a BS call. Just like to Posada.
These umpires all need to be fired. I’m sick of them deciding games unfairly.
That’s three shutout innings by the Baltimore bullpen!
koji has the makings of a very good closer. Works very quickly, has a good splitter and throws strikes.
The offense has been carrying the load for a long time. Outside of C.C., the offense and bullpen were solely responsible for the team’s 8-game win streak.
It’s time for the starting pitching to step up, and the last two games both Hughes and Burnett failed miserably to do so.
Burnett was not good today and deserved the loss.
Tar, I hadn’t seen your post. I think you probably characterized it well. Now to hear Joe’s take and AJ’s take.
*************
Yankeefran and others. I am serious when I say the Orioles are a more dangerous team than they were before. What I mean by that is that we know they always had the ability to score a lot of runs. Remember they swept the Sux earlier this season. But they had problems with their relief, certainly, and sometimes getting their starters straightened out. The frustrating part for them I’m sure is that they have some excellent starting pitching. Yet the guys weren’t winning games.
Since Buck showed up, their starters are pitching like they know how to, and now that they have Uehara, they have a legitimate closer.
I think we have to look at this series as “anything can happen” and realize that good pitching can frustrate good offense.
i think what also has to be a concern is the offense plays tight when AJ is on the mound.
“These umpires all need to be fired. I’m sick of them deciding games unfairly.”
Yogi I am absolutely with you. Under the rubric of Whose Game Is It Anyway? a decision really has to be made about how serious MLB is in letting the baseball talent on the field be the total arbiter of who wins and who loses. It’s a freakin’ travesty. I don’t know how anyone can consider bad calls an acceptable part of the game.
We lost… Oh well. Cc tomorrow, bats should wake up and we will take 2 of three and start the road trip feeling good.
Did Nancy Newman actually say this is a big series for the (Sux) if they want to stay relevant?
Relevant? 10 games out with a shoestring team, 10 behind the Yanks in the loss column and 8 behind the Rays in the loss column, and they are still relevant?\
I give up. Even Yankee broadcasters are afraid of the Sux.
SJ44 -
Full disclosure – I’m in and out today and I missed the 5th and 6th innings. 6 innings, tie score, should have been enough. I’ll agree with that.