Postgame notes: “Did you see what he did?”
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Notes, Podcast on Jul 10, 2011 
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The Big Man said he never saw it coming. He never heard A.J. Burnett sneaking up behind him. Never sensed the whipped cream pie coming toward him. Never suspected that such a celebration was in order.
“Why not?” Burnett said. “Did you see what he did?”
It was hard to miss it. CC Sabathia pitched his first complete game shutout since 2009. It was the 12th of his career, and it continued a streak of 23.2 consecutive innings without allowing a run. According to Elias, that’s a career-high.
“It’s CC,” Joe Girardi said. “He is that good.”
Sabathia has been beyond good. In his past six starts he’s 6-0 with a 1.77 ERA. He has 51 strikeouts in those starts. If you want to extend the sample size to make it a little larger, he’s 10-1 with a 2.20 ERA in his past 11 starts. He’s 13-3 with a 2.76 ERA in his past 16 starts, that’s since going winless in his first four outings this year.
Girardi gave credit to Sabathia’s slider. Sabathia said it “definitely” starts with his fastball. Mariano Rivera was getting loose in the ninth inning, and Girardi said he was planning to go to his closer if an at-bat got long. Sabathia said it would have been interesting to see his manager pry the ball out of his fingers.
“Larry (Rothschild) came down and asked me, was I alright,” Sabathia said. “He said, ‘would you tell me if you weren’t,’ and I said ‘no.’ So he would have had to come get it from me.”
One day after Derek Jeter had five hits of his own, the Yankees had a total of just four hits today. They were all singles, and they scored their only run because of bad throws, bad baserunning and good luck. Sabathia was their only real bright spot, and he gave them a walk-off style performance.
“It just makes you feel really good about the first half,” Girardi said. “We had lost a series in Cleveland and we had been on a roll of late, and just to be able to win these type of games, we win one yesterday 5-4 and win on 1-0 on a brilliant performance by CC, it’s a lift and it makes you feel good going into the all-star break.”
Here’s Sabathia.
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• Dr. Lee Kaplan, who gave the second opinion today, will perform Alex Rodriguez’s arthroscopic knee surgery tomorrow. “As I’ve said several times already this year, some people are going to have to step up,” Girardi said. “Up to this point, this team has. We certainly look forward to getting a healthy Alex back into our lineup because we know what he adds to this team.”
• The Yankees will obviously make a move before Thursday’s game, but for now it seems that Eduardo Nunez will get the bulk of the playing time at third base. “I don’t want my teammates hurt,” Nunez said. “But if they need me, I can do it.”
• Speaking of Nunez, he thought the first baseman was going to tag him on that close play in the third inning. That’s why he slid, even though he was way too close to the bag and running way too fast. He hurt his knee, but said he felt fine the rest of the game. “Now it’s OK,” he said. “Nothing to worry about.”
• After the Nunez single, Derek Jeter hit No. 3,004 was a bunt single perfectly executed down the third-base line. “It’s a smart play,” Girardi said. “And Derek has always been a heads-up player.”
• After reaching on that third-inning single, Nunez was eventually thrown out at the plate one batter after all-star Curtis Granderson — tied for the team lead in home runs — laid down a sacrifice bunt. Girardi said that he’d already come to believe it was going to be a low-scoring game, and he thought one run might be enough, so he managed accordingly. “Just trying to scratch out a run,” he said.
• When the Yankees did scratch out a run, he came on bad base-running by Robinson Cano and even worse throwing by the Rays defense. “I thought he was never going to get that (fly ball to center) because the second baseman was like, he kind of got it, and then I was too far away, he throws it away,” Cano said. “Then, I almost got thrown at third, but sometimes you’re the one who’s got to make mistakes to win games. I mean, I don’t want to look to those kind of mistakes, but we won a game. It’s in the past and you just don’t let it happen again.”
• Feel lucky: “Of course, of course,” Cano said.
• As planned, Sabathia is going to skip the all-star game. Derek Jeter also once again confirmed that he won’t be going. Dave Robertson, though, is positively pumped about flying to Arizona. “I’d pretty much given up on it,” he said. “I thought if it hadn’t happened by now, it’s not going to happen. But I’m really excited to go.”
• Sabathia said it never crossed his mind that his not covering first base might lead to a run in the seventh inning. “I was just trying to make pitches,” he said. “Sean Rodriguez put a good swing on a 3-2 fastball and it just so happened B.J. (Upton) was running and not paying attention.”
• When the game ended, Girardi initially had no Rodriguez update. His reason was pretty funny. “CC pitched too quick,” he said.
Associated Press photos
Hard to believe just how well this baseball weekend truned out – obviously, Jeter, but also winning two close games and even a pitching duel, the summer weather, the energy at the stadium, Damon in the house, figuring out whassup with A-rod, and most of all watching that Doosh Joe Maddon lose two games.
Watching this year’s version of the team is like trying to fight your way out of a strait jacket, but here we are…how to figure?
Loved the 1-0 win right before the ASB. CC is having some run. His strike outs are way up, he is going deep, dominating. Love the big guy.
Don’t love having to listen to the Rays announcers though
3 weeks from today is the trading deadline.
Interested to see what happens b/w now and then – as the Yanks continue to monitor their relief and starting pitching. Interesting name of potential starters that may or may not become available. We kind of already have an idea of potential relievers. Should be interesting. Hard to believe it was just a year ago the non-Cliff Lee trade fell through.
CC is such a beast…it really is a none that he wasn’t named to the team even though he wouldn’t be pitching anyway. You could argue he should start the game if available…..not only make the team. The Yankees need these two games heading into the break and Jeter and Sabathia basically went out and won them for the Yanks……CC is worth every penny they pay him.
So happy for D rob that he was added…..he totally deserves it.
Smart decision by Alex. Have the surgery…..get right and be ready to help down the stretch. The Yanks can make due with Nunez or by adding at the deadline until then. The trade market will start to heat up next week…..
I love the futures game…..wish more Yankees were represented. Should get to see Romine at some point.
Tied for 1st in the LC at the break and a 5 game cushion on a playoff spot at the break ….not.bad.
I wonder why CC has gone fastball/slider heavy the last few starts…..maybe he likes his stuff right now and is just going after the Ks because of it. He’s been pitching more like the CC from 3-4 years ago lately…..more swing and miss and less pitching to contact. Either way…..he’s been dominating.
Get Beltran
“Interested to see what happens b/w now and then ”
Same here.
MTU July 10th, 2011 at 6:55 pm
“Interested to see what happens b/w now and then ”
Same here.
*******
Glad the 31st falls on a Sunday – it sucks when it is during the work week.
Oh I see CC has now been named to the team. That’s nice to see……he really deserves it.
Send Jones back to Curacao.
GJBJ-
Any guesses ?
I wonder why CC has gone fastball/slider heavy the last few starts…..maybe he likes his stuff right now and is just going after the Ks because of it. He’s been pitching more like the CC from 3-4 years ago lately…..more swing and miss and less pitching to contact. Either way…..he’s been dominating.
–
I like swing and miss more than pitch to contact
Its been nice and hot, maybe the heat really lets him snap off that slider instead of relying on the deception of his change?
I can’t imagine they are going to clog a roster spot with Jones much longer…..
I like when guys like D-rob make the team instead of some overrated closer that has 20 saves and a 3+ era. He deserves it more.
Get Beltran
–
Beltran + Adams + Montero plz
JF,
I don’t have the pitch breakdowns in front of me….but it seems he’s been throwing less 2 seamers and.changeups over this run……just coming at people big unit style with 4 seamers and a nasty slider.
didn’t CC lose like 200 pounds over the winter? Looks like he found it again, but obviously it helps him in some way
MTU July 10th, 2011 at 6:58 pm
GJBJ-
Any guesses ?
**********
I am not sure at this point. I know who I would like them to look into – but a lot comes down to how Rafael Soriano does in his rehab. I am intrigued though by the list of potential starters mentioned this morning in the rumor that could be offered or teams are at least listening on.
I would not be surprised to see Choate or Woods on the team.
Blake-
Helps when you can still hit 98 in the 9th.
“Beltran + Adams + Montero plz”
That would be nice……I would worry about what the first 2 would cost though.
Giuseppe Franco July 10th, 2011 at 6:42 pm
# West Coast Yankee Fan July 10th, 2011 at 6:36 pm
How said it is that you can’t differentiate between the value of a starting catcher’s role on the team and a left-fielder. Please work harder to learn the game before you engage adults. Deal?
———–
LOL. Funny stuff. We can compare baseball IQs anytime you like.
Perhaps we should ask fellow Lohudders who is most full of BS within these walls.
I’ll guarantee you the consensus won’t be me.
———————————————————————————————————————-
LMAO. You seem to be short one adult in your conversation, GF.
Adams would be great – but the price tag might be prohibitive – Cashman did not bite on Scott Downs last year at the deadline – and I imagine the Padres are demanding similar types of packages the Blue Jays were trying to extract from the Yanks.
I didn’t know that AJ pied CC – that’s pretty cool……..
MTU,
Yea it does…..he’s been more dominant over this stretch than I think maybe any time since he joined the Yanks.
blake July 10th, 2011 at 7:04 pm
MTU,
Yea it does…..he’s been more dominant over this stretch than I think maybe any time since he joined the Yanks.
*********
Possibly – but C.C. after that White Sox game in August 2009 – he went on quite the roll – especially when he manhandled the Sox and Clay on that Saturday baseball game in the four game sweep of the Sox at the stadium in August of ’09.
Golson to replace Jones anyone ?
Giuseppe Franco July 10th, 2011 at 6:42 pm
LOL. Funny stuff. We can compare baseball IQs anytime you like. Perhaps we should ask fellow Lohudders who is most full of BS within these walls. I’ll guarantee you the consensus won’t be me.
***********
Don’t make me laugh. That’s like asking a bunch of crips what they think of the blood guy. Credibility quotient = zero.
Umpiring in this game isn’t any better than in the Majors. Not sure that it’s better than little league.
MTU July 10th, 2011 at 7:06 pm
Golson to replace Jones anyone ?
********
Love the cannon of the arm and the defense/speed to cover ground. I will defer to other aspects of his game to those who have seen him play this season in AAA.
But anything right now over Jones. Get Thames back from Japan if you have to – I will pitch in for part of the plane ticket.
I can’t wait for bb-ref to update so I can sum up CC’s last 4 games.
22.2 IP 18H 5BB 33K 1ER 70% strikes 31 GB 20 FB
then today 9 IP 4H 1BB 9K 0ER 70% strikes 9 GO 4 FO only 29 batters faced, so he struck out 31% of all batters he faced (which is more impressive than facing a lot of batters and getting more Ks) which matches up with the run he is having.
Just domination. 1.5+ GB/FB ratio, lots of strikes, lots of K’s, lots of swings and misses.
blakeJuly 10th, 2011 at 6:59 pm
I can’t imagine they are going to clog a roster spot with Jones much longer…..
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
With less media around because of the All Star break it’s the perfect time to cut ties with Jones and bring up Greg Golson to do workouts / BP with the team in preparation for the rest of the schedule.
Other issues will be addressed in days to follow.
Nunez-Chavez platoon at 3rd until A-Rod returns (I’m assuming Chavez will be back soon) ?
(I’m assuming Chavez will be back soon)
–
He reinjured himself twice, don’t expect him back ever.
JF-
The 2nd injury was only a kidney stone. He did not hurt his back or abdominal as far as I know.
The pain in those areas was later diagnosed to be caused by the passing of the stone.
I think he is working out again. maybe I’m wrong ?
MTU,
I didn’t read about that, just his setbacks when they were first reported, so maybe you’re more caught up than me.
Did his back get healed? He had a back injury and the abdominal, which I guess is the kidney stones you are referring too. I don’t think he has done any baseball stuff.
Chavez certainly wasn’t “Romancing That Stone”.
last 30 days CC has owned:
http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/sorta.....r+pitching
Montero is skipping the IL All Star Game
GreenBeret7 July 10th, 2011 at 7:17 pm
Montero is skipping the IL All Star Game
*********
Makes sense – he has been on the 7 day dl with the back.
” Its been nice and hot, maybe the heat really lets him snap off that slider instead of relying on the deception of his change?”
weather affects baseball?
really
amazing the things you learn from the sabermetrically inclined
randy l. July 10th, 2011 at 7:20 pm
” Its been nice and hot, maybe the heat really lets him snap off that slider instead of relying on the deception of his change?”
weather affects baseball?
really
amazing the things you learn from the sabermetrically inclined
———————————————————————————————————————-
It’s certainly nothing that you can learn by just watching.
Not sure if Posnanski’s Jeter 3000 article was already posted, but it’s pretty great….Sorry if it’s a repeat….
http://joeposnanski.si.com/201.....ref=sircrc
GB-
That’s for sure. Lol.
Hi everyone,
Good game it’s a shame that i had to miss the last two innings ( family thing ), i really hope that they get rid of Jones as well, i’ll put the money for his plane ticket to curacao. On the trade front, i would agree that at some point Kerry Wood might be back on pinstripes.
weather affects baseball? really amazing the things you learn from the sabermetrically inclined
——–
Randy
I have to admit, your level of commitment to this imaginary conversation is quite impressive.
# GreenBeret7 July 10th, 2011 at 7:03 pm
Giuseppe Franco July 10th, 2011 at 6:42 pm
# West Coast Yankee Fan July 10th, 2011 at 6:36 pm
How said it is that you can’t differentiate between the value of a starting catcher’s role on the team and a left-fielder. Please work harder to learn the game before you engage adults. Deal?
———–
LOL. Funny stuff. We can compare baseball IQs anytime you like.
Perhaps we should ask fellow Lohudders who is most full of BS within these walls.
I’ll guarantee you the consensus won’t be me.
———————————————————————————————————————-
LMAO. You seem to be short one adult in your conversation, GF.
———–
LOL. Yeah, we weren’t having much of a conversation anyways. He makes dumb arguments, and therefore, should be called on it.
“It’s certainly nothing that you can learn by just watching.”
gb7-
there goes lgy’s dating life.
People were wondering why CC seems to have be going after hitters more in search of K’s.
Could that be the influence of Rothschild ? Doesn’t he preach K’s over pitch-to-contact ?
MTU,
That’s a good quetion, and yes he preeches K’s over contact
# West Coast Yankee Fan July 10th, 2011 at 7:07 pm
Don’t make me laugh. That’s like asking a bunch of crips what they think of the blood guy. Credibility quotient = zero.
———
It is Lohud where you decided you insult my baseball IQ so we should let fellow Lohudders decide who is the one full of BS. It is where I do all of my commenting so there it’s the largest sample size and body of work.
We’ve all earned our reputations here – good or bad. None of us are misunderstood.
comet July 10th, 2011 at 7:28 pm
WCYF making friends again. I’d take GF over you anytime and the face as well. You are a trouble maker ne’er do well. Go away empty head.
—————————–
B … I … N … G … O … !!!
Chad-
Is Chavez working out again ?
Thanks.
If you analize the best pitchers in general ( there are exception obviously ), they all have superior swing and miss ability
they all have superior swing and miss ability
–
This is why Hughes needs a better curveball. His fastball is already a plus swing and miss pitch, he just needs that dynamite secondary offering.
I love what CC has done in his past 4 starts. He is on pace for like 250 IP this year. I hope he can save some for the playoffs.
Could that be the influence of Rothschild ? Doesn’t he preach K’s over pitch-to-contact ?
====================================
K/9 is the same it’s been the last couple years. I’m going to to say no to the Rothschild influence and go with “he’s really f*cking good” as my final answer.
Credibility quotient = zero.
———————–
Another word you don’t know the meaning of … like “sic.”
It’s factor, einstein.
gb7-there goes lgy’s dating life.
——-
You’re a little late on this one randy. The last date I needed to go on was in HS.
I think Sabathia is just getting more strikeouts because his stuff has been outstanding lately.
I don’t think it’s a change in his pitching philosophy. Earlier in the season, his strikeouts were down.
GF ignore WCYF! He’s a loser who looks for trouble. You have a good reputation. No need to sully it by engaging a loser!
Mell-
I can accept that answer.
Either way he sure has been racking up the K’s lately.
JF,
Yes, heeds another pitch to keep them honest, otherwise the oposing batters will sit and time his fastball to horrific results
Melky has a ridiculous amount of PAs with RISP this season.
He has an insane amount of PAs in general. He leads the league!!
26 more than any Yankee!
# comet July 10th, 2011 at 7:48 pm
GF ignore WCYF! He’s a loser who looks for trouble. You have a good reputation. No need to sully it by engaging a loser!
———-
LOL. I’m sure there are some who think I’m an idiot too. Just not as many as him.
Just to be sure the youngsters here never forget – Don Mattingly was Derek Jeter before Derek Jeter was Derek Jeter
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com.....id=2685722
Oh, Bo-jo!
Bryce Harper at the plate.
I think CC has changed the way he’s pitched of late…..not dramatically but his stuff has been better and he’s been using his 4 seamer and slider primarily and I would guess in higher percentage than has been his norm the last couple of years……pitching to contact less.
JM,
Thanks for the link…..I.hadn’t read that yet and Joe Pos is maybe the best out there right now.
I am shocked, Brackman had a clean inning.
he’s been using his 4 seamer and slider primarily
–
It is good to see he can still get it up to 98.
Just a guess, but his fastball and slider have been so dominating lately that he may feel like he doesn’t need to throw the change that much.
Keep throwing what they ain’t hitting.
He’ll start throwing the change more when he starts becoming more human again.
I think Hughes is going to have to tighten that curveball and create less seperation in velo between it and his fastball for it to be the out pitch he needs. 18-20 mph differential isn’t going to cut it…..big.league hitters recognize that much differential right out of the hand.
“It is good to see he can still get it up to 98.”
And even better that he can do so in the 9th inning.
Melky has a ridiculous amount of PAs with RISP this season.
He has an insane amount of PAs in general. He leads the league!!
26 more than any Yankee!
///
He has 51 RBI.
Blake-
JMO but I don’t think he can do it with that grip.
Most guys who throw the knuckle or spike curve throw the slower looping variety.
AJ is an exception.
His is a buzzsaw. A product of his unusal mechanics.
GF,
That’s probably true….but what if he decides that he likes throwing 98 and striking a bunch of guys out again.
Blake here are the numbers on CC the last 4 starts
His avg fastball on the season is 93 but here is what it was in those 4 games:
95 avg on the 4seamer touched 97
93 avg on the sinker touched 96
Around 11 changeups per game, more than 30 sliders per game. Normally he throws them both at 15% but he is really going heavy on the slider.
Your intuition is right. He is throwing about 3 times as many sliders as change ups.
Blake,
My concern going forward would be the ability to adapt from Phil, he appears to be a little headstrong and thus unwilling to change aproaches, i hope he starts using more offspeed pitches
MTU,
Yea I don’t know…..Lee throws a pretty sharp spike hook…..It probably is individual thing and Hughes just may not be able to create the velocity or spin he needs with that grip…..I have no idea……I do know that the curve he was throwing the other night and last year was too slow and had too much of a rolling break.
Sabathia was able to do his job today without using all of his weapons. No sense in showing them the change-up because he can pull it out of his holster when he faces the Devil Rays in a couple of weeks.
He has 51 RBI
——-
That’s the point. You need to add context to RBIs for them to have real meaning.
One of the primary components of getting an RBI is simply having the opportunity to do so.
Melky has had A LOT of opportunities.
Blake-
He should take D-Rob fishing, and fish for answers.
JF,
Cool. Thanks…..he’s been Big Unitesque almost during this run. When he’s throwing downhill with that velocity and tilt on his.slider then he can create that effect…..nobody does it quite like Johnson did but CC can get close when he’s right.
Fangraphs really needs to break out its fastball bucket into all the different types. Its obvious CC can still pump fastballs at 95, given he has had nice avg velocity there, but throwing a 2seamer/sinker brings down the overall number and makes it appear he is losing velocity.
MTU,
If Hughes had Robertson’s curveball he coukd be a top 10 pitcher…..I believe that.
All of Melky’s counting stats need to be evaluated with the understanding that he has had more PAs than ANYONE in the AL.
JF,
I agree…..is it that the technology can’t distinguish 4 seam vs 2 seam or cutter yet?
The guy’s hitting .309 with RISP, including a .495 slug. Maybe he’s just good.
luis July 10th, 2011 at 8:08 pm
Blake,
My concern going forward would be the ability to adapt from Phil, he appears to be a little headstrong and thus unwilling to change aproaches, i hope he starts using more offspeed pitches
+++++
Would you trade him now? If so, for whom?
Phil had that curveball the first time he came up, he just lost it in between the dl stints and the bullpen stint
# blake July 10th, 2011 at 8:07 pm
GF,
That’s probably true….but what if he decides that he likes throwing 98 and striking a bunch of guys out again.
————
I certainly wouldn’t have any issues with that. That is, as long as he continues to be economical with his pitch counts.
LOL. Alert, alert: Melky converting in a LARGE sample size. Do not take seriously.
Blake-
Didn’t Contreras teach D-Rob his curve ?
I think so.
That’s why I say Hughes might need to lose that grip ( no jokes GB).
I believe he learned the current one from the Moose.
When he had that dynamic curve in the minors he might have learned it from Contreras ?
If so, he should go back to it, or ask D-Rob to show him his.
Luis,
I agree with that to some.degree but at the same time I think.maybe he’s tinkered too much……tried too many new things and has kinda lost his way with the secondary stuff.
Hassey, I thought he was looking heavier too… and if that’s the case, I say we send him some donuts!
In all seriousness, keeping off lost weight can be stressful and frustrating. Just a thought, but maybe his season really took off when he gave it up.
Bojo,
No, i wouldn’t trade him fro two reasons:
1)) His trade vaue must be in it’s alltime low
2) I still think he can be a top rotation mainstay if he develops his offspeed pitches.
Again my concern is his wilingness to do so, and i’m not quite sure if a pennant race is the proper enviroment to accomplish it
I agree…..is it that the technology can’t distinguish 4 seam vs 2 seam or cutter yet?
–
PitchFX does, but fangraphs uses BIS for their pitch selection and they dump all different fastballs into the same ‘FB’ grouping. And even pitchFX can have labelling issues, as they change the formulas every year to try and get more accurate. The best thing to do would be to do individual analysis yourself. Since each pitch is recorded individually, you can look at the spin/break/whatever and group them yourself.
It would be great to do things by ‘Grip’. But I don’t know how they’d do that. Cuz a pitcher can mess up a slider and throw what looks like a bp fastball but its really just a bad slider. Anyways, pitchfx semi-rant over.
The guy’s hitting .309 with RISP, including a .495 slug. Maybe he’s just good.
——
Good in what sense or scale? Just this season or in general.
He’s been above average offensively but he is a poor defensive OF. And he’s coming off a season where maybe he was the worst everyday player in MLB.
This run by Sabathia shouldn’t be all that surprising.
He tends to heat up when the weather heats up and goes on a sustained run of dominance. He does that year after year.
Jerk could probably pull up the actual stats faster than me.
luis July 10th, 2011 at 8:21 pm
____
What percentage chances do you see in him becoming a top of rotation ace?
He tends to heat up when the weather heats up and goes on a sustained run of dominance. He does that year after year.
–
2 ERA in june and july last year, 2 ERA after the ASB in 09.
Romine knocks in the lead ruun
Blake,
Take his last start for instance, please correct me if i’m wrong, everybody is saying he should stop using the cutter or at least use it less. What did he do ? 30% of his pitches were cutters, and had the same problem of high pitch counts because he couldn’t put them away.
He needs another swing and miss pitch to avoid the batters just sitting on his fastball or cutter. As of right now i don’t see him trying to accomplish that
Romine is 2-2 with the RBI
# Jerkface July 10th, 2011 at 8:27 pm
He tends to heat up when the weather heats up and goes on a sustained run of dominance. He does that year after year.
–
2 ERA in june and july last year, 2 ERA after the ASB in 09.
——
Ah, thanks. Yeah, this run is nothing new to him.
Forget Montero.
Bring up Romine.
Romine w/go ahead RBI double for US.
I love the names of the minor league teams. The Modesto Nuts!
Take his last start for instance, please correct me if i’m wrong, everybody is saying he should stop using the cutter or at least use it less. What did he do ? 30% of his pitches were cutters, and had the same problem of high pitch counts because he couldn’t put them away.
–
The one thing about his cutter though is that it got twice as many swings and misses as his curve. It got damaged the most though.
Hell, send Cervelli to Scranton, bench martin and bring Romine and Montero up.
He’s not a poor defensive OF. I’d love the kid back, especially for a potential ALCS against Boston (& divisional games) because he’s a born Red Sox killer, but it ain’t happenin’. THey shoulda listened to ARod on this one.
///
Romine with the RBI double.
MTU,
I have no idea on D Robs CB…..all I know is that its a can’t nice one.
JF,
You can usually tell by watching if its a 4 seam or 2 seam by watching the ball flight and fade and such but it would take a lot of manpower to chart that stuff by hand. Im sure the computers will get to the point where they are pretty good a differentiating spin and velocity and stuff at some point. They probably can now…..its just figuring out the best way to record it all I guess.
Bojo,
As of right now i don’t think he can become an ace, a good number 2 or 3 yes, 30 maybe 40%??? just a guess
I like Martin, but his offense is not good enough now to hold back Montero and Romine…
tomingeorgia July 10th, 2011 at 8:31 pm
I love the names of the minor league teams. The Modesto Nuts!
———————————————————————————————————————-
Richmond Flying Squirrels
Lansing Lugnuts
Fort Wayne Tin Caps
The Maine Bullwinkels
Yea I think that’s the problem with his cutter…..its fine sometimes but he throws way too many clunkers with it and those clunkers come equipped with a large “hit me sign” attached to them.
Romine is having a pretty good year.
They probably can now…..its just figuring out the best way to record it all I guess.
–
yea they measure the spin and movement just fine, but getting it to spit out the exact pitch type as defined by the pitcher throwing it is the hard part.
They lump pitches together based on velocity, movement, spin, etc.
River Dogs, Swamp Gnats, Mud Hens.
I always wanted to own a team in Intercourse PA and called them the Interrupters.
Bojo,
What would you call the team from Blue Balls, PA?
I have a gut feeling that somehow Hughes is tipping his curve…hitters aren’t biting at it, and sitting fastball/batting practice cutter.
tomingeorgia July 10th, 2011 at 8:39 pm
Bojo,
What would you call the team from Blue Balls, PA?
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The Busters…what else?
JF,
Thanks. The saber stuff Im still not sure of but the pitch tracking and things like that is something that really interests me and I think that’s going to be really cool moving forward as they refine it.
Yankeefem
Good for Romine. I sent you an email.
Bojo,
Id think “Relief”
Martin has taken a nose dive offensively. I think it started with his back and toe issues, which got him into bad habits. Maybe Long can work with him on getting him straightened out. I don’t think he has to bat like Posada did when he was behind the plate, but he should be putting up better offensive numbers than he is.
He was so good to start the season. I would expect some drop off, but not this much. If he can step up his offense again, the loss of Alex for the weeks he will be out won’t be missed so much.
Hughes’ CB at times doesn’t have a late enough break. He threw a few beauts in Brooklyn. More of an AJ type curve. That’s the one he needs to throw, not the loopy one.
Jerk face,
Yes, because he used it to much, you have to mix pitches so the batters don’t sit on a certain pitch, the problem i think is that he is afraid of using his other pitches because of lack of confidence in them. If you asked me i would send him down and force him to throw 60% or more offspeed pitches for a while where results are not important
I have a gut feeling that somehow Hughes is tipping his curve…hitters aren’t biting at it, and sitting fastball/batting practice cutter.
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They rarely offer at it, its only a strike half the time, and when they do offer at it they foul it/put it in play. Its just not a good pitch.
Batavia Muckdogs, Beloit Snappers, Idaho Falls Chukars, Las vegas 51s
Bojo,
I think the way he’s tipping it is primarily that its coming out of his hand differently than his fastball…..
JF/Blake–
I saw a recent photo of Hughes throwing the curve, and one can plainly see from third base coaching box that his finger is raised like a knuckleball…I wonder if 3B coaches are whistling to batters or something.
My favorite team name in the FSL is the Lakeland Flying Tigers. Their manager even has the insignia on his hat signifying that he is the highest ranking or something like that. Someone explained it to me once but I’m not a good listener.
Bojo,
That’s possibible…..but I tend to think the velocity differential and rolling nature of the break are such that hitters are just seeing it in time to either not swing at all or keep their hands back and hit it.
Well Hughes should have plenty of time to work on whatever he wants since it will be 12 days between starts.
Who knows. If he’s really lucky he may even get to face live hitters between now and then.
IIRC, throwing a curve the old fashioned way was all about wrist…but I don’t know anything about how to throw the knuckle curve…perhaps it involves less wrist and is easier to throw…problem is that it is not working for him…maybe DRob could show him how to throw it his way.
Also would like to see him use 2 seamer more…
I don’t know…Hughes just seemed confused. Hits 100 pitches before 5 or 6 innings. When Joba was doing that, people were screaming bloody murder.
Lots of love for WCYF I see. I called him and he asked me to pass on a message to all his loyal followers, ‘when you are all done with the bashing, be sure to wipe up before your zip up’ !
Love and kisses to all.
The Flying Tigers were a group of American fighter pilots flying for Claire Chenault’s Chinese Air Force in WWII, hired by Madame Chiang Kai-shek to protect the cities from Japanese attack.
GB7,
Flying P-40s, if I recall, a vastly inferior fighter plane than the Zero, but much more heavily armored. Gave the Tigers a fighting chance.
GB-
Liked the look of the planes. At least the way the were portrayed in movies.
He’s not a poor defensive OF. I’d love the kid back, especially for a potential ALCS against Boston (& divisional games) because he’s a born Red Sox killer, but it ain’t happenin’. THey shoulda listened to ARod on this one.
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As a CF, he’s bad. He takes poor routes to balls and for a guy with a decent amount of speed he really isn’t explosive at all in short distances which would help mitigate his bad routes. Also, while he has good arm strength his poor accuracy wipes a lot of that out.
He would probably be pretty good in RF at YS, but in CF or LF he doesn’t cut it. The difference between watching Yankee games now with Grandy or Gardy out in CF compared to a few years ago with Melky out there is just amazing.
In hindsight, he def would have been a better sign than Andruw, but he is not worth trading any assets for as the Yankees already have 3 OF that are better than him and his bat isn’t worth it to take away PAs from Posada.
tomingeorgia July 10th, 2011 at 8:53 pm
GB7,
Flying P-40s, if I recall, a vastly inferior fighter plane than the Zero, but much more heavily armored. Gave the Tigers a fighting chance.
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But did the Zero have the “Credibility quotient” of this blog?
GB,
The P40 also had a more powerfull engine so the rate of climb was much better, what they couldn’t do was get in a tight spin with the zero, History Channel combat aces
I seem to recall the big knock on Gardner’s defense from Melky supporters was that Gardner took terrible routes to the ball.
I was never a Melky fan myself, so I wasn’t exactly heartbroken when he was traded.
Bojo,
It had a far higher quotient among TBD pilots, most of whom are dead.
tyanks, I will check it out.
BoJo July 10th, 2011 at 8:55 pm
But did the Zero have the “Credibility quotient” of this blog?
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Hard to measure to up to yours – suggesting Posada play 3rd base because he is so fleet of foot. lol
As a CF, he’s bad. He takes poor routes to balls and for a guy with a decent amount of speed he really isn’t explosive at all in short distances which would help mitigate his bad routes. Also, while he has good arm strength his poor accuracy wipes a lot of that out.
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Sure, except all of this is a crock.
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Your non sequitur was suspect in the first place.
Hughes could throw less cutters if he had even an average curveball and to a lesser extent changeup. He leans on his cutter too much because it is the only other pitch he is confident in (and he is probably right to only be confident in his FB + cutter right now).
His cutter is a good pitch. The problem is that the more he uses it, the less effective it is. That’s why he shouldn’t just dump the pitch. It can be a real weapon as part of a more complete arsenal.
Thanks GB. I like that they included something historical when they named that team. Also. I sent you an email.
I sure hope they don’t decide to do Arod’s rehab in Tampa in early August when I’m on my baseball roadtrip to Jacksonville, Charleston and Savannah. That would be a bummer.
WCYF–Thought you had gone on to use your Iphone VY account. Surprised to see you back on your Mac….
LGY,
Good post, thats why i think he should go down to work on those other pitches
WCYF,
Why don’t you change your handle to WCYT??
just saying Dr. Lee Kaplan who gave Arod a 2nd opinion is the one who did my knee….the guy is a great at what he does
I seem to recall the big knock on Gardner’s defense from Melky supporters was that Gardner took terrible routes to the ball.
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Yeah that argument was definitely presented a lot.
But even if that was truem the problem with it was that it didn’t really matter. Gardner is/was so fast and so explosive that even with poorer routes than he runs now, he still got to more balls than just about anybody.
Now, he is the complete package out in LF b/c he has improved his routes plus still has the blazing speed.
Melky on the other hand doesn’t have that natural ability to compensate so he just lets too many balls fall in.
BoJo July 10th, 2011 at 9:01 pm
WCYF–Thought you had gone on to use your Iphone VY account. Surprised to see you back on your Mac
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Surprised that I am home after running errands? I guess simple concepts escape you as you constantly demonstrate by your embarrassing posts. Why don’t you take that up with Bobby though? I am sure he would be happy to discuss it with you.
The never ending debates on trades, what might have been, plus constant carping from the west coast, make all this less fun. I don’t mind the Sabre stuff, much, but watching games in jerky internet is what I’m about, not two or three person debates about one statistical measure or another. We’re a game out at the break, and I’m pretty happy about it.
My favorite minor league team name is the Baltimore Orioles.
LGY,
I think his cutter is good at times…..its just that he makes a lot of mistakes with it and those mistakes are usually hit hard because when it’s bad it’s really bad and is basically a spinning BP fastball. If he could get more consistent with it then it would be a good weapon to keep against lefties……the other side of it is that we don’t know how throwing it is effecting his other pitches and I’m not sure there is any way to know if it is or not. There is the theory that with some guys the cutter can negatively affect curveballs, changups, etc….I don’t know if there is any fact to that or if its just a hypothesis floating around…..it makes sense though.
West Coast Yankee Fan July 10th, 2011 at 9:05 pm
BoJo July 10th, 2011 at 9:01 pm
WCYF–Thought you had gone on to use your Iphone VY account. Surprised to see you back on your Mac
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Surprised that I am home after running errands? I guess simple concepts escape you as you constantly demonstrate by your embarrassing posts. Why don’t you take that up with Bobby though? I am sure he would be happy to discuss it with you.
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Is it difficult managing multiple personalities? Aldo totally exposed you getting them confused on several occasions, and yet you persist in the lie. We have proof of you doing the same thing on Brave New Films blog, and even documented evidence provided by your foe there.
I think Gardner used to take bad routes to balls and that he’s improved quite a bit in that area…..
I’m happy that Melky is having a good year.
luis July 10th, 2011 at 9:01 pm
LGY,
Good post, thats why i think he should go down to work on those other pitches
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How would you suggest they do that? He would have to be optioned, right?
Two things about Gardner from me….I might be wrong but it looks like to me that he has a tough time picking up the pitchers move to first base…the other I know I’m right about is that he has better results making contact early in the pitch count, when he gets to two strikes he gets himself into trouble
I seriously do have high hopes for Rothschild helping Hughes figure it out.
tomingeorgia July 10th, 2011 at 8:53 pm
GB7,
Flying P-40s, if I recall, a vastly inferior fighter plane than the Zero, but much more heavily armored. Gave the Tigers a fighting chance.
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The Curtiss “Hawk” planes weren’t as fast as the Zeros but they could take a beating. Heavily armored, they were like flying tanks.
I was watching The Military Channel this morning and they interviewed Tex Hill and he talked about Cheannault’s skills as a tactician and imagination as a pilot. Most of the combat maneuvers used in WWII were the brainchild of Cheannault. He also trained Greg Boyington.
Guts and imagination was what thise guys had the most of, because they certainly didn’t have much in the way of repair parts. They would use parts from any plane shot down, regardless of the country to repair their own planes.
I’d like to see Gardner use a heavier bat and choke up…like they used to do in the 60s…
PHOENIX — The Yankees’ Austin Romine singled home the go-ahead run against Kansas City’s Kelvin Herrera in a three-run eighth inning, leading the U.S. over the World team 6-4 Sunday in the All-Star Futures game.
By the way Blojo. It did not go unnoticed by me that after you made your Posada to 3rd comment and were ridiculed by so many including the poster eighty-six that you immediately suggested that he might be cr nine which everyone knows is not true. How transparent and pathetic you are, you can’t handle criticism at all – so you stoop that low to falsely accuse a good poster of being someone who caused so much damage here.
It doesn’t get much lower than that but coming from you who has for years revealed personal information about people, called other posters mother’s prostitutes and worse and used multiple screen names like you do here – it’s not a surprise.
blake,
Good post. It is just so difficult to tell what’s going on with all his pitches. I like his cutter so I tend to think maybe the overuse causes more bad pitches, but I definitely see your opinion on it as well.
I do think it is strange that the Yankees haven’t encouraged him to use some other type of curveball or sharper breaking pitch. It just seems too obvious that the curveball he is using now doesn’t complement his arsenal…
joeman, at least he’s gotten some good bunts down. One thing at a time
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BTW, LMAO on your comment defending Jeter. His five-hit day, plus slugging, really shoved some people’s balls up into their throats.
yawn.
I’m happy that Melky is having a good year.
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Anyone that suffered through a night in a hotel room with Marey Carey deserves some happiness in their lives.
# J. Alfred Prufrock July 10th, 2011 at 9:14 pm
joeman, at least he’s gotten some good bunts down. One thing at a time
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BTW, LMAO on your comment defending Jeter. His five-hit day, plus slugging, really shoved some people’s balls up into their throats.
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yep…I’m a jeter guy
GB7,
They could out climb and out dive the Zeros, but the Zero could make 2 360s before the P-40 could do one. You’re right about Chenault’s tactics. It was a couple of years later that we got fighters that could out turn the Zero, but we spashed plenty of them.
LGY July 10th, 2011 at 9:16 pm
I’m happy that Melky is having a good year.
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Anyone that suffered through a night in a hotel room with Marey Carey deserves some happiness in their lives.
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I thought that counted as happiness.
Yawn? Do you dispute that Blojo? That after eighty-six ridiculed your Posada post on the merits that you accused him of being cr nine? Do you want me to repost?
BoJo July 10th, 2011 at 9:16 pm
yawn.
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co-signed
“It just seems too obvious that the curveball he is using now doesn’t complement his arsenal…”
it was just one start so lets see how it looks next time out…..but if it continues to be the pitch it was the other night then yea it’s not going to do much to help him. It just doesn’t fool hitters
# West Coast Yankee Fan July 10th, 2011 at 9:18 pm
Yawn? Do you dispute that Blojo? That after eighty-six ridiculed your Posada post on the merits that you accused him of being cr nine? Do you want me to repost?
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not needed
Bojo,
He has options, and i think Nova is a better bet right now than hughes, but the upside of hughes it’s much higher than Nova’s.
I thought that counted as happiness.
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Maybe it was for him. She grosses me out
No one cares….no one takes you seriously…get used to it.
lol, why are people picking on Melky? First of all, his defense isn’t awful, it is about average in CF. Secondly, his arm can be very good. To call it unequivocally inaccurate is kind of a stretch. Thirdly, he has a .830 OPS vs. righties, and is having a good year. Props to Melky.
Yawn? Do you dispute that Blojo? That after eighty-six ridiculed your Posada post on the merits that you accused him of being cr nine? Do you want me to repost?
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Who cares?
You see blojo – you may have fooled some here but every so often mired in your pathological arrogance as you are, you slip up. Just as you did when you plagiarized Buster Olney’s article so long ago.It’s one thing you can always count on from despots. Give them enough rope and they all hang themselves eventually.
WC:
See I told you that you would make it back in time to feel the love. LOL !
luis July 10th, 2011 at 9:19 pm
Bojo,
He has options, and i think Nova is a better bet right now than hughes, but the upside of hughes it’s much higher than Nova’s.
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good points
I just hope everyone here takes me serious, that I need
Bojo,
Please ignore him is not worth it
Then don’t respond LGY. I care. I don’t think that accusing a good poster of being someone as harmful as cr nine just because they challenged your baseball comment is warranted.
Brett Cecil had similar problems to Hughes early in the season and was sent back to the minors. He’s made 3 starts since being recalled and, after a bad first outing, has been good the past two.
Hughes will be fine, he needs to pitch in rotation a few more times. He is way behind because he’s essentially going through spring training a second time but will catch up. It’s very possible the Yankees wanted him to go through this in the majors instead of the minors because they wanted Rothschild to him pitch up close and persona so he could work with him and that couldn’t happen if he was pitching in SWB or Trenton.
LGY July 10th, 2011 at 9:20 pm
Yawn? Do you dispute that Blojo? That after eighty-six ridiculed your Posada post on the merits that you accused him of being cr nine? Do you want me to repost?
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Who cares?
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Only him and his sock puppet.
guys….come on…..just stop this nonsense…..redirect it towards Josh Beckett….or the Orioles…..or Olive Garden or whatever.
Vineyard – I think Blojo wants to meet you in Scranton to shake your hand.
Bobby? Are you a sock puppet?
luis July 10th, 2011 at 9:22 pm
Bojo,
Please ignore him is not worth it
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+1, it takes two to play. Why don’t you can it once and for all? It is tedious and disrespectful of others who find nothing exceptional about the same old back and forth.
This is funnier than Comedy Central. Blojo always with the ‘I won’t respond / engage’ yet……………………he just keeps coming back like a bad penny. LOL !
blake July 10th, 2011 at 9:23 pm
guys….come on…..just stop this nonsense…..redirect it towards Josh Beckett….or the Orioles…..or Olive Garden or whatever.
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lol. I am indifferent towards the Orioles, but am with you on Beckett and the Olive Garden.
or Olive Garden or whatever.
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Not olive garden, their soup is the bomb.
Do New Yorkers consider Maggiano’s to be a “real Italian restaurant” because I love that place
I like Olive Garden’s salad too….and their Minestrone soup is good I think.
I came to this blog during hot stove last winter, and it provided entertainment for me when I was in the hospital for a month this Spring. Its really tiresome now. WCYF and VY and your proxies, please stfu. Whatever Bojo is, he’s amusing. Not you guy(s),
blake, NYers only consider a restaurant to be ‘real Italian’ when a mobster has been whacked on the premises…
MG,
oh I see….well I doubt Maggiano’s has that
Do we really have to hear about this Posada to 3B thing everyday?
No one cares.
Just like no one cares about Bojo’s Aaron Hill-Cano thing or that he thought the Yanks would sign Chapman or anything else like that.
# blake July 10th, 2011 at 9:25 pm
Do New Yorkers consider Maggiano’s to be a “real Italian restaurant” because I love that place
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there are better in that area
And to be clear I am not saying I don’t care about Bojo’s opinions.
No one cares to have WCYF re-post them everyday in some lame attempt to mock him.
MG,
Good point, but in the middle of a pennant race i don’t think it’s the wise way to go. But you are right lets see what happens the next time around
yankeefeminista July 10th, 2011 at 9:23 pm
luis July 10th, 2011 at 9:22 pm
Bojo,
Please ignore him is not worth it
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+1, it takes two to play. Why don’t you can it once and for all? It is tedious and disrespectful of others who find nothing exceptional about the same old back and forth.
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When someone has made it his mission in life to constantly attack you irregardless of whether you respond or not, let’s see what you do. This guy is a troll who just won’t stop. I usually ignore him, but every once and a while kick him. If you want to see it stop, petition Chad to stop him from making countless lies and false accusations–which is against blog rules.
actually, Maggiano’s is now owned by Brinkers, who also own the Macaroni Grill, Carrabbas, and the Olive Garden as well as Chili’s…
Just more fun in the sun. Blojo is a funny fellow.
actually, Maggiano’s is now owned by Brinkers, who also own the Macaroni Grill, Carrabbas, and the Olive Garden as well as Chili’s…
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Darden Restaurants owns Olive Garden. They own Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52, Capitol Grille. They sold Smokey bones. Also used to own China Coast, which I am sad got over-extended and had to be closed down. Their poo poo platter was awesome.
Blake
I like the Olive Garden’s Alfredo and their limoncellos.
Well I still like Maggianos…..but im from the south so I guess I don’t know.any better right
Just more fun in the sun. Blojo is a funny fellow.
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Did you have to call WCYF before making this post?
MG July 10th, 2011 at 9:26 pm
blake, NYers only consider a restaurant to be ‘real Italian’ when a mobster has been whacked on the premises…
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“True Yankees” only go to “real Italian” restaurants.
WCYF & VY,
Please stop this nonsense, and stop calling names and go elsewhere
Il Palazzo is my favorite
luis July 10th, 2011 at 9:32 pm
WCYF & VY, Please stop this nonsense, and stop calling names and go elsewhere
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You neglected to be fair and call out Blojo as well who has pretty much destroyed this blog as he has done others. But then again – you have an agenda.
was at the game today, got caught in the sun for 4 innings before I move ( don’t ask me what took me so long) still can’t get over the fact that 2 beers (Bud) and 1 water cost $27
““True Yankees” only go to “real Italian” restaurants.”
And the nearest pizza joint
joeman, why would you pay $25 for a bottle of water?
# MG July 10th, 2011 at 9:36 pm
joeman, why would you pay $25 for a bottle of water?
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could have got outside the park for a $1
Blske, I’m not sure if “Killer” is a True Yankee or a real Italian. All I know is that dog will eat pizza from anywhere….as long as there’s beer to wash it down with.
GB, you should order Domino’s for Killer, after all, you get two for one because the box tastes just as good as the pizza
I hope no one is seriously talking about the Olive Garden as being a decent Italian restaurant.
MG July 10th, 2011 at 9:41 pm
GB, you should order Domino’s for Killer, after all, you get two for one because the box tastes just as good as the pizza
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MG, “Killer” waits outside until the Domino’s delivery truck goes by and follows it. He knows that that night’s gonna be good eatin’ at Chez Garbage Can.
GreenBeret7 July 10th, 2011 at 9:44 pm
MG July 10th, 2011 at 9:41 pm
GB, you should order Domino’s for Killer, after all, you get two for one because the box tastes just as good as the pizza
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MG, “Killer” waits outside until the Domino’s delivery truck goes by and follows it. He knows that that night’s gonna be good eatin’ at Chez Garbage Can.
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that Killer is no dummy, that’s for sure, maybe he could teach something to a couple of trolls here…