Yankees postgame: Rotation drama/Posada delivers
Posted by: Brian Heyman - Posted in Misc on Aug 13, 2011 
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So all this time spent speculating about the rotation cut and there’s no decision because Freddy Garcia cuts a pitching finger. Joe Girardi revealed it after the game.
“I think it was a kitchen accident,” Girardi said. “Players shouldn’t use knives.”
Girardi said he has known about this for four or five days, which is about when it happened. Garcia got through a bullpen session without throwing his splitter. But he tried to throw splitters on flat ground today and couldn’t. Girardi said the ball was rubbing against the cut on the side of the finger, so he was scratched from Sunday’s scheduled start. A.J. Burnett is down to start instead.
So the decision is on hold. Girardi would only go as far to name his rotation for the three-game Kansas City series, Ivan Nova, Bartolo Colon and CC Sabathia. But weather.com is predicting a 70 percent chance of rain for Sunday, so that might impact things again.
Girardi is hopeful Garcia will only miss this one start.
“But obviously we have to make sure it’s healed before we have him even try,” Girardi said. “And he’s going to have throw a bullpen before he tries to pitch in a game. I don’t really see it as being a deep, deep cut. But it’s enough where it effects his split.”
*Girardi said Phil Hughes “mixed his pitches today as well as I’ve seen him.”
Hughes fanned six and walked one, while allowing the two runs and four hits over six. And he was able to block out the swirl about his place in the rotation.
“There are always circumstances with everything,” Hughes said. “It’s hard enough to pitch a big-league game with a clear conscience.”
Jorge Posada, meanwhile, was back in a big way after being benched last Sunday. After five games of sitting, he had a grand slam, two singles and six RBI. Girardi told him afterward he would get another DH start tomorrow. Girardi said Posada is going to play, that he will still get some DH work and maybe some backup work at first if Mark Teixeira is the DH.
“Georgie is very professional,” Girardi said. “That’s the way he’s always been. I knew he was dying to get back in there. I knew that. It’s tough not putting him in the lineup. Georgie and I have a long history together. We were teammates and won together. I think he’s a great player. I think he’s a great man. So it’s difficult because I know how much he wants to play.
“And I want him to have success. That’s the bottom line. We want him to drive runs and do all that. At times it’s been a struggle this year. Sometimes I have to make tough decisions. But I know he was itching to get back in there. Georgie will be 60 years old and he’ll be itching to get back in there. That’s the type of guy he is.”
Posada passed Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra for sole possession of sixth on the Yankees’ all-time grand-slam list. This was No. 10. It was a very satisfying day for him.
“It’s special,” Posada said. “I got an opportunity to play. It’s tough to sit around. It’s not easy sitting here and everybody’s playing. It’s tough.
“I just have to be prepared for that opportunity. From now on, I have to look at the lineup card and be ready. I haven’t given up.”
The fans asked for a curtain call after the slam and he popped out of the dugout after Russell Martin’s ensuing single. They have been great to him throughout, and he appreciates it.
“I play for them,” Posada said.
*Curtis Granderson has hit five homers over his last five games. His 33 homers not only tie him for the MLB lead with Jose Bautista, but they are the most by a Yankees center fielder since Bobby Murcer launched 33 in 1972.
*Alex Rodriguez went 0 for 3 as the DH in his second rehab game for Single-A Tampa at Dunedin.
*Out of the gifts Derek Jeter received at the pregame ceremony to honor him for reaching 3,000 hits, the one that stood out the most to him was the 225-pound stainless-steel sculpture of himself that Posada and CC Sabathia commissioned on behalf of the players.
“I really appreciate that,” Jeter said.
“He said, ‘Where am I going to put this at?’ ” Posada said. “I said, ‘You’ve got plenty of room in that house in Tampa.’ “
Dan Uggla….33 games! Who woulda thunk it
Really happy for Jorge – it’s painful to see great players coming to the end of their careers, but hopefully he’ll still have some great moments left in him
leadoff homer for Ichiro….1-0 M’s
Would love to see Beckett lose tonight. Love.
3-0 Mariners….Beckett yet to get an out in the 1st
lol. Posada with a biting sense of humor. Jeter’s house. Bigger than life. Just like its owner.
I’ll be interested to see how Hernandez does today. Fenway bashes his brains in, let’s see how he does at home against the Sox.
JM, saw your note on the Wire. Gonna watch the final season next. I’ve mentioned the show “Luther” on BBC (a mini season is due out). Anyway, I was surprised to see that Luther was Stringer Bell. And McNulty is also and Englishman. After I found that out, I could hear the accent. I just thought it was a Baltimore accent.
At least in 1998 when Coney’s mom’s dog bit him and cut his finger, we got the amazing El Duque. Now in 2011 we’re stuck with the Gutless blond loser. The one and only, Tin Man Burnett.
5-0 Mariners. This is fun to watch…..this day is getting better all the time.
5 ER in 0.1 innings. Compass Rosy must be yelling her head off!
Really obvious that becketts epidural wore off today as pat m said it would.
Blondie pitches tomorrow, pray for a rain-out.
What many people don’t understand is that Being a fan of a team isn’t merely liking the players because of their stats or how many wins the team gets. It’s the players, and Jorge has been a wonderful Yankee for 15 years. And that’s why you root for a team.
I’m not ready to deal with another AJ game tomorrow.
Nothing warms my heart more than Beckett getting lit up by the Mariners
Neil Young performing on Farm Aid if interested.
http://www.farmaid.org/site/c......ebcast.htm
Huh? Did I miss a memo?
“Curtis Granderson, who has 46 home runs in the last calendar year, has taken over the New York Yankees’ cleanup spot on a permanent basis. Alex Rodriguez will have to find a new place to hit when he returns from the disabled list this week …”
http://www.latimes.com/sports/.....4985.story
How does the ump call Ellsbury safe at home in the first place? Fantastic play by Bard. Now I’ve seen it all, a call at home is reversed. “You can take that one off the board.”
The Wire is the best show ever.
That was a weird play….not sure why he was called safe to begin with either unless he thought the ball came loose. Great play though
blake,
I can see why Francona was hot about it. Basically the other umps talked the HP umpire into reversing the call. Which is lame because he was right on top of it. How the others had a better view than the HP ump without the benefit of instant replay is beyond me. Wrong call in the first place, but what’s the rationalization of reversing it without a fresher, better set of eyes?
Beckett has settled down nicely.
M,
True
All I can say is…
if I was hanging from a cliff, I’d want Bard to be the one who was hanging on to me
(did you see that play in slo-mo? he was hanging on to that ball by his pinkie!)
The rationalization is that the missed call was predicated on the mistaken belief that Bard had dropped the ball, not that Ellsbury might have gotten to the plate before the tag.
The home plate ump might have figured out his mistake himself when he saw that Bard still had the ball. Either way, they got the call right, as Francona surely knows having the benefit of seeing the replays a million times in the clubhouse.
Settle down, Felix. Don’t take the Freddy knife reports too hard.
This Red Sox team is great. No quit. Felix stinks FWIW.
Felix gets a 5-0 lead against Boston and does his best AJ impression
Ever notice how pitchers walk off the mound against Yanks after giving up runs and look angry. Earlier this year, Felix gave up a baserunner in an inning and waked off the mound at end of inning yelling into glove. Felix just gave up 2 homers in same inning and walked off mound peaceful as can be
I hate Felix Hernandez.
Always stinks it up vs the Sox and pitches like it’s game 7 of the WS against the Yanks.
I hate you Felix Hernandez.
Somehow, Baseball Tonight brings Grandy into the MVP consversation to say he is the worst CF in the Majors by defensive metrics. WTF?
Curtis granderson is a bad centerfielder
I still cannot believe Red Sox did the impossible. They made Matt Albers good LOL
I saw Granderson’s defensive metrics earlier. Something is wrong with the system when it says Granderson is that bad. He’s at least above average.
If Grandy was really that bad, Gardner and he would eventually switch positions.
Where is WCYF?
Defensive metrics are comical when they say players like Grandy, Tex and Cano are bad defenders.
Watch the games you defensive metric then tell me they’re bad.
That was a pretty sweet double play
Adrian Gonzalez : Gonzalez reached on bunt single to third.
Dustin Pedroia : Pedroia homered to right, Gonzalez scored.
Note to Tex (when trailing by multiple runs late in game).
raymagnetic August 14th, 2011 at 12:09 am
“…Always stinks it up vs the Sox and pitches like it’s game 7 of the WS against the Yanks….”
=================
Felix career…
vs. Red Sox ~ 4-2 w/3.39ERA – 69IP w/61K
vs. Yankees ~ 6-3 w/2.82ERA – 73IP w/62K
CompassRosy,
Still better against us
Felix is undefeated at the New Yankee Stadium. In fact, I believe he has not lost against us period in the last 3 years. I think all wins and a ND.
Triple Short of a Cycle August 14th, 2011 at 12:40 am
CompassRosy,
“Still better against us”
==================
I guess my point was 4-2 w/3.39 isn’t exactly “stinking it up”
Now if we’re talking Felix’s career vs. the Halos, that’s a different story…
4-9 w/4.01ERA
vs. Yankees since 09
2009 – 1 start (1-0, 9 IP, 1 ER) That was the game Ichiro hit the HR off MO to win it.
2010 – 3 starts (3-0, 0.35 ERA, 1 run in 26 innings)
2011 – 2 starts (1-0 with a 3.21 ERA, 5 runs in 14 innings)
King Felix: 20.1 IP, 26 H, 12 ER against the sux this year
Jaime Wrong doing his best to blow this game
“Felix stinks at Fenway.” Is it okay to say that?
League dealing at 98!
That was a big League fastball
99 cheese JR.
SUX LOSE!
That was some big League pitching.
League has a good pedigree.
He looked unhittable tonight.
That’s the end of a satisfying day of baseball.
G’night Yankee people
Good day all around! Hip hip Jorge and a game out.
Zzzzzz. Nite.
m August 14th, 2011 at 12:57 am
“Felix stinks at Fenway.” Is it okay to say that?
==============================
You can say it, it just wouldn’t be true…
3-1 w/2.53ERA
And, if my memory serves, one of the best starts of his career came at Fenway – he threw a one-hitter in the same game in which DiceK debuted for the Sox.
In any case, I’ve not doubt y’all are happy with Felix’s victory tonight
btw ~ I clearly chose the wrong game to attend….
‘t would have been really fun to be at “Fenway Northwest” tonight.
“Phil has now thrown three straight quality starts, and has allowed two runs or less in five of his six starts since coming off the DL.” – RAB
************
“Not good enough” according to some.
Rosy you can try to convince me all you want but Felix is a different pitcher vs the Yankee. I’m happy when the Yankees bash him
Think it’s already been established that when Phil pitches we ignore certain posters who have an obsession with Phil Highes.
•While Posada was busy partying like it was 2007, Phil Hughes was getting his 2010 first half on. Philbert struck out six walked one, and allowed just four hits in six innings of work, giving up just two runs in what was essentially garbage time. He also got seven ground ball outs compared to five in the air, which was a welcome change. Hughes threw 96 pitches, held his velocity throughout the start, and mixed his pitches were well: 46 fastballs, 25 curveballs, 13 cutters, and 12 changeups. That’s much more like it. Phil has now thrown three straight quality starts, and has allowed two runs or less in five of his six starts since coming off the DL.
Got some bad news folks, Gary Sanchez’s season is likely over due to a broken finger. He left Thursday’s game in the fifth inning, so maybe he got hit by a foul tip or errant back swing or something. If he is done, he finishes the season with a .364 wOBA and 17 homers in 343 plate appearances, which is pretty damn good for an 18-year-old kid in full season ball.
RAB.
raymagnetic August 14th, 2011 at 12:12 am
Curtis granderson is a bad centerfielder
///
No, defensive metrics are an absolute fraud. They’re the biggest joke running.
UZR, UZR/150 is what I mean when I say fraud.
Marcus August 14th, 2011 at 12:22 am
If Grandy was really that bad, Gardner and he would eventually switch positions.
…
\\\
Granderson’s better in center, that’s why the Yanks do it like they do.
raymagnetic August 14th, 2011 at 12:29 am
Defensive metrics are comical when they say players like Grandy, Tex and Cano are bad defenders.
Watch the games you defensive metric then tell me they’re bad.
/////////
that’s an apt word for uzr…comical…
I agree…they are highly inaccurate and I pay very liitle attention to them…..I like a lot of the newer offensive stats and the way pitches can be tracked for velocity/movement these days but I’m very skeptical of the defense stuff and maintain that the best way to judge a player defense is to watch the games……ESPN is just upset that Granderson has passed Gonzalez in deserving the MVP
therealarieberAnthony Rieber Strange thing about Zambrano incident is a source says MLB plans to investigate A-Rod over it. Might be suspended.
therealarieberAnthony Rieber Wait…This just in . . . Source says A-Rod won’t be suspended over Zambrano incident.
Bill Maddon in Daily News reports that Yankees turned down deal for Liriano:
“The Twins’ Game 1 starter in the division series against the Yankees last year after going 14-10 with a 3.62 ERA, is 7-9 with a 5.00 ERA and a major reason they’ve never gotten into the winnable AL Central race. Was offered at the trading deadline to the Yankees, who quickly declined.”
http://www.nydailynews.com/spo.....tml?page=1
_____________
Many here have been saying he is not the same pitcher as last year, and not worth the gamble. Interesting.
Buster_ESPN In the first seven seasons of DiMaggio’s career — before he began his military service in World War II — he had a total of 196 strikeouts.
about 2 hours ago
Buster_ESPN Uggla has 484 plate appearances this year,and 104 strikeouts. In 621 PAs in 1941,year of the 56-game streak, Joe DiMaggio had 13 strikeouts.
about 2 hours ago
If the look and sound outside my window are any indication, the Yankees can ignore their alarm clocks this morning.
the AL schedule this season is very strange-the both the Yankees and Sox have two road trips in August around a single home series.
The Sox actually have it worse-they are in Seattle, come home for 3 games in two days against Tampa, then right back on the road to KC and Texas. The Yankees have the same thing but the road trip following the home series is in Baltimore and Boston.
I think the MLB computer must have glitched when calculating all this…
I always want them to play…..but a rain out wouldn’t be the worst thing today.
blake -
It’s coming down so hard now, maybe it will rain itself out and they play? (I don’t think so, but, hey it’s the weather – anything can happen!)
They’re not skipping AJ anyway, so might as well play today and get it over with. Better that than he goes off schedule and has that excuse for sucking.
A rainout will not help. Yanks will just start Burnett tomorrow. Yanks will not skip his turn in rotation.
NYS drains so well that if it stops raining they’ll play…..
I’ve watched Felix pitch a lot this year…..he’s still good obviosuly but he’s not the same guy he’s been the last couple years…..velocity is down a bit and he’s just getting hit a lot more. Id still love to have him but I would be very hesitant about trading away what it would actually take to get him even if they did make him available. He’s thrown a ton of innings already in his career…….could.just be an off year by his standards
Brett Gardner and……Nick Swisher(?) are BR’s highest rated defenders in the A.L..
http://www.baseball-reference......atting::13
Id rather AJ start in KC than against Shields though……who the Yanks have struggled against this year. I want then to play…..I just wouldn’t be terribly upset if they don’t.
I love this phrase by the Star Ledger’s Marc Carig, the lead in sentence to talking about Mo tying Trevor Hoffman reaching 30 saves for 9 consecutive seasons:
“Something to consider during the annual ‘Mariano Rivera is on his last legs!’ freakout”
Just love the phrase.
Theyll probably wait all day though to get it in today if possible because the only other time TB comes to NY is at the end of the season and they’d have to probably play a double header in the middle of the week.
And here is an eye-opener, again from Mr. Carig:
“CC Sabathia, Jerd Weaver and Justin Verlander are in consideration for the Cy Young Award. All three have posted similarly stellar numbers. But when quality of opponents is considered, the Yankees lefty has an edge Of teh three, Sabathia has faced the toughest competition, according to BaseballProspectus.com, with an opponent on-base plus slugging of .751. Verlander (.740) is second and Weaver (.733) is third.”
blake -
True. They can wait an awfully long time to get this in today. I’d really hate to have to add another DH with the Rays.
Villa,
And after that Rays series in Sept the Sox come to town for a series that could.decide the division.
Tom in N.J. August 14th, 2011 at 8:55 am
Brett Gardner and……Nick Swisher(?) are BR’s highest rated defenders in the A.L..
——————————————-
Swisher has, I believe 8 assissts and no errors this year in RF.
If the predictions for continous rain thru Monday from weather.com are close to accurate there will not be a game today and might be delays in getting the team out of NY on way to KC. !00% precip/thunderstorms until 3PM, 90% of the same thru 9PM, then 90% just rain thru Monday morning.
But seriously, does anyone who watches the Yanks a lot think Swisher is a good outfielder? He’s made some really boneheaded plays.
But seriously, does anyone who watches the Yanks a lot think Swisher is a good outfielder? He’s made some really boneheaded plays.
————————————————
I’d take Nick Markakis any day over Swisher. Swisher plays a decent RF in YS where there is less ground to cover.
I think Swisher is Ok…he’s not a great outfielder….not a terrible one. Id say right at average for RF.
Thankfully, he’s removed when defense is needed in tight games. We don’t need him “kicking” the ball out there in the 9th…
I’d say Swish is a bit below average, and it’s true YS’s RF is not as difficult as some.
They should try and start the game for 2 innings or so and then go into a long rain delay.
Get Shields and AJ out of the game. I’ll take my chances with Noesi in the long man role + our short relievers over whatever TB has.
If the game is rained out today it probably will be made up Wednesday September 21st after the already scheduled 1:05PM game against the Rats, oops Rays. What a tough week that will be!
September Yankees schedule:
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com.....1&m=9
I’ve always said Swisher plays RF like a little kid in his backyard throwing the ball up in the air to himself pretending it’s the last out of the World Series and he’s about to make the most amazing catch of his life to win it for his team.
I’m no weather expert but looking at the radar I don’t see any chance they play today.
Swisher makes a lot of plays that aren’t routine though……he’s made himself into a decent outfielder. He’s fine there until we get Kemp or Upton
i agree w/ you pkyank…doesn’t look good at all. I have tix for today. Luckily, I was able to go yesterday.
After.looking at the schedule I have changed my mind…..I want them to play today. I don’t want to play 4 games in 3 days against the Rays at the end of September with Boston coming in the next series…….the last 3 series will probably decide the division. The finish with Rays, Sox, Rays.
G. Love August 14th, 2011 at 9:29 am
I’ve always said Swisher plays RF like a little kid in his backyard throwing the ball up in the air to himself pretending it’s the last out of the World Series and he’s about to make the most amazing catch of his life to win it for his team.
——————————————
Good one!! He made some “amazing” catches yesterday on some fairly routine fly balls!
I vote for Kemp.
Jorge and CC are banned from here forward on picking out commemorative gifts.
The only thing stainless steel and weighing 225 lbs that anyone should own is a kitchen appliance.
As pertains to winning the division……the Yanks really need to take advantage of the rest of this month. The schedule is very light leading up to the series at Fenway the last couple of days of August. Hopefully they can play well the next couple weeks and take a little lead into that series…….
I vote Kemp as well as he’s a free agent after next season and Upton would cost a bunch in prospects when/if he’s ever available……that said Id rather have Upton long term. Its splitting hairs though…..I think Upton is a better defender and he’s younger.
Blake
Plus, before the Rays come in, they play the Blue Jays 3 games followed by a Monday make-up game with the Twins on the 21st. They’ll need the 6, maybe 7 man rotation those last two weeks!!!
Now of course if the division gets locked up[by Yankees of course] before the DH the 21st?!?!
Trader,
Yea the Sept schedule is pretty rough…..that’s why the next 2 weeks are very important if they want to make a play for the division. A 10-2 or 9-3 stretch would be nice…..and they are certainly capable
Gotta go and run some Sunday errands. If you’re in the NE stay dry and everyone have a great day.
Montero apparently came in late last night to catch after not starting the game……will be interesting tobsee if he plays today…..if not could he be on the way to KC? We shall see.
# blake August 14th, 2011 at 9:58 am
Montero apparently came in late last night to catch after not starting the game……will be interesting tobsee if he plays today…..if not could he be on the way to KC? We shall see.
————————————–
Montero Monday
Against all,
I doubt it but we’ll see.
I doubt it too but hell why not keep the chants going.
blake August 14th, 2011 at 8:54 am
I’ve watched Felix pitch a lot this year…..he’s still good obviosuly but he’s not the same guy he’s been the last couple years…..velocity is down a bit and he’s just getting hit a lot more. Id still love to have him but I would be very hesitant about trading away what it would actually take to get him even if they did make him available. He’s thrown a ton of innings already in his career…….could.just be an off year by his standards
___
I agree. I don’t like it when young pitchers throw a lot of innings before age 25 (when they reach physical maturity). Seen too many go downhill with various arm injuries after doing so.
And no one needs to bring up pitchers before 1967 when they lowered the mound. There are plenty of articles that discuss the effect on pitchers and their arms resulting from that change.
DAVIDprice14David Price
Someone make this rain STOPPP!!! I don’t want to throw on 7 days again…and I love pitching in Boston!!!
September sched will even more brutal if this game gets rained out. We already have 13 straight days of games coming off the Angels-Seattle road trip and the only off days are travel days to and from the west coast. That said no way they will play today, it is raining non-stop and doesn’t look like it is going to stop until Tuesday.
Also, really want Price to pitch in Boston, as I am hoping to attend that game.
Bad news about Ravel Santana, based on Bichette’s twitter, keeping my fingers crossed that injury isn’t as bad as they think it is.
“Dante19jr Dante Bichette Jr
Everybody please take a moment to pray for my teammate Ravel Santana. He suffered a brutal ankle injury today.”
20 hours ago
Bojo,
It may be nothing…..his K rate is about the same but he’s already given up more earned runs than in all of 09 and 10 and nearly as many homers. He just doesn’t seem to be overwhelming hitters like he’s done in the past….and his velo is down a tick. He’s still really really good though.
CompassRosy, you’re quoting stats from before Felix became “King” Felix. Felix wasn’t always the very good pitcher he is currently. With other factors coming into play, Felix has indeed pitched significantly better against the Yankees.
I think part of it is that the current version of the Yankees has a tougher time against good RHP than the Sox do…..good lefties they can handle (except Cliff Lee for some reason) but really top shelf righties can give them problems.
blake August 14th, 2011 at 9:00 am
Theyll probably wait all day though to get it in today if possible because the only other time TB comes to NY is at the end of the season and they’d have to probably play a double header in the middle of the week.
—————–
we have no control over it but the Yankees are much better off playing today-they already have 2 makeup games scheduled for the next to last week of the season (at home vs Minn and Rays) and if today’s game is cancelled that will give them 4 games in 3 days against the Rays right before a weekend series against the Sox that could decide the AL East.
Good morning –
1. I really hope it holds off enough to get the game in. A late season DH will not be fun.
2. This would sure be a good time of year for Beckett’s epidural to begin to wear off.
3. This might just be an off year for King Felix. Or, it could signify something more ominous. Like with Liriano, whom it seems Minnesota had a sudden desire to trade. If Seattle seems to get aggressive with looking for trade partners, come the winter, I’d be a bit suspicious. Though he still seems capable of stifliing the Yankees.
4. Saw that the Yanks signed Scott Proctor to a minor league deal. I seem to remember that Proctor was well liked within the organization, back when he was being “Torre’d”. Supposedly, his drinking was a big reason why he was dealt, in the Betemit deal. It sure looks like his career is just about over. I wonder if this deal is more along the lines of a favor to an old friend, just trying to finish out the season.
Maybe Felix has pitched too many innings, or maybe it’s just hard to keep competing at a high level when you’re on a perennial losing team.