Postgame notes: “We could kind of smell it”
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Notes, Podcast on Sep 11, 2011 
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The Yankees needed this one. A third of their lineup has been sidelined with injuries, they haven’t had a full group of available relievers in several days, and even their healthy hitters have been struggling. Today they caught a break on a dropped fly ball, and it just enough luck to snap a four-game losing streak and extend their lead in the American League East.
“We’ve been through a lot lately,” Mark Teixeira said. “And for us to scratch this one out, we could kind of smell it. Once we got that lead, we weren’t going to give it back.”
It’s easy to get caught up in the drama of the day: The pregame ceremony was incredibly touching, two rookie catchers were splitting time behind the plate, Alex Rodriguez and Nick Swisher were once again on the bench. There was a lot going on, but there was also this undeniable fact.
“We lost the last four in a row, so we needed a win, period,” Mariano Rivera said. “We got a little bit of luck today, but that’s part of the game.”
Eric Chavez had an early RBI single, and Curtis Granderson and Robinson Cano homered in the middle innings, but the decisive blow was a seventh-inning sacrifice fly that glanced off Peter Bourjos’ glove. When he coupled that error with a bad throw, the Yankees were able to score not only the tying run, but also the go-ahead run.
And this time, they had all of their late-inning relievers available to seal it.
“Tex drove that ball a long way,” Joe Girardi said. “The sun helped us today… We’ve had some tough losses here. These guys are a tough team to beat, and we know that. We had a chance to win three games in a sense. To be able to get this one was important.”
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A lot of eyes on Jesus Montero today. He’s made a quick impression — and a quick impact — which his bat, but today was his first time behind the plate in a Major League game. He was catching a familiar veteran in Freddy Garcia, but he was also catching a guy who likes to throw a ton of offspeed pitches and bounce splitters in the dirt.
It’s hardly a surprise that Girardi decided to use Austin Romine as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning — the Yankees have never denied that Romine is a better defensive catcher — but Montero threw out the first guy who tried to steal against him, and the Yankees seemed happy with his ability to hold his own in this situation.
Garcia: “He did a really good job. We were on the same page. We talked about it before the game, what I like to do, and he did pretty good. I was really happy for him.”
Girardi: “I thought he did okay. There’s balls going every which direction when you catch Freddy. Some splitters are going to go straight down, some are going to left and some are going to go right. I thought he did a good job. To be thrown into that situation against an aggressive ballclub after losing two games, I thought he did a nice job.”
Montero: “A little nervous the first time, but after that it was like, let’s work. Let’s win today. Let’s help our team to win… We talked before the game. We talked about everything: ‘I like to throw this, I like to do this.’ I was OK. He told me, ‘Be ready to block.’ That’s what I did. We did a nice job together.”
Here’s Montero.
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• Rivera got career save No. 599 today. Up next, becoming the second pitcher to ever reach 600. “It’s a great number, definitely,” Rivera said. “It’s going to happen if it happens. I’ll be fine. I won’t lose any sleep if it doesn’t happen, but it’s a great number.”
• Obviously this wasn’t Garcia’s finest start — he’s had two shaky outings in a row — but leaving the bases loaded in the fifth inning might have been the key to the game, specifically the 3-1 pitch that Mark Trumbo popped up for the second out. “I was really glad that Joe gave me the confidence to finish that inning,” Garcia said. “It’s really important for any pitcher in that situation. We lost the first two here, so to give me the chance to get out of that inning, it was big.”
• Although the numbers weren’t great, Garcia wasn’t beating himself up and Girardi seemed generally pleased with the start. A lot of infield singles all week, and tonight the Angels were able to capitalize with two key two-run homers. “The home run to the center fielder, that was a good pitch,” Garcia said. “Nothing you can do about it. Those guys know how to play the game. They take pitches and make you work.”
• Crazy day for Austin Romine, who drove from Scranton to Kentucky — where he’s in the process of moving — then found out last night he was being called up. He woke up at 4:30 ET, flew to LA, got to the park around noon and made his big league debut as a defensive replacement. “I had a million things thrown at me at one time,” he said. “They were showing me pictures of hitters and counts and stuff like that. I just took a deep breath and treated it like spring training. I’d caught him before — I’d caught all these guys before – and I’d played here before, so the comfort level was higher than I thought it was going to be. I just took a deep breath and didn’t think.”
• Speaking of Romine, he said he didn’t throw to second on the strange stolen base in the seventh because Torii Hunter was in front of him. “He was in front of me,” Romine said. “I didn’t want to try to throw it around him and throw it into the outfield. I figured, we have a guy on the mound who can get people out. Let him get them out, rather than have me throw the ball into the outfield and put us even or down a run. I just didn’t want to throw it away.”
• Russell Martin said his thumb is better, but Girardi said he expects either Montero or Romine to catch tomorrow night in Seattle. “You’ve got two guys that, if you add them up, are the same age as Jorge,” Girardi said. “They both did a good job. I remember my first game in the big-leagues and I was as nervous as you could be. For them to do what they did, I’m proud of both of them.”
• Speaking of feeling better, the Yankees aren’t ruling out the idea of Nick Swisher playing tomorrow. He hasn’t been hitting or throwing, but Swisher said his elbow isn’t as sore. “Normal moving around, picking things up, it feels better,” he said.
• Teixeira on his sac fly, which turned out to be the game-winner: “I thought I hit it really well. I knew at the very least it got the job done… I was running hard the whole way, just in case.”
• Montero on throwing out the first runner who tried to steal against him: “Well, thank God I make a nice throw right there. I know Callaspo likes to run and I was ready to throw the ball to second base real quick, and that’s what I did.”
• Apparently I only put this on Twitter pregame and forget to actually put it on the blog: Steve Garrison was designated for assignment to make room for Romine on the 40-man roster.
Associated Press photos
Nice summary Chad.
Soriano was kinda shaky again.
Not for the faint of heart.
REPOST:
# GreenBeret7 September 11th, 2011 at 9:27 pm
GF, Romine isn’t the automatic out anymore than Montero is the defensive butcher that many claim…most who have never seen either one. I think Romine will be a .275-.280 type hitter with a fair power swing. He could start without hurting the team with his bat. Maybe somewhere between Posada and Girardi.
——–
If Romine turns out to be a .270-.280 hitter with 15 dingers and a strong glove, he’ll be one of Top 10 catchers in the game.
It obviously wasn’t ideal for the Yanks to be forced to call up Romine this soon, but I hope he gets more opportunities to play. They certainly had options to boot off the 40 man roster.
Any experience he and Montero get this season can only help them going into next year.
Suddenly, there appears to be a bit of a logjam at the catcher’s position. The good thing is that having 4 catchers on the 40 man (5, if you include Posada) should prohibit them from adding the Gustavo Molina’s of the world to the 40 man roster this offseason.
GF, if it’s shown that cervelli does in fact have a third concussion, that’s going to be about it for him. His bat isn’t strong enough tp warrant a position switch. That’s a pity, because, though people seem to ignore the fact that both defense and offense were improving…at least this year.
Strange how Tex was involved in the play today when the CF dropped the ball, and also when he scored the winning run when Luis Castillo dropped Arod’s popup….In both instances, Tex was running hard and took the extra base…great hustle..
“He was in front of me,” Romine said. “I didn’t want to try to throw it around him and throw it into the outfield.”
i think a catcher need to make it a point to initiate contact when the runner gets in the way. it’ll be called interference every time.
if the catcher doesn’t make contact with the hitter standing in front of him, they can’t call it.
“if the catcher doesn’t make contact with the hitter standing in front of him, they can’t call it.”
Randy, thank you. I didn’t know that contact was necessary. I learned something tonight.
Initiate contact, but without throwing the ball, right?
gb7-
cervelli might be ok with the winter off.
cervelli is not my idea of the ideal yankee back up catcher, but i do think he could have a nice 10-12 year mlb career somewhere. i hope he’s in the game playing for a long time.
WC
Your behavior is truly sad. It’s amazing how self absorbed you are being on a day like today.
Please show some restraint for once. Today is not about politics.
Just for my extra special viewing pleasure I hope Girardi starts Montero at C just so I can see the astonished look on Jack Z’s face.
“My god. He can catch.”
“They told me he couldn’t.”
And then the fit he throws when Jesus launches one against the King.
One dumb sucka that Jerk Z.
Lucky for us.
“I didn’t know that contact was necessary. I learned something tonight.”
i vaguely remember watching varitek initiate contact with a hitter and being called heads up for doing it. i don’t know the exact rule, but how could an umpire call it if there’s no contact?
MTU September 11th, 2011 at 10:02 pm
Just for my extra special viewing pleasure I hope Girardi starts Montero at C just so I can see the astonished look on Jack Z’s face.
“My god. He can catch.”
“They told me he couldn’t.”
And then the fit he throws when Jesus launches one against the King.
One dumb sucka that Jerk Z.
Lucky for us.
============
I like the way that you think. I would love to see Montero have a big series against the Ms, just to really stick it to them.
Jack the Jerk Z is an arse…Hope he’s happy with Justin Smoak..
MTU, hope you’re right. I was never really in favor of that trade, I want to see Jesus catching for the Yankees for a long time. But I’m tired Jack Z – and all GMs – charging a “Yankee tax”.
“Initiate contact, but without throwing the ball, right?”
no, i’d throw the ball, get all tangled up, fall down , fake being hurt … the whole nine yards.
Ghost-
You asked a question earlier about “what does awaiting moderation mean ?”
If you noticed my recent comment on Jerk Z it’s the opposite.
Randy, I suppose it does make sense. Joe G tried, but the effort was in vain. Hopefully, Romine learned something tonight too.
I’m glad that the Lee deals fell through. It might have hurt us last year but over the long haul, I think that the Yanks will be better off.
The Yankees earned this game. At the very least the game would have been tied, even if Borjous (sp?) catches that ball. His error only shortened the game.
But the bullpen did its job today. And Freddie outpitched Lester. At the very east went longer.
MTU September 11th, 2011 at 10:08 pm
Ghost-
You asked a question earlier about “what does awaiting moderation mean ?”
If you noticed my recent comment on Jerk Z it’s the opposite.
–
That’s funny–I didn’t find your remarks the least bit immoderate.
Garcia really seems like he has been a great veteran presence in the clubhouse this season.
Very nice quote about Montero.
To bad for the King.
He drew the short straw and has to pitch against Phil Hughes.
If the Yankees keep drafting and developing kids, in addition to signing some free agents, then they can tell the other GMs to stick their Yankee trade tax where the sun don’t shine!
edit: too
It is better to be lucky than good…we will take it for sure
Would it be OK with everyone if I included Soriano when I trade AJ this OS ?
I hope that contract turns out to be a bad one but I have a feeling Cliff Lee can live up to it. Latroy Hawkins is having success in the NL this season. Jeff Karstens. It’s such a cakewalk. Cliff Lee played it smart going to the soft NL because he set himself up for another massive contract on top of this one. The guy inhales money like it’s air and he’s suffocating to death.
LGY…remember that Garcia mentored Nova in ST….I love it when veterans take the time to pass on their wisdom
randy l. September 11th, 2011 at 10:01 pm
gb7-
cervelli might be ok with the winter off.
cervelli is not my idea of the ideal yankee back up catcher, but i do think he could have a nice 10-12 year mlb career somewhere. i hope he’s in the game playing for a long time.
————————————————————————————————————————-
It would be tough to shake off 3 in 3 years.
On the slide itself, I thought it was a bit of a dirty play. Markakis went in head high a leading with his shoulder with the intent to knock Cervelli into next week. But shoulder into the side of the head was uncalled for. I guess it’s only fitting that his shoulder is aching a bit.
“Garcia really seems like he has been a great veteran presence in the clubhouse this season.
Very nice quote about Montero.”
garcia has really matured form the brash young player he was when he first stared out. he’s a very classy veteran now and a great example for young pitchers.
How fun to see both Romine and Montero catch.
I know this won’t happen, but I’d like to see Girardi put in Jorge when Mo gets ready to break the record.
SOOOO good to get a win — especially on this day.
MTU September 11th, 2011 at 10:16 pm
Would it be OK with everyone if I included Soriano when I trade AJ this OS ?
~~~~~~~~
ABSOLUTELY!!!
3 more and Mo breaks the record.
Thanks Wang.
I just wanted to get permission first.
MTU,
You promised me you were going to sign Matt Holliday. I was counting on you!
Bret-
I did everything in my power.
Doesn’t everyone deserve a second chance ?
I don’t buy into that idea that the NL is is a soft league. If it was ever true, it seems fairly clear that the gap is narrowing. Sure, it’s probably easier to pitch in the NL, because they get to face pitchers, but that’s probably the extent of it.
At any rate, Lee is no spring chicken, and he’s already has had back problems. That contract was a train wreck. Moreover, the Yanks still have to contend with ARod’s contract, which very well could turn into an albatross around the Yanks’ necks.
“It would be tough to shake off 3 in 3 years.”
gb7 -
there are concussions and there are concussions. hopefully all three were not real bad.
there is also something to do with how well one heals before the area gets damaged more. it’s not a simple thing. they are learning more about it every year.
i agree that three in three years is very serious. at the very least i ‘d like to see cervelli play enough to get his full pension. it is a shame that this came out of the blue like it did.
i think once a guy is considered a concussion risk he needs to be coached to not stick his head in there the way cervelli did. yes , some runners would be safe , but so what. a run is not worth ending a career.
DocTodd September 11th, 2011 at 10:06 pm
Jack the Jerk Z is an arse…Hope he’s happy with Justin Smoak..
=====
I don’t know about Jack Z but, considering all Justin has been through in his first, full big league season (losing his father, suffering a broken nose and cheekbone and thumb sprain) I’m pretty happy with the way he’s contributed since coming off the DL.
#EndingOnAHighNote
======
On a grid iron note…
Can someone light a fire under those Jets, please? My fantasy football opponent this week has the Dallas defense and a couple of their players. Jets need to score some more points … now!
Besides Bret. He lied to me.
He said it was his dream to be a Yankee.
He was all about the money like most of them.
Doesn’t deserve to wear the stripes.
MTU,
Second chance on one condition.
Bring us Matt Kemp.
This is your new mission.
Bret-
Would Upton be an acceptable substitute ?
Just curious. I like to know what my options are.
LGY…remember that Garcia mentored Nova in ST….I love it when veterans take the time to pass on their wisdom
——————-
Yep. I was thinking about that when I posted it.
I hope he is around when Manny comes up. Having a vet on the staff that speaks his primary language would be nice.
Bring us Matt Kemp.
This is your new mission.
___________________________________________________________
You might not get your wish. I read that Kemp LOVES granola.
MTU,
Both Uptons and you got yourself a deal.
LGY-
Manuelito already speaks strikeout.
How is Montero’s English?
Ghost-
Very good when he gets the right part of the bat on the ball.
Otherwise passable.
MTU September 11th, 2011 at 10:35 pm
Ghost-
Very good when he gets the right part of the bat on the ball.
Otherwise passable.
===================
Thanks, but I don’t think that will be terribly helpful if he’s trying to talk with Hughes, Burnett, or Sabathia.
Time for me to part company.
Before I do I thought I’d let you in on a secret.
In the morning I’m gonna call NASA and warn them to reposition their critical satellites before tomorrow night’s game with Seattle.
I don’t want Jesus bein’ blamed for disrupting
communications when launches another one.
It’s the least I can do, eh ?
I put on a green t-shirt at halftime to help the Jets.
You’re welcome.
One person calling the Rays to win the WC. Pretty scathing analysis of the Red Sox. Nice to see another team get slammed for a big payroll not buying results.
http://espn.go.com/blog/sweets.....-wild-card
I don’t think Romine has a Yankee Bat at all. And think he’ll have a low OBP and probably 12 homers in the bigs at his peak. I’m hoping some other teams place a high value on him and we can put him in a package for something good. Sanchez has a Yankee bat and Igesias Tejeda seems like he might.
I think he might hit like Girardi, but I don’t think he has the same D. Only interested in him as a trade piece.
Reading some comments on Extra Bases. Change the names of the people, and it could be LoHud.
1) Why is Francona wasting Aceves in garbage time?!
2) This team is lacking in fundamentals right now. Tito does a good job managing the egos, but his on the diamond he’s not close to being good.
3)If Lackey pitches another inning, Francona should be fired. We have ACEVES.
4) Wakefield’s personal quest is a distraction to the team.
One poor soul: “Why so many negative nancies? I’d still take our pitching over the Yankees.” Really?
MTU September 11th, 2011 at 10:47 pm
“….In the morning I’m gonna call NASA and warn them to reposition their critical satellites before tomorrow night’s game with Seattle.
I don’t want Jesus bein’ blamed for disrupting
communications when launches another one….”
=============================
Not a bad idea, MTU. Felix has given up a couple of homers to that that particularly annoying Halo rookie, Mark Trumbo – it’s certainly not out of the question he could do the same to Jesus.
______________________________________
Nick in SF September 11th, 2011 at 11:50 pm
“I put on a green t-shirt at halftime to help the Jets.
You’re welcome.”
============
Thanks, Nick
A very interesting series coming up in Seattle, one of America’s most beautiful cities. All sorts of interesting story lines. King Felix versus Montero, Smoak, Cashman, Jack Zduriencik, etc.
m September 12th, 2011 at 1:26 am
One person calling the Rays to win the WC. Pretty scathing analysis of the Red Sox. Nice to see another team get slammed for a big payroll not buying results.
http://espn.go.com/blog/sweets…..-wild-card
—
Just like the Yankees it doesn’t matter how big your payroll is and how many good players you have if you have a whole bunch of injury problems. Not that I feel the slightest bit sorry for them, but they have been just wrecked by injuries. I kind of don’t like it because it gives them an excuse.
Full panic mode in beantown.
Yanks needed that one yesterday…..hopefully they can find a way to beat Felix tonight and get on another roll here……
Rays calling up Matt Moore I just heard of the radio
A nail biter yesterday, but the BP and a bit of timely hitting pulled it off. I enjoyed seeing the variety of catchers over the weekend. I was happy to see Po get in there on Sat, and then the youngsters on Sun. The Romine family reunion was sweet. I hope Cisco will be OK.
Blake-
“Full panic mode in beantown.”
Wouldn’t you be ?
MTU,
Well they are the greatest team ever assembled right…..thy are just making it interesting
Love the picture of Mo and Romine.
nomaas Red Alert: Boston officials hold emergency meeting http://bit.ly/nV4w4r
Id like to see how Montero handles Felix…..hope they play him either behind the plate or DH…..doubt he’ll DH though if he doesn’t catch because they are so short handed. He’s faced some darn good pitching since he’s been up….Lester, Romero, Britton, Weaver, Haren, Santana…….
If I’m Henry I’m sendin’ Theo the Great packin’.
Major fail on almost all his expensive acquisitions.
Emptied the farm as well.
For what ? The WC ?
(that’s if they make it)
Too funny.
Erin,
That picture is really funny
http://www.newsday.com/sports/.....-1.3162953
,
Girardi: Six-man rotation may be here to stay
.
TRANSLATION: Girardi has no intention of doing anything to avoid being called an idiot
Cashman has owned Theo the last 2 winters……he’s got just as much and more production from his additions while keeping the farm system for the most part intact…..Gonzalez is the only thing keeping Theo’s work from being a disaster.
With the schedule and only a couple of weeks left then Id keep the 6 man probably another turn through and then make a decision and get guys on regular rest to prepare for October.
Blake-
It’s a disaster anyway.
That trade was rigged.
By the way, Jesus didn’t look too good against Santana.
Almost a golden sombrero.
but but but the red sox have 4 mvp candidates
Austin Romine is correct in saying he’s seen these guys (pitchers) before as has Montero. Both have been non roster invitees for the past 3 years and although they didn’t catch in major league big game conditions prior to yesterday, they’ve had many bullpen sessions, exhibition games, and minor league experience with over 90% of the staff.
Now it’s a matter of going over scouting reports with pitchers and Larry Rothschild and letting their learned physical skills do the rest.
it appears as if some members of the media (Kim Jones I am talking to you) expect these kids to be totally in awe of the pitchers, especially Mo
MTU,
He’s gonna have days like that…..folks should prepare themselves…….but he could have have days where he’s the best hitter in the lineup and others where he’s very productive.
Anybody ask Romine what it was like catching Rivera……Im always interested to hear what guys that are catching him for the first time.say.
Blake-
I have my expectations set where I think they ought to be.
Not too high and not too low.
That was his 1st big league game as a C.
He had his hands full with Garcia’s split.
Not surprised it affected his hitting that day.
Just sayin’.
Gossip Break:
http://tiny.cc/5r6e5
MTU,
Yea I agree…..they should send him back out there tonight….show confidence in the kid.
New Post- Jeter: “Even now, it means a lot to us”
“arrow:
Ugh….slacking on my arrow duties. I’m blaming it on it being Monday