Postgame notes: “That’s a talent that I don’t think I have”
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Notes on Jul 25, 2012 
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How much do you make of one at-bat? Is a three-run, game-winning double by Jayson Nix enough to believe a career .210 hitter can help fill the Alex Rodriguez void? Is a come-from-behind win in Seattle enough make you believe Eric Chavez just might stay healthy enough, and Nix just might be productive enough, and the Yankees just might win enough to weather these next few weeks?
“This is a great team with a lot of really good players,” Nix said. “I think what makes it so great is that nobody tries to do too much, everybody just tries to do their job, and that’s all I try to do.”
Nix was on the bench again today. A right-hander on the mound meant Chavez was at third base, but during the seventh inning, Nix went to the indoor batting cage to stretch and hit. He’d pinch hit just twice this season, but Nix is also used to this role. He said he realized there were a bunch of lefties coming up, so he wanted to get himself ready just in case.
“This is a professional guy who really works hard at playing the four positions that we ask him to play,” Joe Girardi said. “He’s always prepared. I looked at him and I said, ‘Are you prepared to hit?’ And he said, ‘Yes I am.’ He’d already swung in the cage, stretched. I’m real happy with him.”
Nix saw five straight sliders from a right-handed reliever. He was really brought in to setup a favorable matchup for Chavez, who was on deck, but Nix drove the fifth slider to left-center field for a three-run, bases-clearing, go-ahead double.
“I don’t know how he does it,” Derek Jeter said. “To be quite honest with you, that’s a talent that I don’t think I have, sitting around all day and then coming up and getting a hit in a big situation. It’s tough to sit around and then go up there and hit. That was a big hit for us. Jayson works hard.”
There’s a chance the right-handed half of this platoon with be Eduardo Nunez at some point, and there’s a chance the Yankees will make some sort of trade to help fill the void, but for now it’s Nix. And for at least one day, Nix seemed as good an option as anyone.
“Whenever I get my chances, whenever they are, I hope to be able to do something positive,” he said. “To be able to come through today was good.”
• How’s that new top of the order looking? “It was good today,” Girardi said. “I’m not sure what we’ll do against the lefty on Saturday, but I do like it.” Leadoff man Ichiro Suzuki had a hit for a third straight day, and No. 2 hitter Jeter went 3-for-4 with a home run and the hit-by-pitch that started that eighth-inning rally.
• Girardi indicated that he might switch up the top of the order against left-handed pitching, and Nick Swisher indicated that he fully expects to be ready by the time the Yankees face a lefty starter on Saturday. Actually, Swisher is hoping to play Friday. He ran and took indoor batting practice today. He’ll go to Yankee Stadium for more hitting and running tomorrow. “I feel good,” Swisher said. “I’ve done everything they’ve told me to do. We’ll do that workout tomorrow and Friday, we’ll see what happens. See what they say on Friday.”
• Pitching for a second straight day, Joba Chamberlain pitched a scoreless inning with High-A Tampa. He allowed an infield single and a pair of groundball outs, including one one which Chamberlain had to cover first. The runner he allowed was thrown out trying to steal against Gary Sanchez.
• By the way, breakout prospect Tyler Austin is back in the Tampa lineup today. He’s been out since being hit by a pitch on July 3.
• Eduardo Nunez started at shortstop — not third base — for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre tonight.
• Alex Rodriguez had a soft cast on his left hand today. He said the Seattle doctor didn’t give him any sort of additional diagnosis. He’ll wait to see Dr. Ahmad tomorrow before trying to figure out how long he’ll be out. “I’ve got to talk to Ahmad, but I certainly expect to come back and come back strong,” he said. “The one good thing here is that we play through the end of October.”
• Ivan Nova allowed a career-high six walks through five innings today. He gave up just two hits, which is the reason he was able to limit the Mariners to two runs. “I didn’t really have my fastball command today,” Nova said. “I fell behind the hitters the whole game. Six walks. It wasn’t a good day for me. We got the win and I’m happy for that. … Every time we win, it don’t matter if I pitch good or not. We focus on winning games.”
• Girardi said he wasn’t sure what exactly was causing Nova’s problems. This isn’t exactly the kind of lineup you’d expect him to nibble against. “Some days it just happens,” Girardi said. “I’m sure Larry (Rothschild) could recognize what he was doing, but you never know when it’s going to happen and it happened to him today. The thing is, he didn’t break. There were a lot of opportunities where he could have gotten in a lot of trouble, then the bullpen did a tremendous job.”
• Jeter was hit by a pitch. Again. Did he think anything of it? “Did I think anything?” Jeter asked. “Yeah, it hurt. Yeah, that’s what I thought. … It would be pretty dumb to do it on purpose, leading off an inning in a one-run game. So, no.”
• Ichiro said he was happy to be on the other side of a Yankees rally. “Being on the opposing side late in the game, I saw it many times,” he said. “That pressure that they put on. I was able to see it on this team this time.”
• Ichiro on his final series in Seattle this season: “I was here 11 and a half years. I didn’t really show it, but inside I was really going through some emotional times. It was very special these last few days, but definitely emotional inside.”
• Crazy day for Ramiro Pena who woke up at 2 a.m. with a call from Dave Miley saying he’d been called up. He then caught a 9:30 a.m. flight out of Charlotte, landed in Seattle a little before noon, got caught in traffic, got to the park in the second inning, then left with the team to fly back to New York. “I’ll take it,” he said. “Good wake-up call.”
• Final word goes to Girardi: “After losing five games by a total of six runs, to be able to win a series I think was important going into an off day. Two and five is not what we want, but we won the second series of the road trip and it will be a happier plane flight.”
Associated Press photos
nice CSN concert on AXS.tv right now
– The National league playoffs are going to be fun to watch. Figure Nats, Reds, SF and then two out of Dodgers, Braves and Pirates.
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Phillies are about to make an insane run.
Link below. This is a good read … not baseball related. But I hope you will add to the comments nevertheless since it is an important issue. Thanks.
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/.....-care/?hpw
Mark Teixeira ?@teixeiramark25
No offense to Laynce or Stevie, but Jayson is my favorite Nix today!
LAST EVENING JUST PRIOR TO THE GAME, JOHN STERLING OBSERVED THAT ONLY THREE TIMES IN THE HISTORY OF PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL HAVE THERE BEEN THREE GUYS IN A LINE UP WITH 2,500 OR MORE HITS. ALL THREE GOT HIT, ALMOST IN SEQUENCE THEMSELVES. NOT ON PURPOSE…WELL, SOMEONE IS NOT DOING IT RIGHT ON THE SEATTLE PITCHING STAFF. COULD NOT HAPPEN IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE. JUST SAYIN’. THE OTHER TIMES GO BACK TO THE LATE TWENTIES.
I just “translated” your comment in easier to read format:
“Last evening just prior to the game, John Sterling observed that only three times in the history of professional baseball have there been three guys in a line up with 2,500 or more hits. All three got hit, almost in sequence themselves. Not on purpose…well, someone is not doing it right on the seattle pitching staff. Could not happen in the national league. Just sayin’. The other times go back to the late twenties.”
E. Andrus hit by Beckett pitch
Johnny. Rocket
Thank you.
lol….Bobby V sticks with Bucket and he prompty wild pitches a run in
Bucket having a few control issues.
A loss by Buckett would put the little red machine that could in sole possession of last place. A crying shame.
Beckett blows.
Blake & Rhapsody, is “bucket” a reference to chicken?
Sox are 12-6 the last 2 seasons in the new Yankee Stadium, going 7-2 last year and 5-4 the previous year.
Overall, they have a winning record in NY 3 of the last 4 years, 08-11′. (5-4, 2-7, 5-4, 7-2).
http://news.fanfeedr.com/wp-co.....opeyes.jpg
BX33
Commendable stats for a last place club.
Albers is warming up for the homers he’ll be giving up in the Bronx.
blake says:
July 25, 2012 at 8:36 pm
I think that Safeco is a factor…..but more importantly they need better players.
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Likely they need a couple of decent veterans and some time for their young guys to develop (of which they are many (in case you missed my post comparing ages).
That said, whether it’s the distant fences or it’s all in their heads or it’s some sort of curse, Safeco Field IS a factor….
- 2.85 runs per game at home
- 4.87 runs per game on the road
Safeco park factor in 2012:
RUNS = 0.641
http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/parkfactor
From 2008-11 87 HR for every 100 HR produced in “average” ballpark.
http://www.parkfactors.com/SEA
“TD213 July 25th, 2012 at 8:07 pm
To be fair, Martin is a defensive wizard and game caller. So even though he hits .190, he is still valuable because of his defensive skills”
BAHAHAHA. 24.6% Caught Stealing percentage this year, below average. 4 passed balls, which is decent, but not amazing. He’s good at game calling but he’s FAR from a “defensive wizard” this year. That’s why his hitting hurts so much, he’s not even playing great D.
Also hey Pat M, “Montero has the slowest pop time in MLB”, I’m sure that was the case on that gun down of Ichiro right??? LOL
Tatman already hit a HR for the Rays playing 3rd.
Alex why couldn’t you have went down a week sooner. Now all the options are gone.
Tatman is ops’ing at .663
No thanx
Good evening,
Great win…Nova is having mechanical problems, nothing that can’t be ironed out in the side sessions…Phelps is pitching lights out…I hope that they insert hin in the rotation soon, he needs innings for next season…Nix did today what many regulars have been failing to do, come up with the timely hit…I wish the players took notice and instead of trying to hit it out, they would try to make contact and put the ball in play…Soriano did a fine job today as well, who cares if he puts men on base, as long as he does the job, I am fine with it.
Montero had a very good game both at the plate and behind it. Those trows to second where very good. I wish our C combo could throw like he did today. Granted, most stolen bases are stolen to the pitcher, but anyhow very impressive from the kid
Also hey Pat M, “Montero has the slowest pop time in MLB”, I’m sure that was the case on that gun down of Ichiro right??? LOL
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Even a broken clock is right twice a day – - – -
Another nice win for the Sucks… Oh wait…
By the way…Joba is throwing 97-98 and has reached 100
Mason Williams hurt his shoulder. From tampayanks who was at the game:
@RiverAveBlues Williams dove for a ball, landed on his shoulder weird. He laid on the ground a while. Walked off with trainer.
Luis,
Montero struck out three times today. He swings at far too many breaking balls well off the plate. He has to fix that to reach his peak. I agree he looked good behind the plate.
luis July 25th, 2012 at 11:26 pm
By the way…Joba is throwing 97-98 and has reached 100
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That is great news fir Joba
That doesn’t sound good. Could be a separated shoulder for Williams.
Mac,
Yes, he has trouble identifying the slider and the CB..I do think to a point, that it has to do with what he was told about being agressive. He did have an RBI single, that’s why I said that he had a good game on both ends. But yeah, he does need to adjust to those pitches.
Those news about Williams don’t sound good…Let’s hope is not a separated shoulder
Pena has to be out of options right?
Hanley looks weird in Dodger blue
I think he has one or two more Unknown, but i am not sure
its not a mechanical issue with Nova. this is who he is. he is going to put a bunch of guys on base and either pull a rabbit out of his rear end or work around it. this is going to come back to bite the Yankees sooner rather than later.
Oh OK. Just seems like he has been up and down a lot. I don’t know how to look that stuff up or I will. Anyways no biggie.
Day off tomorrow and then the greatest rivalry in all of sports starts Friday.
I love this quote by Alex, “The one good thing here is that we play through the end of October.”
That’s right Al, we play through the end of October and have a parade in November.
Funny how Phelps still came out of Seattle with a win. Guys going to be really good.
The confidence he has in himself right now is great. It seems like ever since the 4th of July game that he started in TB and pitched very well in, he just all of a sudden believes he belongs in the BIGS. Here it is hit it if you can.
It’s great.
Nova was flying open on his pitches and they were sailing. That isn’t who he’s been. I’m surprised that Rothschild couldn’t correct it between innings. He’s been having the same problem the last few games. He pitched a bunch of quality innings before that. Maybe it’s concentration problems but his skillset is extremely high.
It’s Seattle. They had two hits that didn’t bend a blade of grass.
Montero just needs to face more lefties while he’s catching games on tbe road. He’ll be fine.
I am celebrating our Kuroda/Ichiro combo at Katana-Ya, my favorite San Francisco ramen house.
I wish you could all be here. And by “all” I mean “most”, or perhaps “some”.
Katana and ramen context seems a little baffling. A nice bowl of ramen post, katana exercises? Nah, that can’t be it.
I suspect a near east denizen influence in the bowels, er bowls.
I’d check for pita bread or goat on the menu. A sure giveaway.
Hughes has been averaging 110ip the last 5 years. He’s a year removed from his highest innings. He is already at 114 this year. And is getting better as the season goes along. Next year could be a big year for him.
I suspect a near east denizen influence in the bowels, er bowls.
——
Okay, that was rather awkward and stilted.
Make that “Levantine influence”.
It’s the middle of the night, but now I feel better
Yankees just got to nyc as per their tweets
luis July 25th, 2012 at 11:26 pm
By the way…Joba is throwing 97-98 and has reached 100
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DYNOMITE
igotid88 July 26th, 2012 at 1:54 am
Hughes has been averaging 110ip the last 5 years. He’s a year removed from his highest innings. He is already at 114 this year. And is getting better as the season goes along. Next year could be a big year for him.
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Yep. He finally got his act together… at pretty much the last possible instant to save his Yankee career. This year was to be Hughes’ make-or-break year, and so far, it looks like it’s a a make. For my part, I was just about to give up on him earlier this season, but now I think that this year could wind up being a big year for Hughes.
” Jeter was hit by a pitch. Again. Did he think anything of it? “Did I think anything?” Jeter asked. “Yeah, it hurt. Yeah, that’s what I thought. …”
I love Jeter. The whole thing about intent with respect to beanballs is pretty stupid, IMO. Intent only matters if the hitter is injured by the pitch, and it only matters to the extent of determining whether the guy is a SOB. Whether it was intentional or not, the Yankees should have retaliated, if only just to put a little more pressure on the opposing pitchers…
Where is the early brigade? Sleeping off the West Coast trip?
Headley was joking with his teammates about showing up clean shaven so he’d be ready to play for the Yankees.
Mornin’ Mister Tom-
Hike day today for me.
“Headley was joking with his teammates about showing up clean shaven so he’d be ready to play for the Yankees.”
Doesnt he read Jon Heymans tweets? Cashman thinks he costs too much….prices….budget….offense is fine…..he should probably grow a full beard for Oakland or Baltimore or somebody
It was so awesome last night when Bobby V went out to talk to Beckett and maybe to take him out…..and Beckett stood on top of the rubber and stared him back to the dugout…..then he promptly threw one to the backstop to allow the winning run in….nice
blake –
1. how much did you read about ichiro before that happened?
2. did that really happen? i mean about beckett and bobby v before that wp?
Joe,
Nothing….Cashman almost wont make a trade if anybody else has thought of it first in the media……and yea it did…..Bobby came out there and Beckett looked disgusted and then he tbrew a wild pitch to allow the go ahead run in…..it was beautiful
blake -
I’m gonna echo Joe from LI – did that really happen with Beckett & Bobby V????
3-3 game in the 7th I believe….1st and 3rd with 2 outs and Beckett had just allowed a single to Beltre. Bobby comes out there and Beckett just stands on the rubber and looks annoyed…..I don’t know if Bobby was thinking about taking him out or not but he left him in and then Beckett pretty much immediately uncorked one to the back stop to allow Andrus to score from 3rd.
Among the third basemen expected to be available at the trade deadline are Chase Headley of the San Diego Padres, Placido Polanco and Ty Wigginton of the Philadelphia Phillies and Chone Figgins of the Mariners.
“I’m not about to gut my farm system for any of those guys,” Cashman said.
Cashman didn’t seem to think he could swing the kind of deal he did on Monday, acquiring Ichiro Suzuki for two midlevel pitching prospects.
I also think it’s funny how the Red Sox have had Shoppach grow his facial hair and everything so that he almost looks exactly like Varitek so that Beckett has his binky on the mound. ……
“I’m not about to gut my farm system for any of those guys,” Cashman said.
I wouldn’t either….but you CAN make trades without gutting your farm system…..If SD wants the top guys then no way…..you don’t trade Banuelos or Sanchez or Mason for Headley…..but the Yanks do have some other pieces to deal…..I don’t expect them to do anything but Headley is a real nice fit both now and going forward if they think he can play the outfield as well…
Good morning breakfast club-
I’ll have to watch the stare down on mlb.com.
Need a right handed bat with some power that is basically a rental. Right now Ty Wiggington might be the best solution to help keep Chavez from breaking down.
Headley is rumored to possibly be going to the A’s or Dodgers.
This is just a thought. With Cano’s strong arm, in the offseason would it make any sense to have him prepare to take over 3rd, move Alex to DH, and promote one of the minor leaguers. Aren’t there better options in the minors to take over 2nd, than 3rd, where you want someone with power?
Just a thought. Not looking for a fight!
not sure if that’s a ploy by C, but the I get the distinct impression that Cash seem to be little overprotective of the farm… trade high buy low is still the general idea when it comes to prospects and ml alike. to be able to identify to the keepers and goner is a gm’s job. lots prospects go by the waste land on the road to the show. Looking at the 3bs…one bee left standing at this point.
…..This is just a thought. With Cano’s strong arm, in the offseason would it make any sense to have him prepare to take over 3rd, move Alex to DH, and promote one of the minor leaguers. Aren’t there better options in the minors to take over 2nd, than 3rd, where you want someone with power?
Makes a lot of sense on several different levels. Not privy to NYY internal discussions but I haven’t seen any sign in years that NYY thinks out of the box on really anything. So I doubt this idea would even make it past one of Cashman’s yesmen before it was dismissed.
austinmac July 25th, 2012 at 11:28 pm
Luis,
Montero struck out three times today. He swings at far too many breaking balls well off the plate. He has to fix that to reach his peak. I agree he looked good behind the plate.
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He has an excuse: he’s 22 and going through the league for the first time. What’s our excuse?? In any case, flailing at breaking pitches off the plate? I’d say he’d fit right in on the Yankees
“This is just a thought. With Cano’s strong arm, in the offseason would it make any sense to have him prepare to take over 3rd, ”
Nah…Robbie is great where he is….2B is even harder to find than 3B and Cano is on an all time great pace at his position…..Id leave him right there. Corbin Joseph is an interesting name if he could play 3B….
yankees21,
We do not have options at 2B for a couple of years, at least.
Neither Corban Joseph, nor David Adams, is competent enough to be the everyday 2B. We have two jewels in the minors: Angelo Gumbs (who has been seeing some time at SS, too) and Anderson Feliz, both in A ball.
JFTR, I wouldn’t move the best 2B in the game to third. The idea of playing people out of position to accommodate the DH spot, is not sound, IMO.
ditto – leave cano alone. don’t take a chance on creating a problem.
blake,
I would not entrust 3B to Cojo. It’s too bad – legit stick all the way.
jap, they dont have the range or bat? adam and joseph that is… then start package them if that is evaluation.
I don’t think you ever take a great up the middle player and move them to a corner unless you have to…..Cano could probably play 3B….but you just decrease his value doing that and you take his focus off hitting to try and learn a new postion…..again he could be the greatest all around 2B ever by the time he’s finished and that’s no joke.
JAP, could Joseph play 3B? His bat is coming around…. .869 OPS this year between AA and AAA
“I would not entrust 3B to Cojo. It’s too bad – legit stick all the way.”
you don’t think he could play there at a big league level or don’t think he’ll hit enough in the bigs to warrant playing a corner? He’s blocked at 2B and can’t play SS…..so if he can’t play 3B then there is a piece to deal….
Cashmoney July 26th, 2012 at 8:49 am
jap, they dont have the range or bat? adam and joseph that is… then start package them if that is evaluation.
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They both have a bat, they are just not athletic enough. Adams has more ability, IMO, but they are both mediocre at best. They are not real options to play 2B, IMO. Both those guys, though, could teach some of our veterans a thing or two about situational hitting.
What about Mustelier?
Blake-Just finished watching the replay of the 7th inning on Boston broadcast. After Beltre singled with 2 outs in a 3-3 game, moving Andrus to 3rd, Bobby came out to the mound. Didn’t witness any stare down, other than the dour face Beckett always has. Young came to bat and a wild pitch scored Andrus to make it 4-3. Young then flied out to deep center for the 3rd out. Caught Beckett talking to himself while coming off the mound. He was done at that point. Albers came out for the 8th.
JAP, could Joseph play 3B? His bat is coming around…. .869 OPS this year between AA and AAA
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He’s just not particularly athletic and doesn’t have much of an arm.
Having never seen Mustelier play the infield, I’m at a loss at how he would be. He’s not a great OF, that I can tell you. At AAA and AA, we have a dearth of quality defenders in the infield. Laird is sound, though. He hits solid line drives, but gets fooled on curveballs with some regularity.
Thanks Jap. Just another thought, Yankees ought double their budget in scouting if they wont take calculate risk of signing guys like soler, cepedes, chapman. also, I wonder if there will be lot more shady dealings with limited spending on IFA because I would.
JAP-
Mustelier plays 2nd mostly, correct? Is he an option for 3rd as a right handed bat? What injury does he have?
blake, Joseph would be safer at 3B, but it wouldn’t be ideal. I have been pleased with the increase in power. The guy can really hit.
Jerkface July 25th, 2012 at 11:26 pm
Mason Williams hurt his shoulder. From tampayanks who was at the game:
@RiverAveBlues Williams dove for a ball, landed on his shoulder weird. He laid on the ground a while. Walked off with trainer.
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Any updates on this?
Blake – I’ve asked about Joseph’s ability to play 3B and it sounds like he has some defensive issues already.
JAP-
Thanks for the input.
New Post–>
Cashmoney, there was one iffy jump there by Cespedes, but otherwise, he looked like Gary Pettis with a bat in that Oakland series. How they could have passed on him, especially in light of having given up Montero, I just can’t fathom.
Trader, yeah he’s played 2B and I think he’s played some 3B, but I have no idea how he fares at either spot. I’m not sure, either, what ails him. I would give him a chance in the OF, even though he’s not stellar there, from what I’ve seen.
J. Alfred Prufrock July 26th, 2012 at 9:05 am
Cashmoney, there was one iffy jump there by Cespedes, but otherwise, he looked like Gary Pettis with a bat in that Oakland series.
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Watching Cespedes was painful. Guy really has baseball talent.
Trader careful. You’ll be told that the scenario you’re proposing is fantasyland stuff.