Game 135: Joba suspended, but it doesn’t matter
ByOn the same day that we learned New York is Yankeetown, we also learned that Joba Chamberlain has been suspended a whopping two games for his “inappropriate actions during the top of the ninth” yesterday.
While Yankee fans are sure to be outraged, this is a token suspension. Major League Baseball knows how the Red Sox felt and they know the Joba Rules. The suspension assuages the Red Sox’s feelings and doesn’t really make Joba unavailable to the Yankees before his next scheduled pitch day anyway. You can thank this symbolic suspension on Joe Torre’s decision to run Joba out there in the 9th inning of a five-run game for that one.
Anyway, tonight’s opponent hails for Tampa Bay. Weighing in at 54-80, the Devil Rays are throwing Andy Sonnanstine against Phil Hughes. Sonnanstine is 3-9 with a 6.38 ERA; Hughes is 2-2 with a 5.35 ERA. The Yanks could use a good night offensively and a quality start from Phil. Check for Hughes’ velocity and location early. Those two will indicate whether tonight’s start is bound to be a success.
The Yanks are going with their A Team. If the playoffs started tomorrow, these would be your starting nine. Yes, Giambi’s at first.
Damon DH
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui LF
Posada C
Giambi 1B
Cano 2B
Cabrera CF
Update (7:17 p.m.): Peter Abraham raised an interesting point today. With the Yankees sweeping the Red Sox yesterday, the Mets’ stunning loss and four-game sweep at the hands of the Phillies went largely unnoticed by the tabloids. You can bet that if the Red Sox had taken four from the Yankees during a pennant race in late August, the papers would be all over the Yanks. But the Mets, who now have just a two-game lead in their division, got a free pass. Interesting.
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Wow, take a minute to reflect on that lineup. It’s amazing. Yet, the Yankees’ hopes rest on their pitching, and I’m feeling good about that, too. We’ve come a long ways since the days of Steve Sax, Mel Hall, and Dennis Rasmussen, to name several players from the dark days of Yankee history.
the suspension is still a joke.. there is no reason he would have thrown at youkilis and 2 intentionally throw at a guys head twice, no friggin way,,
mlb management are fools
Hughes could be great this game, but if he doesn’t “sit” 94 mph it’ll still be scoffed at…Since, you know, after all, his ceiling has already been set as, at best, Javy Vazquez…
Joba gets suspended for what could very well could have been 2 pitches that slipped out of his hand. Yet when the Yanks go to Boston and one of their guys spins one into A-Rod’s ribs, what’s he going to get? A standing ovation, that’s it.
MLB’s higher ups really need to re-evaluate how this game is being run, from the umpiring, to in-game uniform checks, to the draft, pretty much everything. It’s turning into a joke.
You know, it is quite amazing how well my javy vazquez comaprison has held up since i first mentioned it last week… i stick by my own scouting report until i see the guy i read so much about in trms of physical tools. OOO and good luck tomorrow IPK
Yeah, its amazing how much a claim can stand up under a whole week…
And 0 starts made.
if I’m Ian Kennedy and they’re rolling out a lineup like tonight’s against the Devil Rays tomorrow, I’m feeling pretty good
well Phil is officially working on his tempo.. very good to see besides the hits.
goood job phils.
Look at that, Hughes blows a FB by hitter, but it was “only” at 93, so I guess it doesn’t count
Not the best start, but maybe he’ll settle down
mike a… check out phl… his tempo from his leg up is much better tonight.. a little less command but he’ll find.. id rather see him sit over the rubber less.
He’s doing a much better job of hitting his spots. When he’s missing he’s missing off the plate, not over it. Ironically, the pitch he missed the most on was the fastball that jambed Upton and got the out.
FYI – GCL Yanks are your 2007 GCL Champs. Two of the 5 remaining affiliates have already clinched their division, and none of the other 3 are more than 2.5 GB. Winning up and down the organization is a great, great thing.
Ben – regarding the update: the reason the Mets get a free pass is because NY prefers the Yanks, as you’ve shown with your earlier post.
Ok, I have to ask: am I the only loser that cut the photo of Melky-Joba-Cano-Hughes out of the latest ESPN Magazine and hung it on the wall?
I haven’t seen it yet. But if it’s not a hot photo of Derek, I don’t want it. Just kidding.
You might be the only one who READS ESPN the magazine. At least the only one with intelligence…
I never said I read it. I just look at the pictures.
Just like Playboy…
Fundamentals kids.
3-run deficit against the D-Rays is nothing. They should start the game with that handicap their pitching is so bad.
mike is trying to jinx them isn’t he? you mention phil’s name with javy vazquez and the whole world falls apart lol
Clearly Hughes has inherited Moose’s mantle of player whom the team plays like sh#t behind…
Uh oh, Phil’s getting tired after his 80th pitch. Who could have foreseen this unfortunate circumstance…
Even the Bronx Banter crowd (albeit mostly posters I don’t recognize) are starting to turn on Phil. That perfect game and the hype machine has really been brutal to fans expectations of a 21 year old.
Joba being so dominant and exciting makes it tougher to appreciate Hughes. Hughes’ velocity was good tonight, but it seems he keeps getting squeezed by the umps or is just missing his spots.
He had some bad luck tonight – a few bleeders for hits, as good as he may become, he’s a work in progress right now. Nothing wrong with that, look at Bedard – only real “problem” is the Yanks are trying to win now as well as retool – gonna be tough for some of the “fans” to be realistic with who Hughes is now – a guy with good stuff, hampered by inexperience and a pitch count.
Not related to this game, but for those interested Scott Baker has a perfecto through 6 against the Royals. In case anyone wants to watch.
Holy shit he’s through 8!
What a bastard Buddy Bell is…pinch hitting Mike Sweeney with 1 out in the 9th inning of a game you have no shot at winning when the kid’s throwing a no-no…douchebag.
Agreed. I hate that kind of crap.
I beliee they are winless fri nights on my9 players couldn’t care less about who carries the game but its flippin strange this has become predictable
M’ and Sawx both lose so I guess the night ends on a high note. Today could’ve been alot worse.
i don’t think it was intentional. im guessing his control was off based not only on those 2 throws but on the fact of 0 ks in 1.1 innings.
He’s not going to be able to maintain a 15 K/9 IP rate for his entire career, you know.
he should be able to keep it through 30 innings, you know, 0ks is out of the ordinary at this point was all im saying