Apr
14

Game 14: It’s not the end of the world

By Benjamin Kabak

The Yankees are 6-7 right now, a whopping 1.5 games out of first place. In 2007, they started 7-6; in 2006, they started 6-7; in 2005, they started 5-8; and in 2004, they started 6-7. The sky, in other words, is not falling.

Tonight, a dubious era in a Yankee history begins. While Derek Jeter takes over at short stop and Alberto Gonzalez spells Robinson Cano at second base, behind the plate will be none other than Chad Moeller. Moeller is 33 with a career batting line of .224/.284/.346. Luckily, Jorge made a series of throws today and seems to be on the mend. Considering that Posada was under strict orders not to throw to second yesterday, who knows how serious his injury really is?

The Yankees lineup features Moeller, Gonzalez and Morgan Ensberg. It’s like Spring Training all over again. A six-run first inning would be fitting.

On the mound today as the Yankees face the Tampa Bay Rays is Ian Kennedy. Kennedy is a RAB favorite; just check out his Baseball-Reference page. But this year in 5.1 innings, he’s been rocked. Hopefully, he’ll right that ship today.

Yankees
Damon LF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Ensberg 1B
Cabrera CF
Moeller C
The Unemployed Former Attorney General 2B

Kennedy P

Rays
Iwamura 2B
Crawford LF
Pena 1B
Upton CF
Longoria 3B
Hinske DH
Riggans C
Haynes RF
Bartlett SS

Sonnanstine P

Game Notes: We’ve just installed a new threaded and paged comment system. Hopefully, that’ll keep site performance at normal levels. Expect some more changes there over the next few days, and if there are any problems, our e-mail addresses are on the left…Thirteen games into the season, and we’ve raised a pledged $93.70 as part of our Big Three K Craniosynostosis fund drive. Please consider donating. Every amount helps.

Posted on Monday, April 14th, 2008 at 5:56 pm in Game Threads.

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195 Comments »

Manimal says:

YAY, paged comments should be bazillion times better. I’m glad he put Agonz back in. Me and my friend were talking about the yanks/sox games and the first thing my friend was surprised about was how good he was… I didn’t want to mention his lack of offense and amazing defense. He went as far as to say he was a “beast”

 
MD says:

anyone concerned that we dont run at all….1 SB in 14 games?

Yes, but the problem is getting the guys who can run on base. I mean, it wasn’t that long ago A-Rod stole 40 bases. Jeter can steal, but he’s hurt. Abreu has decent speed. Damon can still do it. Hell, I’d even send Melky.

But you’ve got to get some of these guys on base before we can steal more of them.

 
 
Rich says:

I thought Damon stole two bases last night.

Anyway, they’ll run more when they get on base more.

Ben K. says:

Damon did indeed steal two bases last night. Right now, he’s really the only SB threat in the lineup, and he’s hardly been on base. Give it some time.

 
 
Pedro says:

6IP, 1ER tonight for Kennedy, I just have this feeling :D

 
Jamal G. says:

Just heard that Fernando Rodney has an appointment with Dr. James Andrews, wow. I expected the Tigers to miss the playoffs because of their pitching behind Justin Verlander but damn. Joel Zumaya is out for half the season at least and now there is potential TJS for Rodney.

We may have a suitor for Farnsworth after all.

Manimal says:

They also wanted him last year, right?

 
 
Jake says:

What is going on with Cano? Does he just have the night off? Once he finds his bat, he will explode. I just wish it’d happen sooner than later.

 
 
Mike A. says:

That’s EXACTLY what we, and Damon, needed.

 
Manimal says:

Damon looks better.

Manimal says:

Jeter… not so much.

 
 
Jamal G. says:

Good ABs by Damon last night and a leadof HR tonight, looks like he’s breaking out of it.

 

damn it bobby…he’s grooving fastballs and bobby doesn’t swing.

 

same with a-rod…wtf!?

 
Manimal says:

GOD DAMN I hate these slow umps.

 
Mike A. says:

Outstanding. The sky stopped falling.

 
Manimal says:

JESUS that was crushed.

 
Manimal says:

LOL Melky and Cano on the bench…. I wonder what they are scheming…

 
Jamal G. says:

Could not have asked for a better start on either side of the ball.

 
Mike A. says:

To homers AND a 1-2-3 inning by IPK? What are people going to complain about?

Manimal says:

The past week end LOL

 
 
 
Manimal says:

ENSBURG joining the club.

 
Mike A. says:

Welcome to Yankees baseball.

 
Jamal G. says:

LoL, Sonnanstine was just staring at that like “Dude…what the fuck”.

Manimal says:

LOL that was a sick camera angle

 
 
Jamal G. says:

If anyone is intersted, Randy Johnson’s debut this year is free on MLB.TV.

Manimal says:

I want to watch that to see the Arizona offence, not that Old piece of mustache.

Jamal G. says:

True, Justin Upton and Stephen Drew are worth the price of admission. Not to mention Chris Young.

 
 
 
Manimal says:

Moeller got owned.

that was pretty funny.

 
Ben K. says:

That’s going to become a common refrain. Jose Molina he is not.

as long as he handles ipk alright i could care less.

 
 
 
Chip says:

Think they want to make a statement after last night? Three homers already and now 5 straight outs by Kennedy. Hopefully this will shut-up the sky is falling talk

Yankee1010 says:

One can only hope the Chicken Little crap will stop. I honestly thought that the Yankee fan base was smart enough to realize that IPK and Hughes might have a learning curve and would be more than willing to accept that. It’s like people think Cy Young and Walter Johnson have been pitching here the last few years.

 
 
Chip says:

Oops, I jinxed the no-hitter, sorry guys :D Let’s see what A-rod can do this inning

 
mustang says:

Kids looking good tonight…….ENSBERG !!!!!!!!

 
Jamal G. says:

Ken Singleton just said “Derek Jeter to his left, has it…”

What is this foreign language?

 
Jamal G. says:

Guess the look is good, glad to see. Thought he winced a bit after that foul ball but I guess everything is OK.

Jamal G. says:
 
 
Mike A. says:

Somehow this year’s Ford Edge commercial managed to be even fruitier than last year’s.

Manimal says:

Seriously… Maybe that slow-mo toss strained his quad…

 
 
Joey says:

this is one weird comment system thing… I’d prefer the old style and slower time than this, but I’m sure the aesthetics will come

Ben K. says:

What are your complaints with it?

claybeez says:

Seems better than having to search through the drop-down menu.

Mike A. says:

Oh come on Johnny.

 
 
 
 
Manimal says:

He fooled Flaherty!

 
Link says:

hopefully we’ll be ok tonight…have a good one gents im off to nap b4 work…

 
Jamal G. says:

Chad Moeller got a base hit on a pitch out, you know it’s our night.

 
ansky says:

holy moeller!!

hit and run on a pitchout!! Give that man a gatorade

that was also funny.

 
 
Manimal says:

NICE piece of hitting.

Did Mike singleton just say Extend-o-bat…

 
Jamal G. says:

See why it’s idiotic to bury a guy or a team in April?

not directed at you but i can see why it’s idiotic to anoint a team in april too..

Jamal G. says:

Sorry I didn’t write out the belief fully, it’s idiotic to do both your correct. I only put out the first half because that has been the topic of discussion thus far.

Unless your talking about the Tigers, they’ve been overhyped to hell.

 
 
 
mustang says:

A nice blowout .. for a change

 
mustang says:

Not the 1st inning, but good call RAB

 
Pedro says:

Now this is the kind of game I like!

 
Pedro says:

I think we’ll see another HR by A-Rod

 
LiveFromNewYork says:

Last April and May was possibly the worst pits since the late 80s but this team is always slow out of the gate. Can we not GET that every April?

Jamal G. says:

I understand why people get so crazy in April with the Yankees. I mean you look at this team 1-25 with all the potential we have and it’s just mind numbing to people as to why they can’t just play to their potential from Game 1.

 
 
Jamal G. says:

LoL, looks like the ears run in the Vitale family.

 
Pedro says:

Damon looking like Matsui out there.

 
Pedro says:

A lot of hard hit balls this inning, should I be worried?

 
Ivan says:

I’ll give Damon a break on that play. He’s a good left fielder and just miss that ball.

 
mustang says:

Kid’s ball is really moving tonight. Baseball is such a strange game who the hell would of looked at the line tonight and say were going to score 7 runs.

 
Tom B. says:

Hit and run again here? Moeller needs all the help he can get

What’s going on with the contest? The last category to be filled was SB, right?

Mike A. says:

We’re still waiting for a blown save. With Joba out, that might come soon.

Tom B. says:

Gotcha, thanks….and of course for having the contest in the first place. Dang, tough to root for the contest to end when it means potentially losing a game…

 
 
 
mustang says:

Bingo ! Jamal G.
Dead on with your last comment !!!!!

 
GoYankees says:

Sooo good to see Kennedy pitch a good game. Good pitching, a few well-timed hits, and all is well in Yankeeland. Today.

 
mustang says:

Your last 2. I hope that kid learns how to fight. LOL

 
Ben K. says:

For those of you not into this whole pagination thing, there is a “show all” option. If we find it begins to slow down the server though, we’ll have to remove it. For games against Tampa Bay and other non-Boston teams, though, I can’t imagine this being much of a problem.

 
Manimal says:

This has got to be the biggest difference of comments within 2 days.

 
dan says:

The other way was much prettier…. and wasn’t this the look for a little while at the dawn of nested comments at RAB?

Ben K. says:

Yes it was. But it didn’t work with the theme we had going at the time.

Much prettier you say? Interesting. I personally like this one better but I think I’m in the minority.

 
Ben K. says:

What about the old style did you like better, visually?

dan says:

well it wasn’t working for me before, but that could be my shitty computer. I think it looked cluttered compared to the way it’s been for the last several months.

 
 
 
dan says:

this is sooooo slow, and my comments aren’t working (maybe this one will)

Ben K. says:

Slow? Gotta be your computer. We’re getting page load times of 1 second tonight.

 
 
mustang says:

Regardless if we disagree we are still Yankees fans and we just want to see our team win.
Jeter looks real slow they should take him out of this game soon if the score stay the same.

 
Ben K. says:

Has it really been twenty minutes since someone said anything around here?

Mike A. says:

Yankees-Rays isn’t exactly Yanks-Sox.

 
 
Jamal G. says:

Why was a trainer taking IPK to the dugout after walking him off the field? What did I miss?

Mike A. says:

Took a comebacker off the hip.

 
 
Ben K. says:

Yikes. Another pitcher removed from the game too soon.

 
 
nmc says:

Kennedy… oh fuck no.

 
Greg G. says:

Hey, those of you watching — is IPK all right? I saw “injury delay” on MLB gameday.

Ben K. says:

I think he’ll be fine. He got hit in the thigh with the ball. He’ll have a bruise but that’s it.

 
 
Manimal says:

Dang, right off the bone of the hip. He will be fine. Anyone see phil with that smirk on his face LOL

 
Jamal G. says:

How the hell did Crawford get that out of here?

 
Ben K. says:

Admin Note: We’ve gone back to our old style of comments in order to work out some unforeseen kinks in the system. Bear with us as we figure this all out.

 
Greg G. says:

That’s what I wanted to hear. For some reason, MLB.com video feed isn’t working for this game. ARGH!

 
Jamal G. says:

Jesus Montero has given Charleston a lead late…yet again. 4-3 Riverdogs in the 8th.

Mike A. says:

Where do you see this? The milb and riverdogs.com box scores are stuck on the 5th inning for me.

 
 
Jamal G. says:

So much for a honeymoon game. I’m actually happy it got close because now we get to see what the 8th inning will look like come July.

 
 
nmc says:

I’m thinking that the pitching this game is Moeller’s fault? You got to switch up your pitches better…. 4 straight fastballs from Bruney, 2 curveballs in a row from Traber…

however, the kennedy calls were pretty good… i dunno, though.

nmc says:

Or… maybe Bruney just doesn’t have it…

 
 
Mac says:

Are you fucking kidding me

 
Manimal says:

Bruney has a REALLY bad habit of throwing 0-2 down the middle.

Grats to you Mr Longoria.

 
Jamal G. says:

Those Joba-to-the-bullpen guys are going to be out in full force tomorrow.

Ben K. says:

I was just about to say that. Fucking Bruney. He looks good for two weeks and that’s it.

nmc says:

at least he didn’t walk anyone….

hey, even the best have games like this.

 
 
Ivan says:

you can say that again.

 
 

bruney…. either walks them or grooves fastballs down broadway…

 
Manimal says:

Sucks for Kennedy.

 
eddy b says:

8 outs outta mo…

Manimal says:

His fast ball was, well not fast.

Shit happens but how is the offense going to respond.

 
 
Chip says:

Wow, that just screwed this game up

 
kingshaffy says:

sweet can’t wait to read doomsday Bill Madden and Joel Sherman tomorrow. uch…

Do something Cano.

 
Manimal says:

WTF, I’d rather take AGonz over Cano but whatever Joe. Blow this game.

Ben K. says:

That’s crazy. AGonz is a no-hit, all-field infielder hitting way better than expected. Cano is one of the best hitters on the team who happens to be in a slump. I take Cano 10 times out of 10. No need to be so reactionary for once.

 
Ben K. says:

And that is why Cano bats!

Manimal says:

lol, He really struggled in NY though, couldn’t make solid contact for his life.

 
 
Chip says:

I’m just going to go ahead and agree with Girardi on that decision!

 
 
Jamal G. says:
Manimal says:
 
 
Chris says:

CANO! Welcome back, bud.

 
Manimal says:

WOOOOO! CANO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 
 
kingshaffy says:

Maybe Girardi should bring him in in the 8th every game.

 
Joey says:

there goes Robby, now we’ll find out how much we miss Joba in the 8th…

kingshaffy says:

bruney better redeem himself here.

 

i think we should relegate our best hitters to the 8th inning just like our best pitchers to the 8th inning—it obviously the best way to go as evident by this game.

 
 
BigBlueAL says:

Mo for 6 outs!!!!!!!!!!! just kidding

 
Jamal G. says:

All we need is for Giambi to get up there and hit one out for the third time in four games and everyone can relax a bit about the “problems” on this team.

Manimal says:

He was taking good swings… and pulled everything.

 
 
Chip says:

Well I guess we now have a blown save as Bruney gave it up in the seventh correct?

 
BigBlueAL says:

btw, Damon just got blown away by an 84 mph fastball

 
Manimal says:

We need a good nickname for Albaladejo…

albi the racist dragon…

 
kingshaffy says:

Albala-awesome? The guy who ate Ramiro Mendoza?

 
Jamal G. says:

A-Balla? Not BAHLA, but BAWLA.

 
 
Jamal G. says:

I’m glad Girardi is leaving in Brueny for the 8th. It’s April so he can give him a chance to come back, get his shit togteher and leave with a positive outing. Also I think this move lends credence to the idea that there is no doubt Joba Chamberlain will be a starter come July or late June.

 
Joey says:

There’s the desperate housewive’s first error! we’re watching history here, 1st HR and 1st error in same game

 
BigBlueAL says:

no surprise the Yanks r playin in best weather conditions of seasonso far and r havin best offensive game of the season……

 
BigBlueAL says:

btw, Reyes is throwing pure slop right now

 
Jamal G. says:

David Ortiz continues to fail after his 1st inning single. He has K’ed twice.

 
Manimal says:

Alejandro Rodriguez with runners on Base in the 8th inning.
Oh baby baby baby.

 
Chip says:

Well, A-Rod might as well hit another one out. Everyone else is doing it

 
BigBlueAL says:
 
 
E-ROC says:

Let’s get this damn win!!

 
Ben K. says:

Are you guys seriously ripping on A-Rod for going 4 for 4 and then grounding out? Can we please have some perspective here?

Joey says:

this is NY, it’s what have you done for me lately? lol, j/k

 
Manimal says:

I wasn’t ripping him but I don’t like how he goes 4-4 in a blow out and in a tight game he just does “ok”

Yankee1010 says:

Don’t. Even. Know. Where. To. Start.

 
 

i don’t care who it is…i’ll get frustrated when guys don’t come thru in a big spot. it’s part of being a fan–part of wanting your team to win really bad. it’s not all sunshine and rainbows– no “oh gosh golly gee he tried hard, thats okay, a for effort.”

 

also, i don’t think a-rod is thinking “oh well, i went 4 for 4 so it’s ok that i didn’t get hit there.” he’s pissed–i’m pissed.

Manimal says:

WERE ALL PISSED for a ground out.

pete says:

I promise you, setting the tone early with the home run and hits was much more clutch than anything he could have done in this atbat. It takes the pressure off a young pitcher when you give him a lead and appear to be hitting well. Imagine what would have happened if the yankees hadn’t hit early – or if kennedy had had to pitch under 1-run game duress the entire time – might it have been different.

 
 
 
 
BigBlueAL says:

i was bein sarcastic

 
BigBlueAL says:

honestly, after the year ARod had last season, and the fact he re-signed for 10 years, i will NEVER honestly talk shit about him again.

 
Joey says:

Mo for 4 out save?

 
Manimal says:

My dad just called albaladejo, “Abdullah” like hes muslim or something LOL

Jamal G. says:

LoL, your dad his hilarious man, second straight night.

Manimal says:

Yeah lol its SOOO funny to watch him rant about the yankees, Names get scrambled, screaming, pointing, and my mom comes and tells him to chilll. Ill film it one day.

 
 
 
Jamal G. says:

LoL, was that Jose Canseco walking behind HP just now? Damn that guy was huge.

Joey says:

can’t imagine why ;-)

 
 
eddy b says:

john sterling’s home run call unfairly teases once again

 
Joey says:

I think we need to start a new donation thing to get Mo a hairpiece or somethin

 
Manimal says:

Jeter’s commercial is so lame…

 

that ford commercial is ridiculously bad.

Manimal says:

LOL beat you too it.

 
 
Ben K. says:

This will be a save in the truest sense of it here. Heart o’ the order.

 
Jamal G. says:

Carl Crawford just got pwned.

 
Manimal says:

Mariano make them rays embarrassed IN THEIR HOME.-
Just sit down, take a seat while the yanks celebrate on the mound.

 
BigBlueAL says:

more radar gun talk from previous games, on the Tamp Bay broadcast, Mo hasnt thrown over 91, and his fatsball that K’ed Crawford was “only” 87. i think its safe to say, its useless to pay attention to the speed of the pitches as shown on the tv broadcasts.

 
BigBlueAL says:

straight gas at 90 mph to blow away Upton.

Yankee1010 says:

Gameday had them all between 92 and 95.

BigBlueAL says:

thats my point, its like dont worry about the mph readings, just look at if they r makin solid contact off the fastball and if they r late or not.

 
 
 
Joey says:

Wow, nice outing by Mo, but I gotta say, out of all the batter’s the Yanks face, besides Manny, BJ Upton has to be one of the ones I am increasingly getting nervous about every time he’s up

Manimal says:
 
Ben K. says:

He’s got a great swing: short and compact. The ball also just jumps off his bat.

 
 
E-ROC says:

Good win for the Yanks. Pena and Crawford had no chance. Upton is scary, but his brother is downright frightening.

 
Ivan says:

Who said they rather have AGone batting than Cano?

Cano is just a sick hitter. I love the guy. He’s like that girlfriend who gets on your nerves and tick you off sometimes, but deep down you love her and she’s there for ya. Well that’s Cano.

Yea he can tick you off sometimes, but he just has that talent that you love him for. He’s fucking great man.

Joey says:

He WILL be great, but he’s not at superhero/jaw dropping status quite yet

 
 
Ivan says:

Yea not yet, but to me besides A-Rod, he’s the best pure hitter in that lineup and that includes Jeter.

 
Joey says:

yea, but although he’s come a long way in the patience department, he needs to improve more. when he’s on I agree, but sometimes he gets in his slumps where he’ll swing at anything, again, patience and concentration is the key with him. also work ethic, but I don’t know much about that, it was Bowa’s job to keep him in line there

 
Jamal G. says:

Joe Borowski blows yet ANOTHER save. When are they just going to forget about that guy’s feelings/pride and slide the Rafaels up a spot.

Ben K. says:

I can’t believe I’m watching this shit. Borowski’s literally worse than Farnsworth. Terrible.

E-ROC says:

I guess we should be counting our blessings since we have the lesser of the two evils. LOL, that might be pushing it.

I was watching that game and Shapiro is a HUGE board filled with opposing teams’ rosters, including 40 man roster and impending free agency. It was quite the sight.

Don’t the Indians have Betancourt??? I guess they haven’t learned their lesson yet.

Jamal G. says:

Actually they used Betancourt correctly. As their relief ace he was brought in with runners on 1st & 2nd with 1 out and Ortiz/Manny coming up. He promptly K’ed both those Mofos.

What I am saying is fine, Betancourt is your relief ace so he was rightly used in that situation. But Borowski is not a back-end relief option anymore. Rafael perez and Jensen lewis are. Use them.

 
 
 
 
BigBlueAL says:

i got home durin the top of 8th, right before Cano’s homer, was Kennedy really hit that hard??? how bad did it look??? havent seen replay yet.

Mike A. says:

It was bad enough. He was wincing in pain and walked off the field with a noticable limp.

 
 
Ivan says:

Borowski sucks. I wouldn’t surprise if they use Adam miller as their Closer this season.

For crying out loud, last year in the postseason, Wedge was basically hiding him in the bullpen. Your own closer who you are “commited” to.

BigBlueAL says:

Abreu’s HR off him in Game 4 hasnt landed yet.

 
 
Jamal G. says:

Jimmy Leyland is the smartest man on the planet.

“Chemistry is a class you take, it doesn’t mean shit. It’s a bunch of BS”.

BigBlueAL says:

i just saw that on Sportscenter. Funny stuff!!!!

 
E-ROC says:

That’s some real talk for ya

 
Ivan says:

The 77 and 78 Yankees just said Amen to that

 
 
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