Game 18: Those pesky Orioles

April 18, 2008 by Joe Pawlikowski 186 Comments

Nine and friggin’ nine against the Orioles last year. That’s pretty unacceptable for a team that basically had the inverse of the Yanks record. They hope to get off on the right foot tonight, as they take on the erratic — and that’s putting it mildly — Daniel Cabrera.

In his career, Cabrera has pitched 72.2 innings against the Yanks, to the tune of a 4.95 ERA. What’s strange is that while he’s struck out 7.52 per nine inning over his career, he’s only struck out 5.2 per nine against the Yankees. He’s walked 5.31 per nine over his career (hence the 5.02 lifetime ERA), and 5.70 per nine vs. the Yanks.

So he has struck out fewer hitters and has walked more vs. the Yankees compared to the rest of his career, yet his ERA vs. the Yankees is a tick lower than his lifetime ERA. Strange stuff. Could tonight be the night luck really catches up to him? We started moving in that direction last year, tattooing him for 20 earned runs (21 total) in 27 innings, with 18 strikeouts to 17 walks.

Really, Cabrera should be sick. He’s 6’7″ and has nasty stuff. But control problems have plagued his career, and not even the tutelage of Leo Mazzone could fix him. His ERA has climbed every year since 2005, and he has yet to crack a league-average ERA.

For the good guys, Phil Hughes takes the mount, trying to regain his form. And what better team to do it against than the Orioles? Yeah, they may be 9-7 now, but I can’t seem to figure out how. They only have three guys on the offensive side with an OPS+ above league average — and Luke Scott won’t be hitting .380/.456/.600 for much longer. Then again, it stands to reason that Ramon Hernandez will raise his paltry .152/.160/.326 line.

Oh yeah, and Edwar is in the house! Albaladejo is sent down, which is fine and good, since he tossed three innings last night. You might be asking what happened to Scott Patterson, but I don’t think it’s a big deal. Edwar will be gone once Joba comes back, which probably won’t be too far in the future.

Your lineups:

1. Johnny Damon, LF
2. Derek Jeter, SS
3. Bobby Abreu, RF
4. Alex Rodriguez, 3B
5. Hideki Matsui, DH
6. Robinson Cano, 2B
7. Jason Giambi, 1B
8. Melky Cabrera, CF
9. Chad Moeller, C

And on the mound, number thirty-four, Phil Hughes

And for the O’s

Roberts
Mora
Markakis
Millar
Scott
Huff
Jones
R. Hernandez
L. Hernandez

JRVJ

I called Albaladejo going down last night, but I certainly thought Patterson would be the one coming up.
GoYankees

Let’s just hope Phil gets his act together a bit. He needs to calm down and do what he can do.
Realist

Yep , Phil really could use a good showing tonight to get him out of that last two game funk….or at least I hope!
- Manimal
  
  We all hope.
Manimal

Disgusting throw, Arod better bomb it.
Manimal

wtf Arod. You look at all these good pitches till theres 2 strikes and then strike out.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Look at that, the only Yankee starter not to give up a homer. There’s something positive.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

If the opposition scores, Phil Hughes doesn’t do well. Thanks Michael Kay.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Nice clean start for Phil. Good stuff.
Manimal

Giambi really needs to work on balence, most of the outs he makes would be hits if he didnt have a crazy shift.
cjc

too many walks and no swings and misses
Grinch

Hughes’ curveball is coming out sideways. He not yet thrown one for a strike.
http://www.myspace.com/j_panama Jamal G.

You know I hate Mike & the Mad Dog but today I have to say I agreed with them 100%. They ripped into ESPN for that so-called interview of Miguel Tejada where they just low balled the dude like a bunch of assholes. Mike Francesa called them out on being so hypocritical by using Ray Lewis and Barry Bonds as examples. The Ray Lewis issue was when ESPN’s own Stuart Scott was all friendly with Mr. Lewis as he was involved in a very much publicized murder trial. Francesa also pointed out how every ESPN baseball analyst/reporter was on their knees for Barry Bonds during all the scandals that he has endured thus far. He made one final point that rings so true, ESPN will never do anything like what they did to Miguel Tejada to stars like Kobe Bryant, Ray Lewis, or Barry Bonds because those guys were on top of their respective sports at the time of their respective scandals.

I agree, it was such BS what ESPN did to Miguel Tejada.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Nice high fastball to strikeout Jones. Oh the horror of a 91mph fastball with life!
- http://www.myspace.com/j_panama Jamal G.
  
  Excuse me sir, it was 92 MPH (according to Gameday). Come on Mike, how in the hell could you think a 91 MPH fastball can be effective enough to strike somebody out?
http://www.myspace.com/j_panama Jamal G.

Check out Ken Singleton dropping a Matt Weiters note.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  It’s Wieters. Duh. ;)
http://www.myspace.com/j_panama Jamal G.

That curve just now made me cry.
- http://www.myspace.com/j_panama Jamal G.
  
  No wonder, according to Gameday it had a 16″ break….GOD DAMN!
cjc

maybe someone should tell moeller that phil throws a curveball and a changeup PC rising this inning

I think those sideeways curves mentioned were sliders
- http://www.myspace.com/j_panama Jamal G.
  
  No they’re curves. It’s way too slow to be a slider.
Manimal

McNair’s at the game and Masn is interviewing him. Pretty cool.
- Joey
  
  good guy, not a HOFer though. Good interview by whoever that was
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Eric Duncan hit a homer. It’s going to be a good day.
- http://www.myspace.com/j_panama Jamal G.
  
  Yay! Now all I need is for Christian Garcia to have a pulse and this would be a great start to the 2008 baseball season.
- Mike R.
  
  You spelled Shelley wrong. No big deal.
http://www.myspace.com/j_panama Jamal G.

Oh the impatience is killing me.
Manimal

and the sideways curve is indeed a slider. about 78-81 mph.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

How the hell do let Daniel Cabrera throw only 5 pitches in an inning? You could just stand there with the bat on your shoulder and work a 3-2 count off him!
- Manimal
  
  Im surprised Cano wasn’t involved in that inning.
Joey

that was a quick half inning
Realist

I am watching on gameday…how does Hughes’ control seem? I see he has thrown 40 pitches in 2 innings …23 for strikes.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Really? It doesn’t seem that way, he’s been ahead of everybody, literally – Kay just said he threw first pitch strikes to every batter so far.
  - Realist
    
    Thats what gameday says? They aren’t always reliable “live”…so take it with a grain of salt.
    
    First strike pitches , woo hoo! Be agressive! Thanks Mike!
- Joey
  
  seems pretty good, but I’ve only seen his last 6 or 7 batters, got here late
Manimal

Yikes, Phil got away with that high off speed pitch.
http://www.myspace.com/j_panama Jamal G.

Couple days late but here is some good news on progress by Humberto Sanchez and Andrew Brackman. Information on Jeff Karstens as well.

http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080415&content_id=2531042&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Nice quick inning for Phil. Oh wait, Giambi fucked it up.
Yankee1010

When Giambi plays defense like that, who care if he hits .050 for the season? That man is a true asset.
- Joey
  
  amen. Tex here we come!
http://www.riveraveblues.com Ben K.

Stellar play by Giambi right there.
BigBlueAL

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, just release Giambi already!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Manimal
  
  Seriously. There are all the reasons in the world to release him. PEDs, bad plate appearences, not helping the team, actually hurting the team, and wasting money.
  - BigBlueAL
    
    he was SAFE!!!!!!!!!
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

The Yankees’ best player this year has been the backup catcher. Nice stop by Moeller right there.
- Manimal
  
  AMAZING stop, I can’t imagine a average joe going from their knees to a full jump up to catch a ball, unexpectedly as well..
Yankee1010

You figure that Giambi should be familiar with groundballs to first. God knows he hits enough of them.
- Joey
  
  lol, nice
http://www.myspace.com/j_panama Jamal G.

I would like to see Hughes throw some more changeups, only two thus far.
Manimal

This umpire is 1000000x faster than the other one vs the sox.
http://www.myspace.com/j_panama Jamal G.

LoL, Michael made a funny.
Joey

We’ve got a no hitter going! (Trying to jinx it)
- Joey
  
  I think it worked (if they count it as a hit)
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Those little two-seamers inside eat A-Rod up. That’s why Fausto owns him.
- http://www.myspace.com/j_panama Jamal G.
  
  Seems to be the new book on A-Rod this year because Josh Beckett did the same shit last night.
  
  Damn you Nick Markakis. Other than Hanley Ramirez he has to be one of my favorite baseball players.
Manimal

come on Matsui!!!!! ITS GODZILLAAAAAAAAA!
Manimal

SHIT abreu.
http://yankeesetc.blogspot.com/ Travis G.

ooh, might’ve been safe. gotta see a good replay.
Yankee1010

That was close at the plate. No surprise he was called out though. It’s absolutely infuriating when an umpire calls a runner out simply because the throw beat the runner. Those replays weren’t great, so I’m not sure if that was the case with Abreu.
Manimal

I’ve never been a fan of Meachem. Ever since I saw the yanks get throw out alot in spring training.
BigBlueAL

he looked safe to me, but MASN’s replay wasnt that good a view.
Joey

Was he safe? Masn of MLB.tv didn’t exactly replay it from an angle you could see anything
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

And you all yelled at me when I said Markakis had a better arm than Melky.
Manimal

Masn just said he was safe.
- Joey
  
  yea they just did
http://yankeesetc.blogspot.com/ Travis G.

Melky’s had some chances this year but hasn’t nailed a runner yet. i think he’s actually surprised when a runner tries him.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

He was out. If nothing else, there’s no way you could look at that replay and say he was safe with any certainty.
Manimal

Shit, now they have momentum AND the fans.

Dear Baltimore,
The yankees do not suck.
http://yankeesetc.blogspot.com/ Travis G.

eh, ok, i’ll take it.
http://www.myspace.com/j_panama Jamal G.

Run scored or not, that was some good pitching coming back from back-to-back hits.o
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

David Ortiz hit a grand slam. He’s now slugging .215.
- http://www.myspace.com/j_panama Jamal G.
  
  Prepare for a whiff of that dicksuck (appropriate term seeing as how the Yanks are in Baltimore tonight) for Ortiz tonight on BBTN.
http://yankeesetc.blogspot.com/ Travis G.

a lot of flyouts for Hughes.
http://yankeesetc.blogspot.com/ Travis G.

there ya go Robbie.
Yankee1010

At least he didn’t ground into a double play. Let’s consider it a positive. But by all means, keep on playing him.
cjc

hey joe breaking news giambi is awful
http://www.myspace.com/j_panama Jamal G.

Melky Cabrera is straight nasty this year…thus far.
http://yankeesetc.blogspot.com/ Travis G.

nice Melky, just missed it. btw, he’s slugging over .500 so far…
http://yankeesetc.blogspot.com/ Travis G.

thank you Melvin!
http://www.myspace.com/j_panama Jamal G.

There is something so funny hearing the name “Flava Flav” come out of Michael Kay’s mouth.
- LiveFromNewYork
  
  Flavor has said he does NOT like his name spelled Flava
  
  He has dignity ya know
Ivan

Flaaaavor Fllllaaavvv
Yankee1010

Shelley is 2-3 with a HR and a 2B tonight. Maybe if he has 40 HRs in August and Giambi is hitting .083, Giambi will be given the concrete shoes.
http://www.myspace.com/j_panama Jamal G.

I really am loving Joe Girardi’s aggressiveness.
http://www.myspace.com/j_panama Jamal G.

In all honesty, what the hell is up with Johnny D. and all these broken bats?
- Yankee1010
  
  He’s swinging the bat terribly. He looks like he’s swimming uphill in water. At least his plate appearances are minimized batting first.
  - http://www.myspace.com/j_panama Jamal G.
    
    He is? I thought he’s been swinging pretty good since the start of that two game set in Tampa.
    - Yankee1010
      
      He had two hits in that game, but is 1-10 since then. Hopefully, he isn’t done (but I think he is). If he has another month like this last one, Girardi has to get him out of the leadoff hole. I can understand if he wants to give him just a little more time, but ensuring him the most plate appearances is asinine.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Daniel Cabrera is a Triple-A pitcher for throwing near Derek Jeter.
- http://www.myspace.com/j_panama Jamal G.
  
  I do not listen to people who have horrid teeth. If you can’t bother yourself with decent dental hygiene I can not be bothered with paying attention to you.
- Mike R.
  
  What is Daniel Cabrera thinking throwing at Derek Jeter…I mean…well…AAA pitchers. He should be suspended.
http://www.myspace.com/j_panama Jamal G.

RAB should go over there and teach these casual Yankees fans a thing or two. They need some different info besides the shit they get from M&MD and Mike Lupica.
http://yankeesetc.blogspot.com/ Travis G.

oh god, Kay breaking out the ‘betwixt and between’. first time this year?
http://www.myspace.com/j_panama Jamal G.

Chad Moeller is a pimp.
Yankee1010

Moeller threw an absolute seed down to 3rd there.
http://www.myspace.com/j_panama Jamal G.

Was that really the first BB issued by Daniel Cabrera?
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Oi, I thought A-Rod was out.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Nope, he was in there.
http://yankeesetc.blogspot.com/ Travis G.

Arod showing off his speed. and THAT’s why he’s the best player in the game.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Forget AAA, Cabrera’s a AA pitcher.
http://www.myspace.com/j_panama Jamal G.

Lmao, I saw a blooper reel when I was at the game on Wednesday and it showed a guy swing and miss on a breaking ball that broke so much it hit him square on his cup. Classic.
Yankee1010

This is just the guy the Yanks want at the plate.
DanElmaleh

This is it… The Melky lovers vs. haters right here…
http://www.myspace.com/j_panama Jamal G.

Vaya melky, golpeó la mierda fuera de la bola.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

He should have stood still, that pitch might have hit him in the foot.
http://yankeesetc.blogspot.com/ Travis G.

Phil, how bout a first pitch curve on occasion?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  He was throwing first pitch curves earlier in the game. Gotta change it up to keep them from sitting on it.
  - http://yankeesetc.blogspot.com/ Travis G.
    
    it didnt seem that often, and Millar was sitting on that.
kunaldo

phil falls in love with one of his pitches every time…and then he just throws that one pitch to death usually…he’s gotta mix in more offspeed stuff……
kunaldo

i dunno mike, he’s been throwing an inordinate amount of fastballs…
http://www.myspace.com/j_panama Jamal G.

The Tampa Yankees have not recorded a base hit in seven innings but Tampa’s starter, Ivan Nova, did strike out 10 in his seven innings of three run ball.
http://www.myspace.com/j_panama Jamal G.

Actually the sequence to Luke Scott was Curveball, Fastball, Changeup. He is mixing the pitches just some times the hitters will be on it, no fault of his.
- Pedro
  
  That changeup was up in the zone. Like many of his strikes tonight.
Pedro

Hughes’ command is nothing like what it was in the minors. Even when he throws strikes they are up in the zone.
cjc

fucking awful just awful
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Bah. Hughes pitched well enough to win.
- http://www.myspace.com/j_panama Jamal G.
  
  Here here.
http://yankeesetc.blogspot.com/ Travis G.

oh Alex. Hughes just doesn’t the command he normally has.
- Pedro
  
  He hasn’t had that command for a while now.
Pedro

Words can’t describe how bad the Yankees are playing tonight.
Giselle

i hate it when we score 1-2 runs for our young pitchers… the veterans really need to help out and pick them up! at least don’t throw crappy throws to first!
Ivan

oh well, nice start from Phil, not great but okay nevertheless.
Pedro

Walking a guy whos hitting under .200?
cjc

fuck this punch and judy shit
- Manimal
  
  where did that saying come from.
http://www.myspace.com/j_panama Jamal G.

Great, now this looks like another bad outing by Hughes. God Damn inherited runners.
Yankee1010

Before Hughes pitches, I’m convinced that the fielders get together and cheer, “1-2-3, let’s rape Hughes!”
Ivan

You know, while Phil have been struggling, in the beginning in the year, I know he will pitch much better. Remember this is really the start of his first full year at the bigs. He’s gotten off to a slow start but I think he will pitch much better as the year prolouges.
http://yankeesetc.blogspot.com/ Travis G.

and there’s the game.
McLovin

why the fuck is it always against the goddamn Orioles? They suck sooo much ass
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

How dare LaTroy disgrace Jon Leiber’s number like that!
Pedro

Hawkins is not really the guy you want to bring in with runners on base. He gives up a lot of hits.
- http://www.myspace.com/j_panama Jamal G.
  
  Also induces a lot of ground balls so that is the guy you want because you don’t want to bring in Edwar (who is a great K guy out of the pen) in this situation as his debut to the 2008 MLB season.
  
  He also probably felt that Hawkins’ experience factor was important here beacuse Ohlendorf could have been the other option.
  - Pedro
    
    I would rather try for the strikeout being that our D is not that good.
Manimal

Man, give moeller credit, hes constantly saved our asses/
Manimal

Man thats sloppy arod is officially in his 06 form.
- http://www.myspace.com/j_panama Jamal G.
  
  ???
  - Manimal
    
    this game, so sloppy. It was 1-1 before I took a shit and its 7 to 1 after(8-1 now.) I can tell from the body language of the players that there is absolutely no leadership from anyone, Joe Girardi included.
    
    Old school steinbrenner would fire Joe Girardi in a week.
    
    On another note, Cashmen’s genius signing of Latroy Hawkins seems to not be paying off(what do you know)
Pedro

Who would have thought, another single.
http://yankeesetc.blogspot.com/ Travis G.

ugh, that’s all.
mustang

And mean while in Philadelphia…. just a reminder of what come been.
Sorry just can’t help it . LOL
- http://www.myspace.com/j_panama Jamal G.
  
  LoL, Aaron Heilman fails.
mustang

could of been
http://www.myspace.com/j_panama Jamal G.

Yankees relievers sure don’t like picking up their fellow pitchers do they. ;)
- Manimal
  
  Define “picking up”
  - http://www.myspace.com/j_panama Jamal G.
    
    As in not letting the inherited runners score. But I’m just messing around, that pitch by Edwar was not bad by any stretch of the word.
    - Manimal
      
      Oh, I thought you meant making every possible baserunner score to make the other pitchers look bad. Atleast thats what they have been doing.
Manimal

Its really getting to me now., the 25 guys in the bullpen/dugout is NOT the best 25 men possible.
- Manimal
  
  Of the yankees and Scranton I meant, not all time.
http://yankeesetc.blogspot.com/ Travis G.

mustang, you cant judge the trade (or non-trade) for years. four starts does not a good judgment make.
- Manimal
  
  Phil Hughes is still young but seriously. 2 starts, 5 innings combined.
  - http://www.myspace.com/j_panama Jamal G.
    
    Your going to sit here and tell me he was awful tonight?
    - Manimal
      
      I was talking about the last two starts. He was ok today. Definately not as advertised.
  - http://yankeesetc.blogspot.com/ Travis G.
    
    where are you getting that? the last start was 2 ip, tonight was 5.1 = 7.1.
    - Manimal
      
      start before that was 3 innings, 2+3 is 5. sorry for the confusion.
Pedro

All I wanna know is what’s the excuse for the offense tonight. It’s not cold over there is it? They faced a crappy pitcher. What’s gonna take for them to start scoring runs?
- http://www.myspace.com/j_panama Jamal G.
  
  Daniel Cabrera is NOT a crappy pitcher. He has some of the best stuff in the entire game. When he has his control and command he does this. When he doesn’t, he’s awful. Tonight he had the control and command and this is what he is capable of.
  - Pedro
    
    He NEVER has command. In fact he doesn’t even know where his ptiches are gonna end up. He walked 2 and hit another 2, so I don’t thn ik today was any different. The thing is right now they can’t hit with RISp to save their lives.
mustang

yes but that would of been joba or Bruney… what if….
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Yay Chad.
mustang

Guys Please tell me something i don’t know but i live in the here and now
Manimal

Everyone look at my comment at 9:17 and apply it for the homerun.
mustang

I can dream…… you guys have a good night
Giselle

that chad moeller sure is growing on me.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Randor’s got a filthy sinker.
Giselle

i’m not sure, but i think the orioles want to lose this game. that’s ok with me.
http://yankeesetc.blogspot.com/ Travis G.

oh how those extra runs could hurt us. we could merely be down 3-2 now.
Manimal

Seriously the bad luck is KILLING me.
- Manimal
  
  GOD DAMN, what the hell is up with the bad luck!
Pedro

Bad bad luck.
http://www.myspace.com/j_panama Jamal G.

LoL, some Baltimore fan must have sold their soul to the Devil.
Pedro

Oh well, at least next year A-Rod will have another monster year, since this is the year to be human.
- Manimal
  
  Next year will be amazing.
  - Kelvin
    
    agreed!
Pedro

None of those pitches were strikes to Matsui according to gameday
Manimal

What the hell I can’t believe what bad luck we have had. Arod and Abreu hit Doubles.
BigBlueAL

my thing with Hughes is not necessarily his outings so far, because u wouldve been a fool not to expect starts like this for a 21 yo pitching in the AL, BUT what im worried about is i just dont see “dominant” stuff. what is his K:BB ratio so far this season???? he has a nice fastball, but it isnt a 95-96 fastball, which is ok, he throws hard enuff, but he is essentially a 2-pitch pitcher. his curve looks nasty, but as Jim Palmer was saying, it looks nasty but the hitters dont swing at it when it is out of the zone. i hardly saw any changeups, and again, an erratic fastball location-wise. which is worse because he doesnt throw 2-seamers, and the problem with all those flyballs is eventually come summertime they start turning into hr’s. and lets remember, 2 out of his last 3 starts have come vs the Royals and Orioles, 2 pretty below average offenses.
Pedro

That’s 9 men left on base in 7 innings. Kinda hard to win when our offense sucks major balls like that.
BigBlueAL

well my night isnt totally lost, at least Isiah is officially FIRED as head coach!!!!!! btw if anyone cares, the Rangers r about to eliminate the Devils
http://yankeesetc.blogspot.com/ Travis G.

at least the Rangers won.
BigBlueAL

fuckin MASN’s play of the game is Abreu gettin thrown out at home even though Palmer mentions he couldve been safe….actually i like Palmer as a commentator, cant complain too much
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Oh well, go get ’em tomorrow.
- Mike R.
  
  Agreed. IPK 4 ROY 08!!!
http://www.thebronxzoo.wordpress.com iYankees

if hughes keeps this up, i wouldn’t mind seeing him back in triple-a. he’s having mechanical issues that need to be corrected and, right now, i don’t know if that’s going to happen. it’s not like he just doesn’t have his command today (or on those other starts). this could become a big problem for the yanks.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Tim Kurkjian just said “arbitration can make you more money than free agency” on BBTN. He does not watch baseball.
Ramadan

Why I’m down on Huhges.
1. he throws 91
2. I don’t see dominant stuff
3. He throws 80 pitches by the third inning
4. Kennedy is better than him
5. He shows has no emotion
6. he is just BORING
7. If he pitched for the red sox we weould be killing this guy
8. He fails the eye test. HE IS JUST NOT THAT GOOD
9. u guys can kill me all you want, the kid is very average
10. He is not Johan Santana