I heard Paul O’Neill say this, I think, back in 2005. The Yanks were getting blown out by the Sox in Fenway. They scored a few runs in the ninth, though, including an A-Rod bomb, and the score ended up 9-4 or something like that. O’Neill noted that it was a good sign for the next day when a team scored late in a blowout. Something about them showing signs of life.

Not being one for weak anecdotal evidence, I wrote off Paul pretty quickly. But sure enough, they won the next day. So I started taking note of such situations. Every time the Yanks scored in the 9th inning when they were down big, they won the next day. Of course, this is only in the times that I actually made the observation. Clearly, I might have missed a few instances. But in any case, it gives me high hopes for today.

Darrell Rasner takes the mound again. The Tigers are no Mariners, though, so he’ll need to be a bit more on his game to get through this lineup. Jeremy Bonderman is on the other side. He shut us down last time out, even though we had him on the ropes early on, but let him off the hook.

The lineup:

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

And on the mound, Darrell Rasner.

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130 Comments »

Manimal says:

Pete Abe says that Shelly says the starting line up and it is funny. Just a heads up if you were planning on ignoring the pregame show.

Manimal says:

hahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahah wow that was pretty funny

 
Mike A. says:

“A legend in every state, the Big G, Jason Giambi.”

Classic.

Manimal says:
Manimal says:

cant say Ive heard that before. And bobby Abreu being a good dancer?

Jamal G. says:

He’s Latino, LoL, it’s what we’re know for.

 
 
 
 
 
Jamal G. says:

Johan Santana has thrown 110+ pitches in a six inning outing for the second straight start. He is really acting like Al Leiter 2.0 with the Metropolitans. For a guy who’s elbow hurt so bad last year he couldn’t throw a slider this can not bode well for the end of the season.

BTW, he did give up his 8th HR in today’s start versus Cincy.

Ivan says:

Yea but alot of hr’s are solo and rarely walks people. That said I still liked the fact the yankees didn’t make that trade.

 
 
RichYF says:

Yeah, so much for the drought.

 
Manimal says:

HAHAHHA the fox people jinxed his drought.

 
Jamal G. says:

Ok, I am never trusting FOX’s radar gun again. 103 MPH from Jeremy Bonderman?

Manimal says:

haha dang you always beat me too what I’m about to see.

 
 
 
Manimal says:

Yeah OK fox. Matsui’s single was definately off a 103 mph pitch

A.D. says:

Guns can get messed up if someone hits the pitch

 
 
Manimal says:

Giambi is clearly a pinch hitter. 7 hr’s and 4 singles??

 
Manimal says:
 
A.D. says:

is it just me or do the Tigers always have Seay up?

Manimal says:

He is the Proctor of the Tigers.

 
 
 
Jamal G. says:

God Damn Melky Cabrera has looked great. That plate discipline was just beautiful there.

Manimal says:

I agree, fouling off the tough pitches, laying off the close ones, and driving the good ones(even some of the bad ones) Plus where did all this power come from?

 
 
Manimal says:

Leave it to Cano to kill a rally.

 
Jamal G. says:

Did Robinson Cano curse Jesus or something? What is up with his luck?

 
 
Ivan says:

To be fair, that ball was hit pretty well.

 
Mike A. says:

He crushed that ball. Too bad it was right at someone.

 
A.D. says:

Well if you’re going to loose a ball, might as well go for a HR where there is nothing he can do

 
Manimal says:

Someone caught it. Wasnt abreu.

 
A.D. says:

hopefully Rasner’s signature will be giving up a HR in the 1st and then shutting a team down

 
Ivan says:

D’Antoni is going to coach the Knicks. Persoanlly I don’t know what to make of this. D’Antoni is a good coach but he reminds me Don Nelson who I wasn’t fond of. Plus, the Knick team isn’t that great is gonna take a while. Hopefully the knicks get Darren Rose but if they don’t, I would persoanlly draft OJ Mayo. I think he has the best upside of any guard in this draft. He will do well in D’Antoni system.

That said D’Antoni doesn’t preach Defense, and a Knick team that doesn’t play D, I can see the knicks being fun to watch and suck at the same time.

This gonna be interesting

yanks99 says:

either way, it’s a huuuuuuge upgrade over isiah thomas….he has to be one of the worst people/gms/coaches in the history of basketball….i would take zack randolph being a plyer coach over isiah thomas.

 
Jamal G. says:

If we become they become the Eastern version of the Phoenix Suns, would that really be a bad deal? The Pistons and Celtics are obviously top D teams but the Pistons are aging and in about three seasons or so they’re window will be closed shut. The Celtics aren’t young either but if D’Antoni can build the Knicks like he did the Suns they would be a perennial Eastern Conference Championship contender.

A.D. says:

Knicks can’t get much worse….I hope, big factor will be the lottery pick, and if they can get a true point guard, if only they could bend the card again like the Ewing draft

 
Newman says:

Of course it’s a bad deal Jamal. Don’t you watch basketball? What the hell have the Phoenix Suns ever won? If you’re content with winning 50 plus games and then getting bounced in the 2nd round, then yes, you’re probably thrilled at the hiring of D’Antoni. It isn’t a secret - DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS, as well as PLAYOFF GAMES, yet people continued to be enamored with run and gun play that in the end wins nothing. The man that should’ve gotten the job was JVG disciple Tom Thibideau, but of course scumbag and waste of life James Dolan needed to make a big name splash.

Jamal G. says:

Is the Eastern Conference anywhere near as good as its Western counterpart? Don’t you think the Phoenix Suns would get much further in the Eastern Conf.? If they are luky and get Derrick Rose from Memphis then that’s their building block. They start from there and already have nice role players in David Lee, Jamal Crawford and Nate Robinson. A focused and disciplined Zach Randolph can give you a 20/10 year but you’re most likely going to get 18/9. Obviously with Rose they are nowhere near the talent level of the Suns but that is a starting point. Outside of the Celtics, Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers, who really plays defense in the East?

Also, in the East they won’t win 50+ games and be a bottom seed having to face the Celtics or Pistons in the first round.

Newman says:

This is one year, how about the previous 3 when they won nothing? The bottom line is DEFENSE wins. And if you actually think this roster is going to compete for anything but more lottery picks, then you are completely delusional. The object of the next 3 years should be to CLEAR CAP SPACE and nothing more. Who cares if they lose 70 games every year

 
 
 
Ivan says:

Yeah sure D’Antoni can help this Knick team be a elite in the eastern conference if he has the talent. Hey the knicks have some talent but not alot of it. Plus, this team is rebuiling, When he had the suns, they were under the cap, they had Marion, Amare, Joe Johnson and sign Steve Nash. When you have that type of talent like he had on Phoenix, you can get away from playing D.

With this knick team, the situation is different. They are over the cap, they have players who think they are that nice but they aren’t. Plus, do the Knicks have players to play in D’Antoni system? to me they don’t.

Plus, you bring up teams like the pistons and celts how there window is closing and rightfully so, but don’t forget about the upcomming teams, like Orlando (which the Knicks jump stan vanguny who to me is better coach than his brother in my opinion), or Toronto or even the Cavs, if they can build a championship team with LeBron.

To me this NBA draft is big for the knicks. Hopefully the knicks get a top 3 pick ( I know be shocked if they don’t even get a top 5 pick)

 
 
ceciguante says:

i advise you all to boycott the knickerbockers. i do. feels great — dolan’s don’t deserve my $$ or my attention. when those used car salesmen sell the knicks, i’ll start paying attention again.

 
 
Jamal G. says:

The Seattle Mariners are dumb for not signing Barry Bonds. Then again, it seems like some GM and owners are under the impression that boggeymanness >>> OBP.

http://www.firejoemorgan.com/2.....s-obp.html

 
pete says:

remember last time we faced bonderman we made him throw like 30 pitches in the first but he got out of it with 2 runs, then shut us down for the rest of the night?
I’d really hate it if that happened again. It looks like the only pitch he can throw consistently for strikes today (except against damon) is the slider. If the yanks can lay off of it we should be good.

 
Manimal says:

Note to yankees: Get Bonderman early.

 
Mike A. says:

What is that, 3 straight games with an XBH for Betemit?

 
Jamal G. says:

Wilson Betemit has been absolutely raking the ball since coming back. Not always for a hit but he’s been killing the ball.

 
Mike A. says:

What is it with all the damn injuries.

 
Jamal G. says:

God Damn, he was hot too. So I guess Alberto Gonzalez is back. Come on Betemit, no DL.

 
Manimal says:

Wasnt this conditional training supposed to help? Look at what has happened.

Giambi is batting 180
Arod strained his quad
Same with Jeter
Molina hurt his leg(forgot what)
Betemit leaves with hammy problem

Manimal says:

Can David Ortiz not pronounce “M”, wtf is Every gayne?

 
Jamal G. says:

1. Jason Giambi’s slump should not be attributed to any sort of conditioning program. He was healthy, and just not hitting.

2. If you are blaming injuries on the conditional program I don’t get why. Injuries happen, they happened last year when they weren’t as in shape as they were last year. Just so happens that the injury bug bit us in our ass two years in a row to start the season.

3. In the long run, I believe it will greatly help. Hell it has even paid off thus far. Look at Johnny Damon and Bobby Abreu. Those two were admittedly out of shape last year and look how they started. Now look at their seasons to start.

Manimal says:

1. I just threw that in there because I don’t like Giambi lol.
2. Tendinitis in the arm happens(Posada) All these Lower body injury’s shouldn’t happen as often as they are.
3. I will agree that Abreu, Damon, and Melky look better than last year at this stage. Same with Mariano but I don’t know if thats related.

Jamal G. says:

You have to relate the Johnny Damon and Bobby Abreu cases because they admitted this year they were out of shape and you saw how they started. This year they weren’t, and look how they started. Mariano Rivera habe enn getting regular work so I attribute that to his stellar start, and just because he’s Mariano fucking Rivera.

You’re right, all these lower body injuries are puzzling but shit does happen. I can not say for sure that they are in relation to the Spring Training conditioning program but neither can you say they are.

 
 
 
 
A.D. says:

Betemit was smoking the ball, and was going to get to play into next week, chance is its either fairly bad and he goes on the DL or he comes back right away, they aren’t going to do what they did with Jeter and keep him active.

At least he got hurt on an RBI, and shown some ability

 
Jamal G. says:

Lmao, isn’t that Chris Britton? Not every big guy is the same, so wrong.

A.D. says:

It was Britton, classic FOX making mistakes.

The best was how Ken Rosenthal ripped the Tigers for signing Cabrera to a long extension before they “realized he couldn’t play 3rd”, which isn’t even true, but then they come back 2 innings later and discuss how he can be such a great 1B after he made a good play

 
 
Ivan says:

rasner is dealing right now

 
Manimal says:

I am impressed by Rasner. IPK and Phil Phranchise better take notes.

 
Jamal G. says:

You know if Darrell Rasner can be a consistent, average innings eater we are in great shape in terms of our pitching staff. The middle relief has proven to be just wonderful and the back-end of the bullpen is what it is. If I am not mistaken the Yankees bullpen has allowed just 10 ER in their last 50+ innings. We know what we have in our top two starters and Mike Mussina sans Boston has been a damn good #3 starter. Things are looking good.

A.D. says:

Very true, Rasner is showing we have better depth than we thought, if he can keep this going & if Kennedy/Hughes can come back then we’ll have lots of depth, especially looking at the minors, give them a chance to after a 1B or 1B prospect (if there were a way to get Morales that would be amazing)

Mike A. says:

Morales? As in Kendry? Lord no, that boy makes David Ortiz look like Doug Meintkiewicz defensively.

 
 
 
Jamal G. says:

Hit and runs, aggressive base-running? Got to love it.

A.D. says:

Thats why we brought in Girardi

Wow if Giambi & Cano can get out of it & A-Rod comes back they can go on a tear

 
 
Mike A. says:

Well, Rasner’s not some hack. He was the 46th overall pick in 2002 (Micah Owings, David Bush, Jon Lester, Jonathan Broxton, and Brian McCann were drafted after him that round) but hurt his shoulder after signing and never got his old velocity back.

This isn’t 8th round pick Brad Halsey or 19th round pick Jeff Karstens, Rasner’s got game.

Jamal G. says:

What was his velocity before the injuries?

BTW, was Jonathan Broxton always a reliever or did he just not have enough secondary pitches?

Mike A. says:

Rasner was 92-94, 96 on a good day when he was drafted.

Broxton was a starter until about halfway through 2005. He basically just lost the feel for his changeup, plus he had some injury issues, which is why they stuck him in the pen.

A.D. says:

Starts to make sense that he developed slower, maybe he’s finally pulling it together to pitch without the plus velocity

 
 
 

Speaking of which what’s happened with Halsey? I thought he could be pretty decent, and definitely better than some of the names team are throwing out there.