Game 55: Ending May on a good note
ByThe Yanks came into May after a sub-par April. They were 14-15 to start the month and were facing questions about the team. Phil Hughes had gone down; A-Rod had gone down; Jorge Posada had gone down. Things were not looking good.
With all of that baggage, May was a bit of a rocky month for the Yankees, and as recently as nine days ago, the Yanks were facing a very bad month. They were 20-25, and the season was on the precipice of slipping away. But the tide has seemingly turned, and the Yanks find themselves 7-2 over their last nine games.
So here we are on the last day of May, and the Yanks are looking to improve on their April record. They sit at 27-27 and, obviously, need a win tonight to move over .500 for the first time since the end of play on May 5.
The man on the mound is the one you want pitching in search of that win. Chien-Ming Wang, 6-2 with a 3.82 ERA, gets the ball today. He is winless since May 2 and could really use a solid start today. In his career on artificial turf, Wang is 7-3 with a 4.52 ERA. He’s allowed 90 hits in 75.2 innings, a product of his extreme ground ball tendencies. Opponents slug .059 higher off Wang on turf than on grass.
Damon LF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Giambi 1B
Cano 2B
Molina C
Cabrera CF
Wang P
Game Notes: I hate Saturday evening games. They should be outlawed. What’s wrong with playing a regular afternoon game?…The Yanks will call up a long reliever on Tuesday to shadow Joba’s first few starts. As PeteAbe speculates, Jeff Karstens will probably get the call because he’s on the 40-man roster and is a better option than Kei Igawa.
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The Mason Williams Watch
I really hope it’s Giese. It’s not like Karstens actually did that great in the spring, or has done that great since. But, I have this weird feeling that Girardi wanted Karstens as his long man all along for some reason, and now that he can have him, he wants him. Despite the fact that Rasner could have helped A LOT as the long man early on, and Giese is pitching WAY better than Karstens right now.
I’m kind of hoping that that whole idea of good performance earning you a shot will actually turn out to have been more than lip service.
Can’t they pass Igawa through waivers to get him off the 40-man? If no one takes him, they assign his contract to AAA. If someone does, the claimant assumes his whole contract. And that’s not so bad.
I hope it’s Giese too.
Wow. 5th inning only 15 comments slow day at RAB.
they took Karstens out after 4 and 66 pit. so it’s probably him
Ugh. If only he could find his 2006 form…
His 2006 form was mostly smoke and mirrors. A combo of a honeymoon period, pitching in big ballparks, and against lineups without much power. I always liked Rasner more.
Karstens at best would be a #5 starter in the NL
I’d rather see Guise or White
Hey, at least with a Saturday evening game, the rest of the country can actually watch the game with either mlb.tv or Extra Innings, packages for which we paid $150.
Johnathan Broxton put me in a bad mood.
“What’s wrong with playing a regular afternoon game?”
Living in Charleston for the Riverdogs keeps me from catching virtually any saturday game(on extra innings) so im fine with a Saturday night game once and a while. At least i can DVR it and watch it later.
The Boof, the Boof, the Boof is on fire.
Sorry…
I’d be amazingly impressed if any one claimed Kei, mostly based on financial reasons. Although I wouldn’t be surprised if he was one of those guys that sucked in NY and was great elsewhere.
Wang needs to tighten up and stop bleeding runs
Francisco Liriano is pitching against our own Triple-A Yankees. In 5IP thus far he has 5K, 3H, 1BB and 1ER.
RBI from Eric Duncan. I think he’s poised for a resurgence some time soon.
I’ve been saying that for years.
lol. hopefully it actually happens.
Wang needs to get the ball down. Everything up in the damn zone…
Silly little Lamb.
lol
What do you guys think of the Yankees’ Mock Draft on John Sickel’s minorleagueball.com?
28) NY Yankees: Zach Collier, OF, California HS
44) Yankees: Anthony Ferrara, LHP, Florida HS
75) Yankees: Ricky Oropesa, 1B, California HS
106) Yankees: Ryan Westmoreland, P-OF, Rhode Island HS
140) Yankees: Keith Landers, LHP, Massachusetts HS
170) Yankees: Danny Ortiz, OF, Puerto Rico HS
Keith Collins and I did the draft, if I may say, and we drafted the best young talent we could that was till there.
You guys confused me a bit, you said that you would have taken Allan Dykstra if he was available but he was available when you guys were up picking in the first and supplemental rounds and you passed on him twice.
what happened was that Keith’s computer was acting up and he told me to make the pick. we were just talking about Ferrara so in a dumb mistake I typed in Ferrara instead of Dykstra. I soon realized the error so I tried to correct but it was too late; the dreaded Sox took Dykstra with the next pick. But I’m alright with that, because I’m very high on Oropesa.
Oh ok, thanks for clearing that up. I can’t comment on the draft because outside of the obvious names I’m pretty ignorant on the talent in the amateur pool.
Can you give a little rundown on Mr. Oropesa?
6’2, 215; B: L, T: R; inconsistent contact ability, plus plus raw power (hasn’t really shown it in games yet), good enough instincts to steal bases, but still 1Bman speed, good footwork & decent hands, questionable range, well-built physically. Likely ends up at 1B.
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/.....nt=oropesa
Take a look at him in his Jr year in high school. He played for the Yankees scout team last summer. He hit upper deck more than once. Check it out.
http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm.....d=14844237
I’m going to talk about it tomorrow, and also post who I would have taken at each spot (I stopped paying attention after the 3rd round though).
I can’t believe he’s walked Casilla three times. That’s just horrible. The guy’s a slap hitting middle infielder, and he’s afraid to come at him? And it’s not like he’s got a great eye or anything.
MLB.com has free, live look-ins of Manny’s ABs. He’s up right now.
Line-out to Jay Payton.
I’m sick of that Ford Edge commercial.
Jeter? He has as edge.
I second that.
Lmao, was Jose Veras about to do some Kung-Fu on a foul ball?
Jose Molina sure has a flare for the dramatic doesn’t he?
oh its so fun watching Giambi hustle.
The way the Yankees have been playing really make that Game 2 loss in Baltimore hurt that much more.
You called 21 or 22 wins in the 35 games between the two subways series I’m thinking 24 or 25 they are on a roll.
I criticize Cashman for lots of moves, but the Molina pick was great.
Poor Jesse Crain. He’s a shell of his former self post-shoulder surgery.
he was such a good prospect before. *sighs wistfully…*
People always moan and cry about the Yankees being an old team but I have to ask, how many teams in MLB have the 1-4 hitters in their lineup with the potential of stealing 20+ bases?
Good point and I believe that is an awesome weapon…..plus the ability to hit and run…Both ways, which they all also posses
Manny Ramirez is up again, MLB.com has the free look-in.
Congratulations Manny Ramirez, always have been one of my favorite players.
I had to go and open my big fucking mouth.
looks must be deceiving b/c that looked pretty routine.
Congrats,
To Manny, but he still doesn’t play the game right.
Byebye scoreless streak.
put joba back in the bullpen now!!!!
Britton? Helllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!
This is getting ridiculous.
Fire Brian Cashman!!111!11 one
Veras just owned Gomez.
Carlos Gomez got owned so bad in that AB.
Wilkins De La Rosa got his nine outs on six ground-outs and three strikeouts in a scoreless outing. Nice.
melky!
Gutsy call by Joe Mauer to go to the Slider after Joe Nathan spiked the last two.
I love it. Farnsworth vs the 3-4-5 hitters when a homer loses you the game…
KKKK Kyle!
krazy kyle K’s
Kyle Farnsworth was 96-97MPH that whole inning outside of the first Fastball to Joe Mauer (94-MPH), who says his stuff can’t go back-to-back days?
There’s nothing like taking the first two games in a four game series, come on!
Chris Britton? Hello? Will he ever fucking pitch???
That’s a great AB by Alex Rodriguez there, extra-innings game and you’re down 0-2 in the count but you still work a walk.
Oh come the fuck on A-Rod. You’re close enough at second. Shit.
That was terrible.
Dennys Reyes looks like one of the jolliest fat men I’ve ever seen.
How is it that everyone and their brother seems to have a lefty to throw at us? Not just relievers but starters too. Granted we’ve got Andy and some guys who get lefties out… but I find it kind of mystifying…
Also we’re really missing Po’s bat to discourage them from piling on lefties and just pitching around Arod.
Kyle again?
Ugh, Ohllie. At least it’s not the meat of the order.
If they leave Ohlie in for more than one inning, this game is a lost cause.
Free Chris Britton!
(and why would you ever throw anything near the strike zone to Delmon Young, he man swings at everything)
Holy Schnikees. Thank goodness for the Hefty Monster in RF.
nice job Ross…
WTF?!?!?! Intentionally walking Nick fucking Punto!!! His career OPS+ is 70!!! WTF???? We don’t walk Manny in a big spot, but Nick Punto, yeah, let’s not pitch to him.
it worked
I guess Joe G. must be thinking he wants that Sinker diving down-and-in to the RHB which would jam him instead of having the Switch hitting Nick Punto being able to extend his arms against the Sinker diving away.
What is wrong with Chris Britton that he’s never allowed to pitch? There must be something. Right?
Pete says he thinks Britton kicked Girardi’s dog or something like that
That was a great point by John Flaherty, Carlos Gomez has look like a punk bitch against the Slider tonight.
Sweet!
How come whenever I try to do that to a bat, I end up on the floor in pain?
You have to aim it on the thinnest part of the bat and drive the bat down instead of driving your thigh up. Also, make sure your hands are on the top of the bat so you can drive your hands down on the bat as the bat drives into your thigh.
Why thank you.
It’s something the Mets spend extra time on in Spring Training.
Why not leave Dennys Reyes into face Jason Giambi and Robinson Cano?
does girardi not understand that ohlendorf is now a 1 INNING GUY???
Well, the alternatives are Chris Britton or Mariano Rivera, and who would want them in a game?
Wait…he DIDN’T offer?
K.
So, apparently Karstens left the game with groin tightness…so, PLEASE let it be Giese and not Igawa. They have guys they can put on teh 60-day.
and WHY won’t they throw strikes to this guy? WHY?!?!
apparently Girardi didn’t notice Ohlie just got out of that last inning. Or that Ohlie has sucked beyond his first inning all year.
someone tell me that casilla bastard won’t walk four times…
Yah…I’m pretty sure I feel better about Britton than Ollie’s 2nd inning.
this is where not having a LOOGY hurts…
you mean’t not having a good loogy hurts
Not having a LOOGY hurts when you need 6 innings out of your pen?
i’m watching on Gameday. are they even trying?
Melky singles (nice!), damon cant lay down a fucking bunt and GDPs!
Arod walks, steals 2nd (nice!) and gets greedy trying to steal 3rd with our best hitter up. wtf?
and ohlie is clearly out of his element going more than one inning.
I live with ollie pitching one more inning. Anything over that to me is not good
Same.
Joe Girardi is clueless, I swear. His bullpen usage is minimally better than Torre’s, almost negligibly.
next time Cashman is on Kay’s radio show, Kay should ask him why Britton doesn’t pitch. I mean this is a fucking crime here.
Kay is an organization man. Maybe those jerkoffs at MMD should ask or Peter Abraham. No one asks. Kay isn’t going to ask.
MMD always say they’re going to take Cash or Girardi to task…and then they lob softballs and ask questions that everyone knows the answer to (“Joba? To the rotation? Really Cash? But the 8th is so important!”)
I hate that. I mean…you know that all Girardi will say is “well, we feel that Hawkins has that late inning experience, gives us the best chance to win.” Or some similar non-answer. But at least ask the question.
well this one will be over soon..
where did his splitter from last year go? and his sinker?
I do not get the Britton thing. I do not get why no one is asking about it. Pete Abe eludes to it but never asks. What the F is going on with Chris Britton?
I think Girardi is, overall, a thinking manager but sometimes it’s like WTF was that?
is it just me or whenever they show Girardi in these late game situations where the bullpen is giving up the game he just has this ‘I don’t give a f ‘ look on his face?
I think it’s you…I think he clamps down his jaw or something so he doesn’t throw something.
Torre used to sleep so just being awake is a vast improvement.
Way to load the gun Melk. Nice job tracking down that ball and getting himself in a position to throw.
LoL, not for nothing but if we get out of this inning, that play by Melky Cabrera will be one of the main factors. Good shit.
phew. I can see Cuddy giving us a DP. Inning over yet?
Is Ohlendorf growing a mustache too? This team is going to be spending their off-the-field time at the local disco pretty soon.
White Saturday Night Fever suits for all!!!
Not for nothing but I was driving home listening to Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum on the radio and I heard Wang’s struggles and then they were doing a commercial in the middle of an at-bat. I thought to myself, “This night cannot end well.” I should have stayed out where I was.
well alrighty then. lol…no complaints if Ohlie proves me wrong…
Look at Ross Ohlendorf hitting 97-MPH on pitch #37. Nice Slider Ohly.
is it time for breakfast?
how ’bout a fastball high and away (in the zone)?
This is some good shit from Ohlendorf. He’s not giving in, and he’s going right at them with his best stuff. Hit it if you can.
LUCKY
I want to see Mariano Rivera, we have toed the line long enough without our best pitcher in these extra-innings. If Chris Britton or LaTroy Hawkins give it up later on, so be it.
Word.
The Twins have a funny commercial with Delmon Young consulting Oliva, Killebrew and Carew for hitting advice….cute
I think he needs it.
how are the twinkies doing on relievers?
Heh, as Ohlendorf was walking off the field, he pounded his fist into his glove and yelled “That’s how we roll at Princeton, WHAT!”
Not really, but that would be awesome.
LOL
My friend went to HS with him, apparently he was redic at EVERYTHING
LaTroy hawkins, please don’t give it up in the 12th. Yankees, please score a run so we don’t have to see Hawkins.
Is it just me or does Melky have one of the ugliest swings lol…
Why is Hawkins warming up over Britton?
chris britton does not exist. He is a figment of your imagination.
Why? Why why why why why does every damn Yankee manager steadfastly refuse to let Chris Britton pitch in a game? Why?
The blogosphere really needs to start getting loud about this Britton thing. enough is enough.
It makes no sense Britton has a career ERA just over 3, so he gets it done
Alright Mofos, lets get something going!
Hello mofo
With Damon on first if I was the yankees I would try to let Damon steal a base or do a hit and run here.
Its not as much as Why not Britton, its more like Why the fuck Hawkins!!!!!!
It’s both really. Maybe Girardi figures LaTroy will get everyone to bed at a decent hour.
If Mariano isn’t warming up right now then he must be unavailable tonight, damn.
He should be available
Mo’s warming up now Jamal
hurray…
I think that he’s pitched so much lately that you don’t get him up until you’re winning. Or maybe going to be winning
Like right now.
It’s only Hawkins, Briiton and Rivera left in the bullpen from what I can tell the Twins are down to the end of their available relievers…
My guess is that it’s his weight (275). He’s the 4th heaviest player in baseball, and the 3 ahead of him (Sabathia, Broxon, and Jenks) are way better than he is. So I guess they’re saying condition or we don’t play you. And so it is.
Watch as Britton goes down tomorrow for Giese.
That actually makes sense. Bruney slimmed down (damn I wish he would come back). I hope the time off doesn’t make him balloon again.
If it’s really his weight then he needs to shape up. Damn.
Then leave him at AAA. Bring up someone you WILL play.
He’ll go down for the long man, I’m sure of it.
Is Joe praying with the ump?
What was Billy Beane’s line in Moneyball, we’re not selling swimsuits here?
I mean I get that, but the main thing is effectiveness and winning games, heavy or not Britton is effective
Lets Go
Any thoughts on why Joe Mauer and the Twins like to call multiple pitching signs with a runner on First Base?
Captain Clutch!
Praise the Lord!!!!
Yes we will see Rivera instead of Hawkins
and there we go! nice job Bobby!
Venezuela FTW!
There ya go, money in the bank. Get the Sandman up, then I can start drinkin’ til I can’t feel feelings anymore.
LOL
haha LOL
I hate being 19, drinks are never guaranteed when I go out
BTW, anybody know a great remedy for a scratchy throat and stuffy nose? Dealing with those things suck.
Bedrest and OJ
I also have had good experiences with those cold-eeze cough drops. They have zinc in them. They taste gross, but if I’m just a little under the weather a couple of those in a day and a good night’s sleep helps.
Allegra-D and Nasonex. They always work on me.
Oh, I hate the sprays. I take Allegra-D every single day, though. Or Zyrtec-D. Only help my allergies, not exisiting congestion.
BOO. I wanted more runs, jason.
Gracias, you too whozat.
Crack will certainly open up your nasal passages.
who needs drugs watching this game and listening to “Stairway to Heaven” (like me)?
Alcohol, rarely do you find yourself worrying about/feeling those things when your drunk
Abreu with the clutch hit. Now Hawkins sit ya ass down.
wow that was a nice catch…
LoL, 18-1, OWNED!
Matsui’s average is higher than Jeter’s OBP. Melky’s too.
Not to mention Molina, Duncan, Cano just to name a few.
Yeah, but with Jeter it’s actually surprising.
Very true.
michael kay…seriously now, with the randy moss crap. it’s getting to the point where he’s gonna start making kids NOT yankee fans.
LoL, how in the fuck did the HP ump call that 2-1 pitch a Ball after calling that 2-0 pitch a Strike? Payback much?
You miss your spots, you don’t get the calls.
Bass pitched 2 innings last night so we’ll see if we can break this thing open…
never mind lol.
Jay Bruce went 3 for 5 with a walk-off homer today. Holy crap.
I can’t believe they thought Corey Patterson was a good idea. Mindboggling.
They=Dusty Baker IMO. Heard that Corey Patterson was signed because he was friends with Baker.
Damn it.
Lamb thought that was strike 3 lol.
BigBlue, you can’t tell me this HP ump doesn’t deserve a kick in the ass.
i dont like to rip on umpires, but damn that pitch to Lamb was strike 3!!!!!!
Actually, i read your comment about that pitch to Matsui, and yeah normally, ESPECIALLY with the 13-14 yo and high-school kids cause their location is off alot, when you throw the complete opposite of where the catcher is setup, it really is hard to call the pitch a strike. BUT when you hit the mitt perfect like that pitch to Lamb, i ring em up all day!!!!
Just noticed, Betemit defensive replacement at 1b. Think this will become a pattern now??
nice defensive substitution! Yankees win…thhhheeee Yannkkees win
Great win. Losing sucks, but losing in extra innings sucks even more.
Losing in extra innings at home is the worst.
Nice catch.
Got to see what Ohlendorf can be capable of (with the breaking ptiches and Ks, not the rickity parts)
phew!
This was a really good win.
You know what this means.
LoL, I swore I just heard Bobby Abreu say “Cono” (pronounced Con-Yo), that means fuck in Spanish
I think he said Cano…no?
Betemit played some nasty defense. like that stuff.
Considering he came up as a SS, he should play good D at any infield position.
Ross Ohlendorf, Player of the Game? Noice.
WOW. Just heard this on ESPN, only players of 500 hr club with a higher career avg than Manny r Ruth, Ted Williams and Jimmie Foxx. Shit.
Just showed Top 5 career avg in 500 hr club, Arod 5th!!!
WHY IS EVERYONE IN LOVE WITH BRITTON?
and “Mike A.” -im confused, are you a Yankee fan? It seems like u dont watch the game and all u do is bitch and complain on this blog?
I’m not in love with Britton but I wonder why he doesn’t get to pitch when he’s here. I think it’s because he’s a big fatty. GI Joe doesn’t like big fatties.