Game 57: Just another night game in June
ByI was under the impression that tonight’s Yankees-Blue Jays game was some sort of momentous game. But when I went to look at MLB.com, ESPN.com and all the New York news outlets, I couldn’t find anything out of the ordinary about today. It is yet another game in which the Yankees will aim to finish the day at .500. That’s getting old.
In real news, today’s a big day in Yankeeland for the 65-70 pitches that Joba throws will forever set the course of the universe. Will Hillary Clinton drop out of the Democratic race for president this week? Will gas prices continue to rise throughout the summer? Will the new Coen Brothers movie be as funny as it looks? All of these questions — and more — will be answered after Joba throws the Most Important 65 Pitches Ever Thrown.
Okay, okay. So maybe it’s not that big a deal. Maybe that is just step one in what is bound to be a process, but that’s the same as expecting Yankee fans to one day accept the fact that no team will go 162-0, that A-Rod won’t hit 1.000 with a 4.000 slugging and that no pitcher — outside of Mariano Rivera — is going to be perfect every time out.
For tonight, expect about four or five innings. Expect some Blue Jays hitters to be more patient than usual. Expect to see how Joba adjusts to pitching a game instead of pitching on adrenaline. Expect to see some secondary pitches. And expect — as Mike does — no less than two fist-pumps. Anything else would just be disappointing.
Damon LF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Giambi 1B – His OPS of .910. Who saw that coming?
Cano 2B – Just take some pitches. Jeez.
Molina C
Cabrera CF
Number 62, Joba Chamberlain P
Game Notes: Dan Giese is up to fill in that long reliever role. A confused Chris Britton doesn’t understand why Scott Patterson is heading back to Scranton this time around.
Hillary all the way baby! (Though I would vote for Obama if it came down to it)
Obama in 08.
Do we really want to start this here.
LOL
lol. he’s unelectable. but both are better than McCain–can we agree there?
Yes.
Way to hot of a topic I’m going to do something I rarely do here and let it go just veto that’s the most important thing.
Finally, a voice of reason amidst the din of idiocracy! Thank you, Ben K!
2009 expectations:
Joba: 33-0, 0.00 ERA, 543 K
Phil: 33-0 0.00 ERA, 541 K
IPK: 32-0-1, 0.49 ERA, 401 K
CMW: 36-0, -2.00 ERA, 10 K, 5 perfect games
C.C. Sabathia: 50-0, 829 K, 7 home runs hit
J.B. Cox: 0.00 ERA, 162 holds
Mo Rivera: 162 saves, 28 four-strikeout innings
ARod: 74 homers, .407 BA, 193 RBI, 57 game hitting streak
Jeter: no errors
Yanks: 163-0-1 (extra two wins given for style points)
you also forgot they sweep the WS, each game was a shutout.
I’m anticipating all four WS games will be split squad exhibitions featuring our 40 man plus a few quality youngsters from our system, as the NL team will likely surrender (and fold).
I’m also open to a scrimmage against the Cleveland Browns, however.
Can’t have have perfect games if Cox and Rivera get 162 holds and 162 saves. But otherwise, quite reasonable.
We’re the Yankees. Fuck mathematical constraints.
Well this is it. The most overhyped debut for a starter ever. I hope Joba does great. I am expecting 4IP 2r’s and 5k’s. Is it me or Im I the only person who misses Phil Hughes right now?
In other News, Homer Bailey will make his 08 deubt against the phils. Wish him the best and I still think he will be the best pitcher of the three young guys (Bailey, Cueto and Volquez)
Lets sit back and enjoy the game.
He better do good, I have too much faith in him for him to disappoint me. Yes, his career is about me.
By the way its Game 57, not 58
I mean other way around
LoL, Mike has spawned a new word, Jobanian, instant rival to “Jeterian”.
So, uhh, when the fuck is this game going to start already!?
Harlan in tha HOUSE!
anyone want to set an over/under on the times the camera will be on him in the stands? I’m going 8 1/2. Bets?
thats 1 already
Over. If I win, nobody is allowed to shit on Jason Giambi when he goes into a slump.
This is like christmas when I was 10 I’m that excited,
Comeon JOBA shut shit down.
Why are people in middle America only allowed to have these “American success stories”? What about us quiet, serene folk in New Jack City?
99-MPH on that foul tip, MIERDA!
he swung his helmet off.
Alright. Made it home from the gym just in time for that first pitch.
That was an awfully close 2-2 pitch.
And an awfully close 3-2 pitch.
I agree, why have the umps been so homosexual the past 4 games or so.
c’mon now, this is no place for that
This is killing me. On MLB.tv the sound and picture are off, so I’m hearing the whack of the bat before Joba even lets go of the ball
lol happens to me all the time, I cant ignore it either its annoying.
Too many pitches…
Lots of pressure he will be fine.
K.
I think after the first inning he will be okay
WOW, who would have guessed a balk.
Sterling just glossed over it on the audio.
I still don’t see where the balk was on that replay.
Nobody does.
We can’t get back Jorge Posada soon enough. I’m so over Jose Molina.
That Two-Seam had a 6″ break, nasty.
Bah. Cheap run. Walk, balk, PB, out. Why can’t that happen to the Yankees ever?
hang on to a freakin ball Molina
Well the first run scored against him while a starter definitely wasn’t pretty
Way to go Molina, couldn’t handle that foul tip and can’t catch that fastball. COME BACK JORGE
This has to be the flimsiest offensive attack I have ever seen in my life.
I’m unenthused by this umpire as well.
Molina is not that bad but I am sick of seeing him behind the plate.
No. Molina is that bad. He’s hitting .218/.230/.318 with an OPS+ of 50. He’s got a VORP of -5.8. There’s no guarantee that he’ll be the backup catcher if Jorge comes back healthy.
He needs to relax he’s aiming not pitching
This home ump is blind
The umpire is terribly atrocious.
not in front of a TV, “watching” the game on ESPN GameCast… they had ball 4 to Stairs labeled as being literally right over the middle of the plate, just above the belt. Did Joba get squeezed?
I don’t like going with a breaking ball 2-2 there after he’s had control issues.
I’m watching on gameday. That pitch wasn’t a strike?
We get it Michael Kay, he’s on a pitch count.
99 MPH, wow
He looks pissed now.
He’s going to get through three, but I would not be totally shocked if he got through four innings tonight. It would mean the Blue Jays hitters are idiots if Joba was able to pitch four innings but I would not be shocked.
hes pissed. I blame Most of it on the ump and some on Molina. Announcing that Joba is going to throw 70 pitches Toronto is obviously taking pitches and Molina is not making Joba attack the strike zone. If they hit a 99mph fastball good for them.
I guess Mike lost his little bet
he really needs to chill out–easy for me to say, though
They have a point. The Jays know that Joba is on a strict pitch count limit. AND NICE HUSTLE DAMON!
Damon dives like hes in a pool, its pretty funny.
Manimal, apologize to Sir Johnny Damon
lol I still dont like how many lefties we have and he is the weakest of them. I don’t have anything against him its just that hes expendable.
Now lets score after the leadoff triple
Take him out of the game and get his 70 pitches with a bullpen session. Ohlendorf can pitch five innings!
ummmm no.
We should really trade Johnny Damon. He’s terrible. Right, Manimal?
Alright guys, no need to rub it in every time Damon gets on base. Look at what I said to Jamal for an explanation.
Well according to gameday, which is the be all and end all of pitch trackers, this ump blows!
Wow at least the offense learned to pick a guy up
Personally I not going to read to much into this start. He has very few pitches to work with, and it’s his starting debut. Personally I think he will be okay.
O yeah and if the second pitch to Jeter was a strike, then Joba hasn’t thrown a ball yet, this is BS
Way to go Derek!!! Good job getting that run in! He’s really having that MVP-type season everyone predicted in Spring Training.
It’s a good thing A-Rod is payed to hit and not scout players huh?
All I saw was a nervous kid and that’s fine he will calm down in the 2nd.
How much did the Jays pay this ump tonight?
Haha, maybe the used the money they saved on Frank Thomas.
seriously, this ump obviously takes the Buccholz side of the argument.
jeter sucks
damn 74 comments in the 1st inning? is tonight’s game special or something?
The Yankees suck. This is pathetic. Now they need a two-out hit.
seriously… Joba’s going up against freaking Halladay and he had a tough first frame. Maybe we want to try a suicide squeeze or something?
What the fuck ? Seriously offense get your lives together, tuck you labias in
Haha, that comment made me laugh my ass off
O no, it’s going to be another one of those games isn’t it?
If they don’t get this run in, then this team has bigger problems than Joba throwing 38 pitches in the first.
I agree but Matsui just shut us up
wow for like the 588647734855th time we are going to strand a runner that’s supposed to be a guarunteed run
A-rod got off the hook there. Hopefully Matsui can keep it up and drive one in here
Thank you Godzilla
Thank you Hit-Deki.
Godzilla!
Thank god leadoff triples are a common occurrence, because otherwise this would be an embarrassing way to squander an opportunity to get some confidence back for Joba….and try to win the game.
Thank you Matsui. Finally someone doing what they’re payed to do
The power of the STACHE
Opposite field, what?
As a fan who wanted us to trade Matsui for either Cain or Lincecum, I’d like to go ahead and apologize to you all
Uh, I’d still trade him for Cain or Lincecum. An RBI single in the first inning off Halladay won’t change my mind.
You nuts!? I would do that trade in a heartbeat.
I love me Godzilla as much as any Yankee fan, but for Cain or Lincecum? I’d do that so quick before the drugs SF’s GM is on wore off
Hahaha yeah I know, I would too but it’s nice having somebody consistently playing well
As a fan who saw Hideki walk around like Bela Lugosi during the spring and contemplated giving him away for Jonathan Sanchez, I want to humbly kneel on the ground and beg for shame. Hideki, please cleanse me of my disloyalty by kicking me in the solarplexus.
Except that wasn’t a deal, it was Rios for Lincecum, then people talked about Matsui to the Giants but theres no way it would be for Lincecum
Look at that. Joba’s in line for the win.
OP FIELD holy hell….. thata boy 25
Jason Giambi knows how to rock out with his **** out.
ok today is really the 666 day lol I just saw a pig fly outside my window Giambi just hit away from the shift!
I think the sun just exploded
That first pitch to Giambi was low you moron
I’m glad Cano swung. I’m not sure what would have happened had Cano actually taken a fucking pitch.
Way to pick the kid up….
That has to help him.
Last 5 at bats Cano must have had about 7 pitches throw.
First pitch swinging. Can anyone guess who I’m talking about?
TAKE A PITCH CANO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OP FIELD holy hell….. thata boy 25
Cano sucks. Take a pitch assbag.I seriously want to throw a brick through my tv everytime he’s up
has anyone realized that Halladay is a shell of his former self?
Yes, maybe all those complete games and myriad of innings has taken its toll.
This HP ump is a prick.
Hasn’t he thrown a bunch of CGs already this year?
everybody has bad stretches (the Wangers in one now), I’d doubt it’s anything the Jays should worry about.
Hey look I think he’s a tad overrated but he’s still very good. The guy coming into the game had an ERA under 3.
they know what the stakes are in this game I think they want Joba to succeed as much as he does.
What did I say about Joba attacking the strike zone. hes already 0-2
Lmao, funniest AB right here ever. David Eckstein against a pitcher who throws harder than Eckstein weighs.
John Hart: Hey, I got a good idea… why don’t we trade Alfonso Soriano for Brad Wilkerson?
Tom Hicks: Brad Wilkerson’s available? THAT GUY IS AWESOME!!!!! Make that happen YESTERDAY, Hartie!
Not gonna lie, I REALLY like that Tom Hicks impression.
Joba’s a freakin’ stud.
That’s 2 on the HC count.
Cano’s at bats stink, he should spend a few days on the bench until he gets his head back in the game.
Jamal, just keeping track of the Harlen appearances, I believe that was 2. Are we counting the interview in the bottom half?
I’m getting to it a little slower that you are, I’m watching one MLB.tv with the 3 1/2 hour delay, jeesh…
Yessir.
Told you kid is a winner.
Great inning Joba, kay offically just made it in my top 10 people I’d punch in the face given the oppurtunity. Thanks matt glad I could make ya laugh
Well at this rate he’s done after three, good thing they had the foresight to bring up Giese
I think it is pretty clear that Cano’s At bats aren’t really at bats, they are “1 pitch attempts”
We should tell both Melky and Cano that if they swing at the first pitch once in the next two weeks, they will be immediately pulled
Harlan looks to be in good health, good for him.
Harlan is awesome
you gotta love Damon.
Who is this Johnny Damon guy?
Is there a more powerful lead-off hitter in the AL other than Johnny Damon? I think Ian Kinsler is the lead-off hitter in Texas so if he is, discount him.
Grady Sizemore has a lot of pop
I should criticize Damon more often.
Please start criticizing Jeter, Cano, Melky, Molina, Pettite, Wang, LaTroy, Ohlie, etc… right now. Lets see if it works
Maybe I should do a guest column just criticizing everyone. Just for superstition.
Wow I just watched the replay of the Giambi at-bat and if he can start doing that a little bit and make teams play him straight up, he’s going to have a monster year!
Yeah, gameday had a great one, he clearly did it un-purpose.
Then again, if the shift is making a guy like giambi try to hit a single every time, then i think teams will probably consider it a success.
If he tries to hit a single every time and only succeeds half of the time, teams probably won’t consider it much of a success. Besides, he only has to do it now and then to make them defend against it.
true, my point was just that it would effectively take the power out of his bat.
You’re right though, nobody is willing to knowingly surrender hits…even if they are singles.
Anybody know why Tabata was taken out of the game?
Could be injury but I doubt anyone would know why at this point.
Hit by a pitch.
Holy shit. Bobby just caught one off the wall.
Dale Abreu!
did abreu actually make a catch going backwards. is it a full moon out or something?
Holy Shit !!!!!!
Abreu
The world is coming to a end.
Did Abreu actually touch the wall?
Joba Chamberlain looks like he wants to eat the young of that HP umpire.
Is there a better commercial on TV than that Avis one right now?
The tuxedo commercial with the kid trying to squeeze his prom dates’ boob is pretty funny.
I always thought it was like “Geese”, not “G-ice”
Does anyone else thnk it’s a bad idea to have Giese as the long reliver, It seems that it might be bad to have Giese make his season debut to fill in a bunch of innings?
Whoa, that was a quick pull. Not exactly the start I had in mind for tonight but somewhat ok none the less
Wow the Yanks really thought this one through. 62 pitches? Why bother starting him.
Jose Molina’s really making an effort to stick with the team. A PB, a terrible throw, a pathetic strike out. Hard to believe Chad Moeller’s going to emerge as the better choice behind the plate when Jorge’s back.
I’d rather have Moeller with the way the 2 have played this season
I’m happy with it, wish Girardi would have left him in 1 more batter to get to around 70, but no complaints about Joba other than keeping the PC down. My complaints would be more umpire central.
And Jamal, I believe we’re at 4 counting the interview
Great game from Molina today.
Two RBI ground-outs and both runners advanced to 3B on an Error and Passed Ball by one Jose Molina.
The Jays have 2 runs on 1 hit thus far. Why doesn’t this happen to us?
LoL, who would’ve thunk that the San Francisco Giants would have one of the most powerful 3-4 combos in the Major Leagues with Aaron Rowand and Bengie Molina? The Center Fielder and Catcher for the Giants have a combined 1.830 OPS.
That has about as much chance to last as Chipper hitting .400.
Another single through the shift Giambi!!
how was that a earned run for joba? Molina thew the ball in center field.
He didn’t score on the error
It wasn’t an earned run.
Nevermind, I was wrong. I’m so used to the good old out of town scoring
let me guess, first pitch. Whats new.
Cano just took ball one, did hell just freeze over?
No. Because then he swung at three really bad pitches. But at least he had a five-pitch AB.
Little steps my friend
I myself was extremely surprised to see the MLB gameday show the first pitch was a ball. Then there was a pitch that was substantially inside and it simply listed “Swinging Strike”. So, I guess that Hell has un-frozen. Haha.
Well, that was an unfortunate bounce.
leiter just said that melky has as strong an arm as any outfielder in the american league…..
Now that’s just not true. Above average yes, but it’s not even the best OF arm playing in this game.
Yeah Rios, Markakis, Vlad, Torii Hunter, Dye, Ichiro are guys off the top of my head that I know have better arms
block the plate you pussy (sorry, kinda mad at Molina recently)
Hopefully we can show some tape of that sac fly to the Yankee hitters and tell them that it’s ok to drive a runner in from third with less than 2 outs
Joba reminded me of Phil Hughes tonight… a lot of good pitches, but tries to nibble and make the perfect strikeout pitch when he got to two strikes.
Except Joba wasn’t doing that at all. He was getting squeezed by Ed Hickox; he missed with some breaking pitches. It wasn’t an issue of nibbling. He just didn’t have the command, and when he did, he wasn’t getting a few calls.
Exactly… he kept throwing breaking balls out of the zone or trying to make the perfect pitch with a fastball, and just missing. (obviously, the small strike zone didn’t help). To me, that’s nibbling. He was trying to make the perfect pitch instead of just throwing strikes. It’s like he’s afraid to let the batter hit the ball.
That’s not what Ben said at all. He said Joba wasn’t putting the ball where he wanted to. Not that he was trying to pick off the corners and missing, he just wasn’t commanding his stuff like we’ve seen him do normally. And, when he’d miss his spot but still throw a strike…he wouldn’t get that call either.
And that’s 102 pitches thrown by the Yankees already, aren’t we supposed to do this to the other team?
Outside of Aaron Laffey and the Indians, these have to be three of the most hard luck runs allowed I’ve ever seen.
Whoa, Melky just took the first pitch too, do you think they’re reading this blog between innings?
Cycle for Damon tonight?
God, I love having MLB/MiLB.TV.
Well Giese hasn’t been pretty but he’s been effective
Might the Yankees attempt a stolen base here? The time is right.
Good call Ben. I love the hit and run
Al Leiter just admitted David Eckstein has no talent…………………………..FINALLY!!!!!!
Kay earlier in the game said he had “no skills” but had won 2 WS
He also suggested that he was responsible for those World Series wins, despite having no skills.
he’s already called Matt Stairs, David Eckstein, and Scott Rolen “gritty” tonight… how many gritty guys do the Blue Jays have?
Kevin Whelan walked 5 in 1.1 innings for Tampa. WOW!
5BBs in an 1.1IP for Kevin Whelan tonight, yuck.
Thank you Molina!
Your RAB day at the park is gonna be on Joba’s next start. lucky!
Maybe he’ll go 3 innings!
We’re having an RAB day at the park?
You don’t have to be all big and strong to play in the bigs. But it helps.
Michael Kay, giving advice to short kids who obviously have absolutely no self esteem because they’re short little shrimpy bastards
Sorry late but just wanted to say what I said during the first inning. Holy hell we have Buckner, the worst umpire in the game at first, West who hates Cano remember 2005 playoffs at 2nd, and Hitchcock who doesn’t know where the plate is.
I have to say, Mr. Giese did a heck of a job tonight.
Agreed. Let’s just hope the offense realizes that we can actually steal this game now.
Yea, I believe “effective” is the correct word
Big G took that one like a champ, and then asked for seconds.
I’m voting Jose Molina for Chevy Player of the Game.
with the game he’s having, how can it be anyone else?
Molina kills rallies on both sides of the ball.
I think you guys are little bit hard on Molina. He’s a great backup not a starter. I think once Posada come back Molina will play much better with limited playing time.
Can’t buy a base hit. How sad is that? Good Lord!
Hey at least he’s effective at what he does
I think Giese just earned an extended stay in the bigs
he’d need to follow Joba his next 1 or 2 (maybe 3) starts anyway, unless they called up another long man, which I would doubt they would’ve done anyway
With Giambi on they should have had Cano or Molina bunt
The crowd at the Stadium has sure fallen asleep.
Should have kept Giese in
I’m a big proponent of this idea to use Edwar Ramirez as the bullpen weapon versus opposing LHBs. I wish he would’ve been used against Joe mauer last night instead of a tiring Andy Pettitte but last night is over.
looks like Edwar is going to shit the bed tonight
I’d love Girardi explain why he removed Dan Giese at 65 pitches. Giese is a starter; he could have gone more.
Scott Proctor flashback
I didn’t realize Hideki Okajima was pitching on the Yanks tonight.
And there she goes!
The Big League team is a piece of garbage not worht watching. Guys, keep focusing on the minors and the draft.
Then don’t watch.
Its 1 game buddy
I agree that it’s only one game but it’s getting to be such a common theme that it’s hard to watch when they always get pitchers on the ropes but can never get the key hit. It’s just plain painful to watch. I’m not saying all is lost but it’s frustrating as a fan to watch them struggle so much and in such an ugly way
Given how terrible the offense has been, this game is unofficially over.
Girardi’s shown a propensity for making calls to the bullpen just for the sake of making moves. Giese was pitching fine.
Its they have so many guys out there they need work, except Britton, so Girardi feels the need
Well now they’ll score another 3 or 4 runs with Hawkins in there
This should be fun to watch with Hawkins in the game.
It is very distressing. Along with the Britton question they should ask him the Hawkins question. WHY NOT and WHY????
Heh, has anyone checked out Chris Britton’s wikipedia page recently?
hahahahahahaha, did the whole brittongate thing start here?
But of course.
Joba in the ‘Pen people should be in full force tomorrow.
I wonder who Girardi will bring in next.
I’ll tell you who it won’t be. Chris Britton.
I think Chris Griffin would pitch before Chris Britton.
Hell, I would trade Hawkins for Hideki Irabu right now
What about Hawkins for Igawa? Or are we not the ledge yet?
Girardi with all this matchup and lineup shit is like this kid I know–he’s a wannabe nerd but not smart enough
Cash really needs to introduce Britton to Girardi as part of plan to rebuild the pen on the fly.
this Tallet dude has thrown 15 straight fastballs–ever heard of an offspeed/breaking pitch?
Can’t even manufacture a run.
Do you think Britton will pitch the 9th? This seems like the perfect situation – down by 6 runs, no chance to do any extraordinary…
BRITTON!!!!
LOL, Girardi actually brought in Britton. Uh oh, Britton gave up a single; back to the doghouse he goes.
who is this guy? I heard of a rumor of a “big” ghost, but no “big” reliever…
Is it the gun or has Britton gone from 89-91 down to 86-87? Cause that would explain why he’s not pitching.
It’s not like Veras’s 95 got many outs tonight.
agreed, but Veras has no secondary stuff to speak of. Britton’s curveball is solid and he has a decent change. But you really shouldn’t be pitching unless you’re a junkballer/specialist/something else if you’re 86-87 in the bullpen
All I’m saying is they should give him a chance to fail.
Uh, Veras has a pretty good slider.
Heh, Chris Britton just yelled “get in my belly!!!” after striking out Eckstein.
That is the funniest thing I’ve heard all week! (granted it’s only Tues, but thanks for the laugh)…
Yeah!
I’m shocked Girardi would let Britton into the dugout
“What the, where did this bleacher creature come from?”
That’s was probably Britton’s last outing until he is sent down when Posada is activated. Our pen is just so deep and talented to keep him.
The could shock the world and DFA Hawkins…but yeah most likely
That’s the first time I see a Pf(x) of 1 before
Maybe we will make a comeback.
do I smell a rally?
tied with Mickey freakin Mantle. Not a bad name to be associated with, huh. Congrats cap’n
I’d like to be positive so here we go… Joba had control problems -and we know he doesn’t have control problems. Lets stretch him out and see. Nerves gone our boy has it.