Game 81: Halfway there
ByNine innings from now the Yanks season will be 50% complete, and at worst they’ll be 43-38, 7 GB of the division lead and 6.5 GB of the Wildcard. After their 81st game last year, the Yanks were 40-41 and 10.5 GB of first place Boston, 7 GB of Wildcard leading Detroit. It hasn’t been smooth sailing, but it’s improvement.
De facto ace Andy Pettitte toes the rubber today, taking on Johan “WE SHOULD HAVE TRADED KENNEDY AND TEH MELKY FOR HIM!!11one!!” Santana. Andy’s been dandy of late (I hate myself for typing that), allowing only 18 baserunners and 1 run against 19 strikeouts in 21 IP since Jose Guillen owned him in that forgettable beatdown at the hands of the Royals. Johan’s allowed 19 baserunners and 10 runs in his 2 starts (13 IP), both against AL opponents. There’s only five guaranteed years and $128M (minimum) remaining on his contract.
You probably have already heard that David Robertson has been summoned from Triple-A Scranton. Check this out: Robertson was Yarmouth-Dennis’ closer during the 2006 Cape Cod League season, and in the title clinching game he threw 3 perfect innings to close out the win. He struck out the final batter of the game, some kid from Texas named Bradley Suttle. The opposing starter that day? Jeremy Bleich. See, the world does revolve around the Yanks.
The lineup:
1. Damon, LF
2. Jeter, SS
3. Abreu, RF
4. A-Rod, 3B
5. Giambi, 1B
6. Posada, C
7. Cano, 2B
8. Cabrera, CF
9. Pettitte, SP
Notes: LaTroy Hawkins has been designated for assigning that pink backpack the rookies take out to the bullpen to Robertson … Hah! See what I did there? But seriously, Igawa was sent back to Scranton, Oneli Perez and his six-fingered hands were DFA’ed to clear up spots on the 25-man & 40-man roster, respectively for D-Rob … Ross Ohlendorf will work out of Scranton’s rotation for the time being, but the Yanks still view him as a reliever long term … Matsui had his knee drained again, Cashman said surgery was a possibility … Cash also said that Phil Hughes is 2-3 weeks away from pitching in games, and that he might not necessarily return to the big league team this season … Brian Bruney is a week away from pitching in games
Update: The start of the game is being delayed by the threat of rain. Pete Abe says they’ve just begun to take the tarp off. I live about two miles geographically from the Stadium, and the sun’s out here.
209 Comments»
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The Mason Williams Watch
WTF? Why is the Cubs-ChiSox game on Fox?
rain delay
Yanks game is starting at 4:20
Its sunny in Manhattan wtf? Rain?
Im in Astoria and it rained for about three minutes but was overcast for about a half hour from three to three thirty.
D-Rob reading the lineup! Niiiiice.
Anyone else just see Joba dancing in the dugout? Yikes.
Big Cock!
“Here is lineup of Mets” … heh
On Hughes:
“that he might not necessarily return to the big league team this season ”
That’s big I for one was counting on him to come back and do something to helps this club.
LoL at Tim McCarver citing Damion Easley as a reason why the Mets blew that lead last September.
“Matsui had his knee drained again, Cashman said surgery was a possibility … ”
I would be surprise if he comes back sounds like the Yanks are watering down the injury like always.
Happy to see Robertson finally come up hopeful Gardner next. Can’t wait to see Cashman next move because this team needs something.
Well at least Hawkins is gone.
?
You know Hawkins off the team. Well I think he’s off the team.
He’s still with the Yanks. Igawa was sent down for Robertson.
hmm.
fine print on Mike’s trickery is the key here.
perfect game to give Santana a chance to get out of his funk the way he’s going today
ugh
Don’t those guys look a little old to be batboys for the Mets?
Kevin long is a magician with these pitchers, how many full counts in the past week?
Once everything is deemed just fine medically for Humberto Sanchez will he be promoted through the system a la J.B. Cox this year or will he be moved along slowly (again, after arm strength is all the way back and everything is cool medically)?
No idea.
Nice play by Melky. Seems Santana is on his game today.
Has anybody ever seen a squeeze job like that the past two ABs for Johan Santana?
That strike zone for that Hughes-DiceK matchup in Fenway earlier in the year as redic for both pitchers.
lets go stache! lets go stache!
With facial hair like that, Giambi should be allowed to strut down to first base.
Robbie Cano, whaddya know! It’s a line drive in the box score.
Dammit A-Rod.
I just felt we should of done better in that inning against Santana.
Me too, but what can you do. I can’t help but feel that Brett Gardner would still be up at bat if he was playing instead of Melky.
To be fair, Melky did make that good catch today.
You could if you want to be kind of a stickler say that with Brett Gardner’s speed he could have gotten to the spot and load up his throw to Cano and maybe have a chance to double-up Damion Easley. But then the counter point could be that Easley would not have ranged past second base if he saw Gardner settle under the ball.
When he’s on his game you take the two runs, the elevated pitch count and give thanks.
I always say you should score at bare minimum two runs in a bases loaded, none out situation.
Whoa whoa whoa, did he just say that they just turned the lights on? They can’t do that shit. MLB rules, you can only turn the lights on at the start of an inning, not the middle. Both teams have to get an equal number of innings with the lights on.
Come on Jeter.
And how the hell is that a hit.
A base hit? Holy shit, hometown scoring at it’s best. You gotta love Tim McCarver: “Derek Jeter usually sucks … that ball up.”
Thanks Andy!
Wait…now FOX is bashing them for NOT starting Joba?
They just can’t win…
LoL, Yankees get hated on for putting him in the rotation at all and then they are hated on for not putting him into the rotation sooner. Got to love the MSM.
Danilo Gallinari threw the first pitch Today. This guy could be Toni Kukoc 2.0 or or Hedo Turkoglu (who’s a terrific player).
Allright I wish he could be a perinial All-Star but he has the skill set to become one.
Don’t tell that to some Knicks fans, they know for a fact that he will become the 10th man off the bench at best and Eric Gordon will be Chris Paul 4.0.
I’ll take Gallinari over Gordon. Unless Gordon becomes D-Wade (and I seriously doubt that) he’s a undersize G who doesn’t have great handle or minimal court vision who most likely is not a PG at the NBA level. Nevertheless, he can flat score and is explosive. Gallinari at 6-10 is a foward who can handle the ball, shoot, score and dribble with both hands and play multiple positions. Hell he might be the Knicks best PG. I really liked his talent and he isn’t soft like Bargnani.
you really think so? and that is what the Knicks need most right now? or a true point guard (of which there were 3 that got overlooked)
Hey Gallinari was ranked by some people to be most skilled player in this year draft.
God these guys are morons talking about Joba. I don’t think they have any clue what the hell they’re saying. 6, 6+ innings? This is sad.
Joba’s pitch count gets “so ridiculously high”?
Do they say this sort of stuff about Matsuzaka too? He’s already a finished product and still tosses 120 pitches in 6 innings.
Chad Jennings must be feeling all warm and fuzzy seeing Brian Cashman rock out in SWB gear.
Did Joe Buck just say that Joba is ONLY going to give you 6+ per start? Only? Uggh…
McCarver is an idiot but that’s no new news….”If he starts as a reliever leave him as a reliever, if you want him as a starter leave him as a starter”…nevermind something called innings progression….oh well…why are all these ‘educated’ baseball minds ignorant to the situation regarding why Joba was in the bullpen in the first place?
This idiots are completely ignorant to the fact that Joba’s pitching very well as a starter.
McCarver just said that moving Joba from the pen to the rotation shows that the Yankees can’t make a decision and stick with it. Where was McCarver when they announced this plan in February and talked about it every single day of spring training?
I know Robertson’s available today after not pitching yesterday. but does anything think he’d pitch if this game is close?
No chance. I bet the only way he gets into this game is if it becomes a blowout, or if it goes extras.
There’s a two-one pitcher’s duel, the best hitter of this generation just drew a walk off the best pitcher of this generation, and the red hot ‘Stache is at the plate against said pitcher, and they’re talking about a team not even playing in this game. Shoot me now…
ugh — directv suck my balls, fucking clouds now i have to listen to susan waldmyn
looks like a storm is headin towards queens
Edited by RAB admin: Easy with vugar language towards women, even if it is Waldmyn.
i just hate her so much
its pouring in hoboken.
I don’t mean to take a shot at Joe Girardi if that’s how this comes out but don’t you just feel “better” about games such as these this year compared to seasons past? You know, games where the two teams score a combined three, four or five runs.
Sorry, meant to say Joe Torre, not Joe Girardi.
i missed the post proclaiming cashman as the next president of the universe but reading the articl and posts just made m sick
holding on to EVERY single prospect is a cop out and does not a great GM make. the farm system is not only to build from within but also to use as trade bait. what cashman is doing, holding every prospect, is an absolute joke. this team has becom afraid to trade anyone for fear that it may go wrong. everyone loves to give player development crdit for the dynasty, but what about trading for Cone, Tino, and Clemens? If this team had this strategy of holding every prospect than there would have been no dysasty and we would have had to watch prospect after prospect fail at th major league levl.
cashman is doing nothing special. it does not take a genius to hold onto every player with potntial. a good GM will evaluate th talent and make trades for the right player. we are already seeing the fruits of this stratgy NOT pay off as players who once had high valu have now come back down to earth – kennedy, melky – or gotten hurt – Garcia, Betances.
holding onto your hole system like a security blanket while watching this team lose in the playoffs every year is a great way to fail. for every prospect that makes it there are 3 who do not which is why you need to evaluate what you have and make deals for proven major league talent.
does just blindly holding onto every single prospect make cashman a great GM? It absolutly does not and that is what he has done since 2005. the yankes of the 90s were built on a good balance of player development, free agent signings, and TRADES. What Cashman is doing now is cowardly and it will just continue to get worse as he will continue down this path to prove that his strategy is correct. We had to watch this years team go into th season with 2 rookies in the starting rotation and net year we will have to watch the same crap. let cashman go to th pirates where he can have his wish and oversee a 30 million dollar payroll to prove how smart he is. i want a GM with a set of balls who isnt afraid of or isnt too stubborn to trade for a proven commodity. if not we will be destined to watch more prospects, who could have been dealt, fail at th major league level.
cashman’s stubborness, cowardess, or stupidity will ruin this team. not every minor league pitcher will help the big club – a fact that this GM veryone loves so much seems to forget
And you know every single trade offer that has been proposed by the Yankees and offered to the Yankees right?
I would never call a man who has worked for the Steinbrenners for 10+ years now a coward.
I agree – we need to use the farm to help the rotation. There is no need for us to throw away seasons when we have the advantage of a 200mil payroll. To do that is absurd.
Wow. Way to go Jose Reyes.
And Cano smacked him in the face with the glove to boot. Awesome.
Does Reyes has a brain.
Wow, big fucking play. Mets fans are going to kill Jose Reyes.
Tim McCarver: Changeup Abreu thought it was low, [Home Plate umpire] Mike Everett thought it was a strike; Johan Santana uses the Fastball to set-up the Changeup.
Thank you for that spot on analysis Mr. McCarver.
I like how nobody, and I mean nobody outside of Yankeeland mentions the fact that the Yankees made up 12.5-games in the standings last year against the great, unbeatable, gritty, gutty, 2007 Boston Red Sox.
because 12.5 wasnt enough…and who won the WS?
face it — the red sox have a real team remeniscent of the o’neill/tino yankees
we have a collection of talented players who dont play as a team. hate to say it but the sox have beaten us in every possible way – farm team, free agents, trades, foreign players and unfortunatly they are set up to be better than the yanks for the forseeable future
Somebody is tired.
Yeah, me of having to listen to Buck & McCarver. Zing!
106 pitches
Iight cano, take that as a diss and let these bitch ass Mets pay.
You see that Robbie? When they issue an IBB, it’s an insult to your MANHOOD. You’re not going to take that, are ya Robbie? Get MAD!
Fat man with a little umberella
Rain and thunder here in Brooklyn.
Vaya Robbie!
I’m really starting to dislike this Melky Cabrera fellow.
Yea Melky is really ticking me off with his hitting right now.
Thats the fuck Im talking about Cano.
Robbie got mad. Melky did not.
That’s probably the last we see of Johan today. I doubt they run him out on 113 pitches.
Especially after a rain delay, of course.
When David Robertson makes his big league debut that will make the third 2006 draftee of the Yankees to make it to the Bronx. When are the Yankees going to get some love for that amazing 2006 draft like the Red Sox get for their 2005 draft? Who cares really but damn, what an amazing 2006 draft.
“When are the Yankees going to get some love for that amazing 2006 draft like the Red Sox get for their 2005 draft? ”
When they cease to be the Yankees.
Johan? 113 pitches in 6 innings? Isn’t that RIDICULOUSLY high, Joe Buck? Maybe they should make him a reliever…
Well done.
Wow, Matt Thornton finally has an idea where that mid-90s heat from that golden left arm is going.
It won’t last. He’s just having a good day.
I don’t know man, in 29.2-IP this year he has a 2.73-BB/9, 1.80WHIP and nearly a 2:1 ground-out:fly-out ratio. You don’t think he could be having a good year or even better finally have it figured out?
Maybe he figured it out, but 29.2 IP is a very small sample.
Yah. That was some pretty pinpoint power pitching.
The amount of ownage Matt Thornton just displayed is just plain wrong and disrespectful.
Carlos Marmol is crazy sick. 46 IP, 19 H, 66 K this year.
But can be crazy bad at times, did you see that meltdown he had in Tampa Bay? HBPs and BBs galore.
You can say that about every pitcher. He’s the best setup man in baseball, easily.
Hooray for my fantasy team.
Marmol has some sick #’s, but he has struggled as of late.
Someone let me know when the Yanks come back on please.
Me and dad are chatting it up watching the game (he’s a met fan me yankee) and the rain delay cuts to sox/cubbies game. All I can say the convo completely shut when we see Thorton mowing down the cubs and poppin leather like it’s going out of style. Wow.
And Hughes Hughes might not return to the big club this year?? WTF?? As if he can learn anything more down there…And the arguement of hi needing to work his change more is moot since he has an above average to plus slider to compliment the fastball/curve along with the serviceable change. He just needs to mix it up more.
Why hasn’t he won any games this year – if he has nothing to learn?
Is it really fair to say that ‘Zona “gave up” on Carlos Quentin? I mean Chris Carter damn sure isn’t some slouch and I’m sure Billy Beane valued him quite favorably in the Dan Haren deal.
Well, when you have Chris Young and J-Up in your outfield, and (at the time) Carlos Gonzalez in the AAA, it’s hard to say they “gave up” on him. I remember there were Garza-for-Quentin rumors early in the winter.
Speaking of the Matt Garza deal, is it premature just to even take notice of Delmon Young’s extreme lack of power?
Not really. I think the bigger problem is that he swings at everything. Makes Cano look like Giambi.
It’s not fair to say that because they didn’t give up on him. They didn’t have anywhere to play him, so they traded him. I’m not watching… who said they gave up on him?
Tom Brennaman (sp?), the play-by-play man of the Cubbies and ChiSox game. I’ve heard it in other places as well so it’s not just him.
It literally just starting pouring in the city. Went from dry to monsoon in 0.2 seconds.
rain stopped in hoboken, weather map looks like thats it for now
It just stopped raining here too. That was fast.
An actual comment from Metsblog:
There you have it, indisputable evidence that Cano BLOWS. Nevermind his .800+ career OPS as a middle infielder.
Wonder what that person might do with Jose Reyes in a slump as the Mets’ GM.
He probably just started watching them after they signed Santana…before that he was watching “Hannah Montana” exclusively…
well is a mess fan says it, it must be true. sounds like they are loving them some johan.
Interesting decision by Ozzie Guillen not issuing the IBB to Aramis Ramirez with the tying run on third base with one out and Jim Edmonds on-deck.
Wow Pettite coming back
Can you say “Josh Johnson.”
brilliant decision
I can’t blame Girardi. Pettitte is season Veteren who’s body is mature to take it. Besides you can’t ask your bullpen to give ya 4 IP.
How long was the actual rain delay? It could be worse since Andy was only at 73 pitches (trying to rationalize the move to myself)
I believe they said it was 53 minutes.
It’s debatable. Since Andy isn’t a young gun or a power pitcher maybe Girardi just gave him the benefit of the doubt since he’s a veteran and I’m sure he pleaded to stay in the game. Also, isn’t it possible that Andy threw a simulated inning during the rain delay to keep him in a rhythm?
Basically they need the innings from him, and Pettite would know if he’s good to go, or got to stiff
Personally it’s a no brainer to bring Pettitte back.
Why would Betemit swing at a pitch like that.
“most swinging strikeouts are on balls out of the strike zone”
thanks.
hehh heh
So Betemit would fit in right away for the Mets according to McCarver’s analysis
Oh man. Did anyone else just see that kid splash his hands in the puddle on top of the dugout, then stick his fingers in his mouth? Yuck.
Yes, that was beyond disgusting
C’mon Jose Veras!
Anyone else love how he completely made up a bio for Veras that was wrong?
Heh, beat me too it.
WTF is Time McCarver talking about? Jose Veras had elbow surgery at the end of Spring Training last year and signing with the club as a free agent over the winter?
He’s been with the team since 2006, hen they signed him as a 6-yr MiL FA. Don’t let facts get in the way of the broadcast.
Absolutly redic, I can’t even think of who that profile actually fits on the team, Jon Lieber years ago?
So, how many batters will it take for Kyle to give up the lead?
Unless they come in and wreck Sanchez or whoever.
Do you know how many times Kyle Farnsworth has blown a lead in the 8th inning this year? Zero.
Well, when Joba was in the pen, he didn’t pitch the 8th much. How many runs has he given up in close games?
Jason…that wasn’t very good.
hypothetically. 1.
Realistically. 1.
3,4,5 guys up, if we can get a big inning to put this game away that would be excellent.
“We’ll find people with disposable income, and make them dispose of it to us. They don’t watch TV anyway, they’re workaholics.”
That commercials cracks me up.
I love the stats one, ’90% of Statistics can be made to say whatever you want…50% of the time”
haha yeah all of those make me laugh. ”
I heard about it in business school… when I read about business school… in a book.”
Should be an interesting inning for Kyle Farnsdearth. I bet he has a 1-2-3 inning.
Classic Farns would be Fly out, K, BB, hit, K
Plus a coaching visit to the mound.
Of course I forgot, well had the 1st out right, but not the 2nd out
Hey…What would people think of Payton as a platoon corner OF guy? He’s been crushing lefties this year, and has a positive platoon split against lefties over the past several seasons.
Jay Payton? He wouldn’t be a bad choice, plus he could be had for a song.
That’s what I was thinking. I think he could help…can he play CF anymore? I don’t know if he can, really.
5 shutout innings for IPK today.
Too bad there is no room in the rotation for Kennedy, what with Sidney Ponson in there.
The kid is Major League ready, don’t care what the cynics have to say.
Here we go, come on KK
Seriously? Seriously McCarver? Didn’t Buck just talk about the hand injury?
Farns now batting in Posada’s slot?
Meant Giambi
Likely. Molina in the pitcher’s spot, Kyle in Giambi’s spot.
Even if he didn’t…still, that’s REALLY something you should know.
This is exactly the situation where you’d like to see a manager go against the book, and have their “closer” come in. the Wright, Beltran part of the order is where you want your best reliever.
THAAAAAT was a rocket…
Is the no doubles defense really that precarious when nobody is on base, Tim? Is it?
Good enough by Farns… a little insurance would be nice
That was quite a nice pitch. Right at his hands, and it just DROPS.
I think I’m going to puke…. thank you Johnny
Mariano at his finest should be great to watch. I think he has a legit chance at Cy Young this year. No American league pitcher has really owned their competition (except Cliff Lee) Alright K-rod has more saves but come on! .76 ERA ?!?!?!
Lee’s struggling of late, just ask my fantasy team. I can’t think of any other worthy Cy candidates off the top of my head.
me neither. Remember all those ESPN analysts that said Verlander was Cy Young? Yeah…. ok.
Mo needs a Cy in that trophy case of his…..hope it can be this year
Yeah, Carlos Delgado had no fucking shot.
that was one of those “sit down and get out of my face” pitches.
totally pwned
Delgado just got smacked by Mo.
Cashmoney thinking…where do I get another one of him.
I love how Mo balks on just about every pitch he delivers, but they let him do it because he’s Mariano Rivera.
Jon Lester is getting his ass kicked.
Good.
I heard a rumor that he had cancer.
.161 OBP this year, WOW.
MO!
Take a good look Mets’ fans, that’s what a real closer looks like.
Poor Trot had no chance.
Mo is da man!!!
Mo showing some e-MO-tion. Arod’s been hugging him at the end of every game. What’s up with that?
Can you imagine the reaction when MO is closing a game in the All-Star game.
I agree with Michael Kay that he should be the starter.
If Mo isn’t the closer in this year ASG, then, i don’t know if they should play the 9th inning.
If Mo isn’t the closer in this year’s ASG, then, i don’t know if they should play the 9th inning.
Who would have ever thought that by July the Yankees would have three starters with more wins than Johan Santana (Mussina, Pettitte, Wang)?
Sidney Ponson has a better winning percentage.
neener neener
MO is Gooood! no, wait, too many O’s… Mo is Good. There bette…wait, still too many O’s.. haha..
Hey Albert Pujols is back! Sweet!
Pettite 9-5? Moose 10-5? P-Hughes+IPK 0-6578943750290?
Joba in the rotation is not a bad idea after all.
No REALLY?
I hate arrogant idiots who can’t just admit they were wrong. Then again that is a bit redundant isn’t it?
I wanted to see Robertson but still a great win.
ESPN Cy young predictor. are you kidding me?
1. Cliff Lee, Cle 104.9 15 15 103.2 27 90 0 1 11-1 2.34 2
2 Francisco Rodriguez, LAA 94.0 37 0 35.0 8 33 31 0 0-1 2.06 4
3 Jonathan Papelbon, Bos 92.7 36 0 36.0 8 47 24 0 3-2 2.00 3
4 Joe Saunders, LAA 89.6 16 16 106.0 36 53 0 0 11-4 3.06 4
5 George Sherrill, Bal 85.6 37 0 35.0 12 35 26 0 2-2 3.09 2
6 Mariano Rivera, NYY 82.8 33 0 35.1 3 40 21 0 2-2 0.76 3
7 Ervin Santana, LAA 81.6 16 16 108.1 40 99 0 1 9-3 3.32 4
8 Vicente Padilla, Tex 77.6 16 16 98.2 41 68 0 1 10-3 3.74 3
9 Justin Duchscherer, Oak 74.2 12 12 77.0 17 51 0 0 8-4 1.99 4
10 Joe Nathan, Min 74.1 34 0 33.2 5 37 22 0 0-0 1.34 3
Luckily that thing is never right.
Well reading the glossary on it Bill james and Rob Neyer (co-authors of the model) take into account the place in the standings of that pitcher’s team.
Hunter Pence has to take some of the worst routes in all of professional baseball, he literally took two steps back with his body facing home plate and jumped for the ball, what the fuck?
hey if matsui is out for an extended period of time, and he needs surgery, do you see cashmoney going after barry lamar as a DH/if needed outfielder?
I see Melky getting many more starts which is probably not great news….
Melky already plays every game. Call up Gardner now.
We shouldn’t steal Ken Tremendous’ jokes!!11one!!