Game 86: Time to do our best Tampa Bay impression

July 3, 2008 by Michael Axisa 233 Comments

Never though you’d hear a Yankee fan say that, did you?

Fresh off a heartbreaking three game sweep in an absolutely electric Tropicana Field, the Red Sox limp into town having lost their last five games by a total of six runs. They’re 4-8 in their last twelve, and are just a Chad Qualls meltdown away from being 3-9. The Yanks haven’t been much better, going 5-7 in their last twelve, but they’re just a Mariano Rivera hiccup from being a passable 6-6. Of course everyone is looking up to Rays this season.

Boston has taken three of five against the Yanks this season, winning two of three in the Fens before splitting a two game set in the Bronx. That was back in mid-April. Before David Ortiz hurt his wrist, before Joba moved to the rotation, before Manny put up a .544 OPS in his last 17 games (and physically abused a 60-yr old team official), and before Robbie Cano hit for a .956 OPS in his last 16 contests.

Jon Lester takes to the mound having been rocked for 6 runs in 5 innings his time out, but he money before that, posting a 2.13 ERA in his previous 72 IP. That’s especially impressive considered he’s coming back from, you know, shoulder tightness in June 2004.

Thaaaaa Yankees’ lineup!

1. Johnny Damon, LF
2. Derek Jeter, SS
3. Bobby Abreu, RF
4. Alex Rodriguez, 3B
5. The Power of the ‘Stache, DH
6. Jorge Posada, C
7. Robbie Cano, 2B
8. Wilson Betemit, 1B – .333-.391-.524 since last Wednesday
9. Melky Cabrera, CF – .083 OPS since July 27th

On the mound, he of the 1.00 ERA & 0.96 WHIP since June 6th, Andy Pettitte.

Notes: Matsui’s knee isn’t getting better, and he’ll likely be out until the All-Star Break, at this point you have to assume that whatever the Yanks get out of him the rest of the season is gravy … Derek Jeter’s next homer will be the 200th of his career, this season he’s averaged one homer every 78 at-bats, and it’s been 65 ABs since his last jack … there figures to be lots of comments with the Sox in town, so please review our Commenting Guidelines.

Are you ready to rumble?

Manimal

Im having sox fans over. Gonna be fun considering I had the last laugh in the superbowl :D
- B
  
  Man I wish that throw by Jeter hit Manny is his fat head!!!!! The Sox sux!
Geno

Please tell me we’re Bruce Lee.
- http://www.myspace.com/lincolnsworld Link
  
  I was thinking the same thing.
dan

Not that it matters, but your Manny gamelog link doesn’t work. It has “http://” twice in the url I believe
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Fixed. Thanks.
Baseballnation

Jason Stache will homer tonight…
Rich

Manny gamelog link still doesn’t work. -wink wink-
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Okay, NOW it works. Sorry. And thanks again.
http://yankeesmtom.blogspot.com Steven S

I think tonight is Melky’s “Get A Hit or You’re Demoted Night”
dkidd

the ghost of bruce lee gave the hair he pulled from chuck norris’ chest to giambi and he glued it to his upper lip, giving him magical powers

go andy!
Manimal

Im watching the NESN pregame show and they kept on showing Beckett’s reaction to Farnsworth throwing behind manny. You can clearly read his lips repeatedly saying “You Fucking Cunt, You fucking Cunt” Excuse my french.
DP

YANKEES FACKIN SUCK! GO BAHSTON! CHECK OUT THIS RETRANSMISSION OF THE GAME FROM A WEBCAM I SET UP AT MY PAPS’ BAH! GO SAWX! FACK ALL YOU YANKEES FANS!

/just kidding
//seeing how many rules I can break at once

Also, I just moved to Brooklyn (South Park Slope). Anywhere good around here to watch the game?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Ben’s place!
  - DP
    
    As in, place of residence? Or his bahhhh? Where is it/is it OK for random strangers to go there?
    - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
      
      His place of residence. No idea where the hell it is, but it’s in Park Slope somewhere.
A.D.

So Gardner get a hit and they sit him? I guess Lester is a lefty
- Manimal
  
  Yeah but melky sucks against everyone. Righty. Lefty. switch pitcher. He sucks. See the logic there? Obviously Girardi does because I dont.
  - Jon
    
    This is a stupid post.
Whitey14

You’ll all be happy to know that I probably can’t be around to comment much tonight. I’ll be watching in the basement as my wife colors her hair and does her nails in the bedroom (where the computer is located). I can’t stand the smells of all those chemicals together and she also won’t take kindly to me bad mouthing her boy Varitek for being a gutless turd these days. On a positive note, I know if he homers and the Sox win, I’m probably gettin’ some ;-)

Have a great night guys and enjoy the game!
Jake H

Melky needs to hit or he needs to be benched!
E-ROC

Melky is god. We need to start respecting his grind, at least according to Girardi. As Cashman did with Scott Proctor, he needs to take away one of Girardi’s toys.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

I thought Ellsbury was supposed to be good? He has a 90 OPS+.
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
  
  According to Mr. Steve Phillips he has a lot of “hidden power” and will be a perennial .300+ hitter.
  
  *Derek Jeter, you fail.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Gardner would have caught that. ;)
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

If he’s not grounding into double plays, he’s screwing them up defensively. Amazing.
Chucky

not smart!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

Why did Johnny Damon not throw to the cutoff man?
- mikef
  
  I guess we just needed to remind us of his great arm
mikef

Maybe Jeter should be plinking Madonna….he seemed to be better when he was on Page Six and not selling Hybrid Fords
Jake H

Jeter is one of my favorite player but he has to make that play. That’s an easy double play
- mikef
  
  Could have been a quicker feed, but no doubt Jeter makes that play 999/1000 times – in fact the one thing i have taken from Jeter and Cano ( since they both have been poor at the plate ) is that any double play which should get made does get made…until now
ceciguante

the captain hasn’t been playing like one much this year.
- Whitey14
  
  Both teams have that problem to one degree or another…
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

My goodness I hate Kevin Youkilis.
- Ben C
  
  did you hear al leiter call him a “gamer” and “gritty”? because i screamed at the tv, WE WANT CONE
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
    
    He’s so gritty, he intentionally misses balls between innings to give himself black eyes.
whozat

I didn’t SEE any cutoff man.
- mikef
  
  the play was to second base anyway. the cutoff-man could have been Jeter (playing on the 2nd base angle, not home-plate) or A-Rod off 3rd base
Realist

Dammmit Jeter! I hope he starts taking turns at 1st base next year because he is not capable of defending his position! Andy isn’t doing much to help himself though, as well……thank goodness it’s the 1st inning!
mikef

Offensively, Damon has surprised me this year – a few more homers would not hurt, but the extra-base power seems to be back and he is like 2006 again
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  We really should try to trade him, he clearly can’t help this team any more.
  - mikef
    
    Interesting thought that both left-fielders are having nice seasons – i wonder if pressuring them to play better / playing time made a difference, especially when Girardi demonstrated Giambino was going to play every day. Matsui was hot at the beginning, but stayed hot all along
mikef

BTW…that was strike 3.
- Ben C
  
  not only was it a hair inside, it was definetely low
  - mikef
    
    as opposed to Pettite’s strikeout? Cant take that pitch on 3-2 count with runner going
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Stop whining. You don’t get that call when you’ve been missing the plate all game.
Realist

Hey, here we go………..14 pitches, 10 balls by Lester. Let’s hope he keeps it up!
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Lester needs to grow up and wear his hat straight. Lugo for MVP.
- Steve S
  
  the picture on nomass with youkilis is great
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
    
    I give it two snaps and a twirl.
Realist

Allright ARod, sniff your finger and put Madonna out of your mind and give us a hit!
Joe

Two lucky calls this inning they better do something with it.
mikef

Maybe they should both stop plinking Madonna
mikef

So Girardi started all righties against Perez, and put out a AAA lineup, but against Lester they play?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Yes, exactly.
Manimal

Arod sucks. His mentality when he goes to the plate is “Oh he just walked so I will just wait until I get 0-2 or 1-2 and then i will consider swinging”
- whozat
  
  Yes. Why would you take pitches against a guy who has literally JUST shown an inability to throw the ball over the plate?
Jake H

This team makes me want to scream more then any other team I can remember.
Realist

This is EXACTLY what is wrong with this team, 2 walks to lead off the inning and NOTHING! No clutch , no guts! Why not bunt…oh that’s right noone can on the this team…..nor hit a sacrifice fly.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Is it just me, or has Melky looked a little “uninspired” going after the balls that have dropped in so far?
Jake H

I agree Mike.
Jake H

Love how Andy P walks a guy who can’t get a hit to save his life.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Man, you just CAN’T walk Jason Varitek. He might be the worst hitting everyday player in the majors.
- cult of basebaal
  
  you mean other than melky?
Jake H

Why the hell is this team so mentally weak?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Why do you say they’re mentally weak? Because Ellsbury hit a bloop double?
Brian

Its been 1+ innings and we can already see which team looks like crap.

the only way pettitte gets anyone out these days is picking them off base.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  the only way pettitte gets anyone out these days is picking them off base.
  
  That’s just retarded.
- Ben C
  
  relax, hes given up 4 seeing eye singles and a bloop double, no runs in the first if jeter makes that play. the only problem i have with pettitte so far is that walk to varitek
  
  we gotta score at least 1 if we get 2 on and none out though
Manimal

This team has no balls.
Ivan

Could you guys stop bitching man.
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
  
  You greedy bastard.
Jake H

I’m saying they are weak because Pettitte can’t go after a guy who has 3 hits in 48 ab. A rod swings at a pitch way outside. Doesn’t seem as if they are in the game at all.
Realist

Time to get another 6 pack!
Ben C

can YES please hop off the red sox players’ balls, first al leiter is all over youkilis and now lester. JESUS what are you going to do next celebrate the 2004 alcs?
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
  
  I dislike the Red Sox but you have to admit that Kevin Youkilis and Jon Lester are good players. Lester has his heater back up to 91-95MPH and Youkilis has great plate discipline with above-average power. He also is a plus defender at the corner infield spots (which is not anything to be all ga-ga over, but still). You can hate them but don’t hate on them.
  - Ben C
    
    umm i dont care i dont need to hear from my announcers that youkilis is a “gamer” and “gritty” and i don’t need to see footage of lester’s no hitter and i DEFINETELY don’t need to see footage of Manny’s 500th HR. If i wanted that shit I would change the channel to NESN
    - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
      
      Why can’t you just appreciate great baseball moments? Who gives a crap what the name on their uniform says, a no hitter and a 500th Home Run are amazing feats.
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
    
    Kevin Youkilis is a whiny bitch that gets bumped up from good to great because of Moneyball and the fact that he plays for Boston. Todd Helton dwarfed him offensively, defensively and in gamerishness (to name one player), but he never got his kind of love.
Manimal

This lineup is week. Betemit and Melky are like Automatic outs.
- Ivan
  
  Betemit is a solid hitter, Melky on the other hand suck though.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Except that Betemit has a .915 OPS over the last week.
  - Joe
    
    Are you suggesting he get consistent play?
    - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
      
      No, I’m just pointing out that he’s not an automatic out like Manimal said he is.
      - Joe
        
        I am, If it aint broke don’t fix it.
Jake H

I thought we had the advantage in 3 of these games pitching wise, now not so much.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Chill out man, the series is 2 innings old.
  - Manimal
    
    and quickly getting out of hand.
    - Joe
      
      I got good news for you, the red sox can’t spread thses four runs throught the four games, so we get a fresh start tommorrow at 0-0.
      - ceciguante
        
        you mean that great beckett – rasner matchup we have to look forward to tomorrow? can’t say i like the looks of that one much.
Manimal

Oh Great now Lester is fucking Cy Young. He can join Perez and Millwood.
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
  
  Jon Lester has his stuff back, a LHP that can hit 95-MPH is a dangerous SOB.
  - http://yankeesetc.blogspot.com/ Travis G.
    
    sean henn too? velocity aint everything.
    - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
      
      You’re right, that’s why Jon Lester is actually a decent pitcher and Sean Henn is not.
      - http://yankeesetc.blogspot.com/ Travis G.
        
        you’re contradicting yourself. you just said a southpaw that throws 95 is a ‘dangerous sob’. i believe you need a qualifier.
dkidd

could andy be distracted by his possible court appearance?
- Joe
  
  Nope, he’s jealous that Alex is dating Madonna
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
  
  No. I can’t stand when fans and media types always think something is a distraction. Put yourself in his shoes, would you be on the mound with a 1-2 count in the top of the sixth inning, down by one run with Manny Ramirez at the plate with the bases juiced and two outs thinking about what you might have to say if you go to court? Or in the dugout would you be sitting there thinking about court appearances instead of thinking about what you did right or wrong in the previous inning and preparing for the next three hitters in the upcoming inning? That distraction crap is BS, pure BS.
  - Ivan
    
    Like The A-Rod situation.
Joe

Thats very frustrating, very very frustrating
Jake H

What happened to the team that used to grind at bats?
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Derek Jeter GIDP’s so much, YES should find sponsors for them.

“This Derek Jeter GIDP is brought to you by Viagra, helping men with ED turn two since 1998.”
- Ivan
  
  he’s representing that #2 on his jersey.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

Michael Kay, “huge” is a four letter word and has the letter “H” in it.
- LiveFromNewYork
  
  No I gotta side with Mikey. In Ny no one pronounces the H.
Ben C

THROW STRIKES TO JASON VARITEK
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Please don’t walk Varitek again. If you throw it over the plate, he’s likely to swing and miss.
Ivan

Jeter can’t turn a DP but sure hit into one.
- Realist
  
  Lol!!!! So true!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

Jason Varitek has a Slugging Percentage of .364 coming into this game, that is lower than his On-Base Percentage in four of his eleven seasons.
- Ivan
  
  but the leadership and grittness behind the plate out weights it.
  
  In all seriousness, I would laugh in a sox fan face if he said that Varitek is a better hitter than Posada.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

What the fuck, Lester’s thrown like, 10 pitches over the last 2 innings…
- Manimal
  
  12.
Ivan

How many times have we seen this. Yankees let a pitcher off the hook and the pitcher bress through rest of the game?
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

Ian Kennedy is likely finished tonight after pitching two innings (rain delay) in his Triple-A start. His likely final line reads: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 1 HR, 48-27 Pitches-Strike ratio, 5-1 Groundout-flyout ratio.
- Ivan
  
  You wonder if the yankees continue not to play well, would they let Kennedy pitch in the Majors for the rest of the season? Same with Hughes.
  - Realist
    
    As long as they can hold their own, why not? They need experience but have to be able to handle losing. If they are going to get shelled than that is bad for their psyche’s but if they pitch well and still lose it could help them……as stupid as that may sound? ;-)
Manimal

Holy shit the yankees don’t get any breaks. But I guess the saying of “you make your own breaks” applys because the yankees look DEAD. They are barely trying it seems. Abreu looks god awful in right.
Ivan

You are never as bad as you look, and certainly the yankees are a better team than this but man they look like a bad baseball team.
Realist

This is getting out of hand. Lester stunkup the joint in the first and now can do no wrong. Pettitte got screwed by Jete’s error in the 1st and now has 8 hits against him in 4 1/3.
- Realist
  
  4 2/3
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

I’m fairly certain baseball has bigger issues than it’s official scorers not being able to assume the souble play.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

Peter Abraham sure is a fair, non-agenda driven columnist:

“UPDATE, 7:49 p.m.: Poor start for the Yankees, now down 4-0. This next two weeks will be a real test of Joe Girardi’s leadership. Hideki Matsui is out and won’t be back any time soon. The clownish antics of A-Rod have popped up as a distraction. Meanwhile the team is struggling and falling precipitously behind in the division. This is when the manager has to earn his money and keep the team focused and together.”

Translation: If Joe Torre were still here then A-Rod’s marriage would be perfect, the Tampa Bay Rays would suck, the Yankees would be hitting .350 w/RISP and Joe Girardi sucks because he took away my candy and ice cream and actually makes me work for my stories.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  No Girardi sucks because he stupidly keeps running Melky Cabrera out there. The team never seemed to play this way under Torre, that’s for sure.
  - Ben C
    
    you mean when we didn’t play this way when we were under .500 on this day last year?
    
    http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....e=20070703
  - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
    
    “The team never seemed to play this way under Torre”? So when they were horrid to start the 2005 and 2007 seasons how were they playing? Were they losing with a lot of life, energy, heart and grit? Did they look energetic in Games 4, 5, 6, and 7 in the 2004 ALCS? How about the 2006 ALDS?
    
    Come on man, that really is unfair to Girardi.
    - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
      
      Sorry, change that to Games 6 and 7 of the 2004 ALCS.
  - Ivan
    
    You know damn well Torre would run melky out there all the time like Girardi would. He manage the bullpen better than Torre. Plus, it’s only Girardi second year as a manager in his career. Hey give the guy a break.
- Ivan
  
  Pete is cool but he does make some questionable comments.
  
  It’s not like Torre is lighting things up in LA.
  
  Nevertheless, I said it before and I will say it again, alot of things that could go bad went bad and I just feel the yanks are a little bit unlucky.
  - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
    
    Mentioning Torre’s job in LA thus far is a great point. How the fuck could he have the idea to platoon Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier in order to make sure Andruw Jones and Juan Pierre were in the lineup everyday (this was of course before Pierre got injured, when Jones returned to the DL his plan was to platoon Kemp and Ethier in RF).
    - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
      
      He benched Pierre. He didn’t start playing him everyday until Jones got hurt. Plus it’s not like Kemp and Ethier are lighting the world on fire either, both have an OPS+ of exactly 100.
      - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
        
        http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb......38;c_id=la
    - Ivan
      
      If any thing Girardi has done his best to keep this afloat despite all the bad luck ad etc.
      
      Torre’s team is underachieving in the NL and specifically in the worst division.
Manimal

That allstar game commercial is pretty sick.
Yankees=warriors

This is one of the ugliest games this year.
And isn’t it ridiculous that we might have to look back and thank Melky for breaking up another no-hitter for Lester?
- Yankees=warriors
  
  Thank god, not anymore.
E-ROC

So…..what will everybody be doing tomorrow?
- Ben C
  
  watching beckett get shelled at the stadium
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

That’s 13 pitches to record the last 7 outs for Lester.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

The Yankees will bring the tying run to the plate in this game. You watch.
- Manimal
  
  Seriously. We got to the rangers bullpen. The Sox’s Bullpen has sucked. Their era in the Rays series was 12.00
- E-ROC
  
  Who is going to drive in the winning run?
- Ben C
  
  if we keep swinging at this kid’s junk we’re not gonna see a bullpen
Yankees=warriors

And Cano is more patient than Posada!!
Manimal

This is the kind of game where Brett Gardner can be the CPR that gets the offense going
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

I mean, why wouldn’t you run the same lineup that scored 18 runs yesterday back out there today? Because Lester’s a lefty? Stupid reason.
- dan
  
  Lefties have actually hit Lester better than righties over his short career, although not this season.
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
  
  Mike, he had a soft 1B to RF, come on.
  - http://yankeesetc.blogspot.com/ Travis G.
    
    he also walked, stole a base and lined a shot up the middle that was caught – just saying.
    - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
      
      You’re right, he did have a good game yesterday but IMO Melky Cabrera does not deserve a demotion.
Manimal

59 pitches in 5 IP, YIKES.
Yankees=warriors

Impressive inning by Dan!
He’s so great coming out of the pen.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Another horrible Cashman signing. If only he signed All-Star caliber players to sit in AAA and serve as back-up plans.
  - Ben C
    
    kei igawa?
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Oh my goodness, they flew from Tampa. Shut the fuck up Kay, your idiocy has reached new heights. The Yankees are lucky they don’t have to travel like that, those poor Red Sox.
- Yankees=warriors
  
  LOL, I have become quite annoyed by Kay as well.
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
  
  LoL, I know you usually get on Mr. Kay but you seem a tad bit pissed tonight.
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
    
    Because they’re playing with their heads up their asses. It’s no secret Lester suffered through bouts of wildness, yet they constantly swing early in the count. Jeter is playing like shit, Abreu is playing like shit, it’s frustrating.
- Ben C
  
  yea, but, thank god he just shit all over manny ramirez and called him out
  - Ivan
    
    That doesn’t count.
Yankees=warriors

Jeter kinda deserves those boos…
- LiveFromNewYork
  
  just got home…did Jeter really get boo’d?
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

The Yanks have had two baserunners since the first inning.
Yankees=warriors

When has “Manny being Manny” EVER been cool?
- Joe
  
  If your rooting for the other team its fucking hilarious!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

Bad precedent? Michael Kay, treating great players like kings is not unprecedented.
E-ROC

Wow, Dan Giese has another 1-2-3 inning.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  He’s been rather impressive. Might have to start using him in higher leverage situations.
  - E-ROC
    
    I second that.
Joe

How about Geise? A little something positive
- LiveFromNewYork
  
  Maybe he solves the Joba no longer in the pen problem.
mikef

i suppose the Yanks like seeing Lester’s arsenal as they are trying to keep him in the game as long as posible
mikef

Hawkins warming up – time for me to take my girl to Starbucks!
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Seriously. Is there a bigger sign that Girardi’s waving the white flag?
- E-ROC
  
  Are u serious? That is utterly depressing. I would much rather see Giese finish the game than see Hawkins pitch.
Yankees=warriors

We’re not getting to their bullpen… Lester’s gonna complete it himself.
Latroy?! Girardi’s given up on this game.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

This HP umpire is a dick.But most of the calls have gone our way so more power to him!
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Complete inability to make fucking adjustments.
http://yankeesetc.blogspot.com/ Travis G.

this is a night to see who did well in the minors.
- Manimal
  
  lol I already checked. Great pitching by Jones, 7IP 0ER
Ben C

i’d like to know how many times we’ve swung at pitches out of the zone, are there any sites that keep track of that?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  I think Fangraphs does.
Yankees=warriors

If only Abreu could do that…
Ivan

We get em tomorrow.
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
  
  Yessir.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Beckett vs Rasner, they’ll have to earn it, even if the Yanks own Beckett during the regular season.
Realist

LaBoy is in so I guess Girardi conceeded the game? Btw, nice work by Giese!
Ben C

here we go
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

As a manager what would be your leash for your starting pitcher if he had a no-hitter in the 9th inning with a 1-0 lead. How about a scoreless game or a 2-0 lead?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  No-hitter? When he gives up a hit. If it happens to be a homer, what can you do. He was obviously on his game.
  - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
    
    So in a 0-0 game in the 9th inning and your pitcher has not given up a hit all game but walks the first two batters, you leave him in there?
    - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
      
      Depends. Was he missing by a mile, or did they grind out two tough at-bats and truly “work” the walks?
      - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
        
        I see your point. How about if you have Mariano Rivera in the bullpen regardless of how they got the walks?
        
        http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
        
        If it’s just any other regular season game, I think you owe it to the pitcher to let him go for it. If it’s a playoff game or a game late in the season that has playoff implications, I think you have to go to Mo.
        
        wfbtr&gldchn
        
        Screw the no-hitter. Even if some guys reach base whoever is coming up next hasn’t had any success against him. Even if it is Mo ready behind him, you owe it to yourself to go with the hot hand.
  - wfbtr&gldchn
    
    If he was still throwing well I’d have to stick with him regardless. Wild or losing velocity is another story but I’d let him continue after a hit.
  - Chris
    
    If it’s a pitcher under 25, I would pull him if his pitch count is up there. There’s no reason to blow out his arm just for a no hitter that the bullpen could nail down. In particular, the careers of pitchers that throw no hitters before age 25 is very very poor.
    
    The best example I can give is Justin Verlander. He’s basically been an average or slightly below pitcher since he threw a no hitter last year. In contrast, the only pitcher in the last 20 years to throw a no hitter before age 25 and come back and throw another one is Kent Mercker, who only pitched 6 innings in his no hitter before age 25.
Yankees=warriors

When are they ever going to get rid of Hawkins?
Ivan

I just heard tha Carter III. You know it’s a solid album. Some of the songs are pretty cool. It’s not a classic but it’s good. It’s better than that Curtis album. Lil Wayne is nice, overrated but nice.
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
  
  I don’t know if he is necessarily overrated because I think people realize that his myriad appearances are not attributed to just his skill. Seriously though that dude is nasty. “Tha Carter II” is one of my favorite albums, haven’t really listened to intently to “Tha Carter III” as of yet.
  - Ivan
    
    Lil Wayne is nice but people dick ride him like he’s the greatest ever. But I give him credit, selling a milli in one week is impressive especially for a rapper.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

A base hit by Jason Varitek? Eww.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

I was hoping Hawkins would not suck just enough to earn Type-B FA status this year. At this rate, we’re going to have to give a draft pick to whoever signs him as compensation.
E-ROC

This grease monkey walks Coco Crisp and gives up an RBI single to Jason
Vared!ick! Get rid of him Cash.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

I see Betemit has been hanging out with Jeter.
Yankees=warriors

Cano might really be back this time!
Ugh…DP…
E-ROC

Looks like Melky will be starting tomorrow.
- Ben C
  
  hopefully gardner starting those three games over him is a wake-up call?
  - E-ROC
    
    He’s increasing his trade value.
Will

Melky and Cano have all four hits?

Something is wrong here…
Baseballnation

Who cares how good Waynes album actually is….he pushed a “milli” which is near impossible to do considering downloading, and the fact his album was leaked before it released. Overrated, yes.
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
  
  Thirty albums have gone Multi-Platinum so far this year.
  
  http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/riaa/index.jsp
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  You can’t spell crap without rap.
E-ROC

What is Girardi doing?? Make Hawkins pitch two innings. Why waste Robertson?
- Ivan
  
  wouldn’t pitching robertson in games like this wasting him.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Ah ha! I finally figured out who Robertson reminds me of – a smaller Matt Cain.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

Is it just me or is this bullpen looking more and more like a powerhouse strength?
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
  
  Just to follow that comment up, if Chien-Ming Wang was healthy this staff could probably go toe-to-toe with anyone in baseball. I would not be hesitant to put this five man staff (Darrell Rasner as the #5 guy) against Toronto’s and put this bullpen up against anybody.
  - Rich
    
    I agree about pitching being the team’s strength. The offense and defense are where this team is lacking.
    - Rich
      
      To further make the point:
      
      From Pete Abe:
      
      “This will be the 38th time in 86 games the Yankees will be held to three or less runs.”
- Ben C
  
  lets not get carried away here, they’ve been in 1 hold situation since june 22nd
- NYFan50
  
  Wouldn’t it be fantastic if they were given leads?
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Push a couple across this inning, guaranteed win tomorrow according to Joe’s theory of scoring late in blowout loses, which has yet to be disproven.
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
  
  Thinking the same.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

In “Fever Pitch” (ducks rocks) Jimmy Fallon was upset that he missed a game where the Red Sox overcame a 7-0 deficit in the 9th inning against our Yanks, was that a real game?
- Ben C
  
  im 99% sure no
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

A sub-three hour game that involves the Yankees and Red Sox? What…the…fuck?
E-ROC

GIDP is name of the game… and swinging at the first pitch. I guess they were trying to get out of there pretty quickly. This blows!
- Yankees=warriors
  
  Can’t agree more.
  Don’t know if I wanna watch tommorrow’s game…
Flynn

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

That felt good.
pat

we did our best late 90’s imitation of the rays, lifeless disheartened and lacking any substance
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