Jul
04

Game 87: Just freaking win

By Mike Axisa

1. Damon, LF
2. Jeter, SS
3. Abreu, RF
4. A-Rod, 3B
5. Giambi, 1B
6. Posada, DH
7. Cano, 2B
8. Melky, CF
9. Molina, C

Notes: Billy Traber’s back, and although no corresponding move have been made, it seems that LaTroy Hawkins’ time is finally up … blogging will be light today around these parts, enjoy the holiday.

Posted on Friday, July 4th, 2008 at 12:00 pm in Game Threads.

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129 Comments »

monkeypants says:

Guess again. According to Pete Abe, Hawkins lives to see another day. It’s AG with a bus ticket to Scranton.

B says:

Hopefully Damon wasn’t hurt too bad on that play. Wow that was lucky that the ball didn’t roll the other way for HR!!

 
 
dan says:

There really should be a scheduled day off for all of baseball today… I’m sure the players would all rather be doing something else than playing a game.

 
dkidd says:

possibly stupid stat question: what is “ops +123″ and era +98″?

 
Four Train says:

OPS plus (expressed as “OPS + #”) and ERA plus (same type of expression) are recently developed stats that track a player/pitcher’s OPS/ERA in comparison to league average. These stats are generated basically by taking the OPS/ERA, applying multipliers for things like ballpark adjustments, and normalizing the stat by a factor of 100. It’s useful, and, hence, kind of cool because, under the analysis, 100 is the average OPS/ERA and each player can very easily be measured in comparision.

A 120 ERA plus, means that a pitcher has an ERA 120% of the average ML pitcher, including park adjustments – i.e., he’s above average. A 93 OPS + means that a hitter is 93% as productive as the average ML hitter. That’s about where Jeter is this year. The stat is a shorthand way of showing you how productive/unproductive a player/pitcher has been and is a very in-depth analysis at the same time. Those be some smart cats.

dkidd says:

thanks. excellent explanation

 
 
B says:

Glad to see Molina behind the plate today, now maybe we can throw some runners out! Is Gardner not playing because Beckett is on the mound??

Jamal G. says:

Or maybe because Melky Cabrera had two hard hit line drives yesterday?

 
 
Steve says:

If Rasner gives up 2 runs in the first inning (as he has so many times) and Beckett is getting his curveball over for strikes, you can turn off the TV and start grilling some burgers. No point ruining your day off

 
tommiesmithjohncarlos says:

Bold prediction:

We touch up Beckett for 5 runs, they touch up Rasner for 6, both bullpens implode, Mo gives up the tying run today and we win in extras, 12-11.

Then, Moose and Joba shut down the Sox for the rest of the weekend and we take all three… but the Rays only drop one to the Royals (Greinke) and the gap remains at 7 back going into the 2-gamer.

 
E-ROC says:

Hasn’t Traber proven that he sucks terribly??!! Why have him return to the majors?

batty says:

Joe likes his underachievers.

 
A.D. says:

So that eveyone that believes in the fallacy that you need a LHP in your bullpen can be proven wrong, by bringing in a lefty that isn’t good

 
 
A.D. says:

Pedroia didn’t even try to get out of the way of that one

E-ROC says:

His grit showed there.

 
 
dkidd says:

just turned on the game. what’s up with the weird yankees hats?

A.D. says:

4th of July special

 
 
A.D. says:

Nice work by Rasner to get out of trouble

 
A.D. says:

Varitek is a little too 4th of Julyed out

Jamal G. says:

Translation: He looks like he’s ready to break out to “Y-M-C-A!”

 
 
Eric says:

Enough with Hawkins already. What is he doing in the majors? He made things a whole lot worse last nite. Get him out of here! Bring back Patterson!

batty says:

What did he make worse? He was sent into a blow out – it was already 6-0.

 
A.D. says:

Hawkins is fine as a mop-up man, the key was not pitching him in games where there is any pressure

 
 
A.D. says:

Man never gets clutch hits….oh wait

 
batty says:

Good meeting yesterday apparently.

 
 
A.D. says:

Thought Damon would get that ball

 
A.D. says:

Lugo, doing his best Jeter impression

 
BigBlueAL says:

Wow tough-guy Varitek sizing up ARod for doing nothing to him!!!!

 
Joey says:

Is there such thing as a quick inning with Rasner on the mound?

 
BigBlueAL says:

Get Mo up in the bullpen….

 
Manimal says:

So Mr. Umpire, I can expect you in the Red sox showers after the game right? Afterall, you do want to SUCK HIS DICK.

BigBlueAL says:

Tell us how you really feel about the home-plate umpire….

Manimal says:

Seriously though whats up with Manny’s strikezone.

 
 
 
Manimal says:

Thats the weirdest thing Ive seen in my life. I really dont know what to say.

 
Manimal says:

Atta boy Gahdnah’

 
batty says:

Here comes Gardner.

 
BigBlueAL says:

No amount of yelling and motivation in the world by Girardi can help a piece of shit pitcher like Rasner pitch a good game against a team like the Red Sox.

 
Manimal says:

How the hell did it get stuck at the top of the wall! It wouldve been interesting to see what the umpires would have done if it stayed at the top of the wall.

Whitey14 says:

I think it would have been reduced to a ground rule double…

 
 
zzzzz says:

did that really just happen?

i hate youkillis.

 
E-ROC says:

What happened to Damon?

 
dkidd says:

following the game on-line. did damon get hurt? what was up with the triple?

BigBlueAL says:

Damon hurt himself crashing into the wall.

 
Manimal says:

The ball bounced off his glove, he crashed into the wall and the ball got stuck ontop of the wall then SOMEHOW rolled back into play.

 
 
BigBlueAL says:

Wow Gardner got absolutely toyed with by Beckett there.

Chris says:

Too bad he’s not playing CF full time.

BigBlueAL says:

Please. Gardner sucks worse than Melky.

Stephen says:

i think Chris may have been sarcastic there

 
 
 
 
A.D. says:

Rasner owns the bottom thrid of this order

 
A.D. says:

Jesus, suprised Ellsbury doesn’t do that every time

 
A.D. says:

With Matsui out & the 3 catchers they might as well be playing Molina & Moeller behind the plate and split Posada and Giambi at 1B/DH

 
A.D. says:

Giambi has to be a league leader in foul HR

 
Joey says:

Awesome AB by Giambino there

 
McCaff says:

Is anyone else hopeing Beckett just fails miserabely at everything he does?

Joey says:

Along with Schilling, Varitek, etc… yes

 
 
McCaff says:

YAY MELKY GOT ON BASE!

 
batty says:

Update on Damon from PA:

* * * * * * * * * JOHNNY DAMON UPDATE * * * * * * * * * * *

X-rays on Damon’s left shoulder were negative. The Yankees are saying he has a contusion. He will be further evaluated tomorrow, an examination that will include an MRI.

It sounds as though they are worried about a separation.

 
McCaff says:

The indians DFA’d Borowski… do we go after him? In 18 games played he was 1-3 with a 7.56 era and 9k’s. HmMmM

 
batty says:

….AAAAAaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnnnnndddddddddddd that’s game.

 
Flynn says:

Fuck you Rasner.

 
A.D. says:

Game is probably over…and Rasner is pitching himself right out of the bigs….do we see Karstens soon?

mustang says:

Karstens….wow.
That’s the best Baseball America 3rd rank minor league pitching system can give us.

A.D. says:

Well when Horne, Hughes, IPK are all hurt and most of rest of the pitching is AA or lower, than yes

Chris says:

don’t forget Aceves

A.D. says:

true Aceves is hurt too, as is Brackman, who if he never needed surgery could have been a fast riser this year. Marquez isn’t having that great of a year, and is also hurt. Right now our AAA pitching staff is somewhat odd:

Karstens
Igawa
Ohlendorf
McCutchen
IPK

Karstens is obv one of those guys whos a decent spot/starter reserve, Igawa is essentially a lost cause, Ohlendorf isn’t going to be a starter, and then McCutchen and IPK are pospects. With Aceves and Marquez, 2 prospects on the DL, and Jason Jones ready to move up at AA

So Igawa and Ohlendorf are potentially clogging spots for other pitchers

mustang says:

Oh well I guess this what people wanted. Now we can sit around waiting for Joba to pitch and the rest of time watch their ass get handed to them.
Hoping that by 2013 the kids work out.
What a fucking joke?

 
 
 
mustang says:

Holy shit does anyone know what kind of medical coverage the Yankees have their deductible might equal their payroll.
LOL

A.D. says:

hopefully they dont self insure!

 
 
 
 
 
mustang says:

Saw that coming a mile away. I just hope they don’t get swept.

 
McCaff says:

Donde esta el Mexican Gangster?

BigBlueAL says:

I dont even think he has pitched at AAA yet cause of a minor injury if im not mistaken.

 
A.D. says:

Sore groin, has yet to start for AAA, they originally said it was just a precaution DL stint, but he still hasn’t pitched and they said the same thing about Marquez, and he hasn’t pitched in awhile

Chris says:

Hmmm… he get’s engaged one day and comes up with a sore groin right after that….

 
 
mustang says:

Is anyone not injured down there ?
LOL

McCaff says:

Horne is injured too, correct?

mustang says:
 
 
A.D. says:

Igawa’s healthy! The man just won’t get hurt

 
 
 
A.D. says:

Thankfully Lugo is still terrible

 
BigBlueAL says:

Beckett must be laughing his ass off on the inside after the 2 ab’s Gardner had against him.

 
A.D. says:

Of course BG couldn’t come up and put a few good games together right off the bat

BigBlueAL says:

Honestly I dont want him to suck, but you had all these freakin idiots thinking Gardner was this great player and please. Did you see those 2 ab’s vs Beckett??? Now I know Beckett is probably the best pitcher in the AL, but just look at those swings Gardner took. So far he hasnt come close to hitting a decent ball to the outfield. He is a glorified pinchrunner/defensive specialist 4th/5th OFer at best which is what every national publication/analyst says about him except for most of the people on this site who thinks he is better than Joacby Ellsbury when please he couldnt hold Ellsbury’s jock. Melky is stinking up the joint but please dont compare the two talent wise and honestly Gardner would be lucky as hell to hit as good as Melky has hit in the major leagues so far in his career.

NYFan50 says:

He’s not going to be a superstar but if you compare his minor league numbers to Ellsbury they are nearly identical.

 
mustang says:

Can we give it a little more then a week.

 
A.D. says:

I mean i don’t think BG is the non hitter that hes shown so far, and his numbers are very similar to Ellsbury, he presumably could be a solid of with plenty of speed, that isn’t a superstar but does a good job.

He’s struggled and adjusted at every level of his career, no reason to think this would be any different, and they do need to light something under Melky, hes been in a redic slump, no matter how good you think Melky will be, he’s definitly better than he’s been playing

 
 
 
A.D. says:

Well looks like the talk last night lasted about 1 inning

BigBlueAL says:

Rasner vs Beckett today. No speech in the world last night wouldve helped in today’s game.

mustang says:

What speech did they use at the Alamo that might work.
LOL

 
 
 
Whitey14 says:

God that man can sing….I hope the Red sox buy him when he becomes a free agent ;-)

 
Jake H says:

Anyone think that Dan McCutchen gets called up and Rasner sent down?

BigBlueAL says:

Problem is BOTH Ponson and Rasner need to be pulled from the rotation. I assume Karstens is next in line.

mustang says:

Well we do have Hughes and IPK, oh! sorry forgot.
LOL

 
 
 
McCaff says:

I hate the views YES are using today.

BigBlueAL says:

I assume you mean the behind the home-plate umpire’s ass view.

McCaff says:
 
 
 
McCaff says:
 
BigBlueAL says:

WOW Molina worked a walk!! This could be the inning….

BigBlueAL says:
 
 
McCaff says:
 
Joey says:

Turning around to yell at the umpire? Don’t expect to get anything close there captain America…

Whitey14 says:

I don’t know, he got a pretty questionable strike one call….wouldn’t you say?

Whitey14 says:

On a-rod, that is…

Joey says:

Yea, umpires have no backbone!

 
 
 
 
Jake H says:

Guys just can’t hit with runners in scoring position

 
Sam P. says:

Runner at 3rd, less than two outs? Didn’t think that Bobby would bring that run in … ugh.

This is tough to take, over and over and over and over again.

 
batty says:
 
BigBlueAL says:

That my friends is your 2008 NY Yankees in a nutshell.

 
claybeez says:

Same old, same old.

 
Jake H says:

I agree there. Does anyone think that Kevin Long’s job might be in jeopardy?

Whitey14 says:

It ought to be…the Sox once fired Jimmy Rice after his teams were consistently in the top 3 in the league hitting wise…

 
Jamal G. says:

Brian Cashman just recently gave Kevin Long a vote of confidence. And what the hell do you expect a hitting coach to do to fix a team’s woes w/RISP? The man coached an offense that scored 868 runs last year but now he’s shit? Or are you not going to give him credit for 2007 but slam him for the situational hitting this season?

Jamal G. says:

Sorry, *968 runs.

 
mustang says:

Can someone be accountable for something here? I’m not saying your wrong, but right now the SS Yankees is taking in a lot of water and it’s not the GM’s fault or the batting coach or the manager. You can’t fire all 25 players.

 
 
 
BigBlueAL says:

All is not lost, the Knicks signed Chris Duhon today!! PG of the future!!

mustang says:

I heard that he can play D that would nice for change.

BigBlueAL says:

Can play D and shoot the 3pter but he really is just a solid backup pg. Im probably in the minority who doesnt want to see Marbury waived and wants to see how Marbury plays next season if given the chance.

 
 
 
BigBlueAL says:

Not to further complain, but look at that bottom of the 8th. Giambi has a great ab and draws a walk on a full-count. Then Posada works the count 3-1, swings at a fastball up and away and pops up to CF. New pitcher comes in and immediately gets Cano to hit into a DP. Sigh….

 
Jamal G. says:

Fuck it, if this isn’t a dominant bullpen I don’t know what is.

Simon B. says:

Oh, but don’t you know? Edwar sucks because hitters have figured him out and “sit on his changeup” whatever that means. Sure is easy to sit on a pitch you can’t tell is coming until it’s too late and moves like a screwball.

How does he get by on a such a bad fastball? 91-92 sure isn’t above league average or anything like that!

 
BigBlueAL says:

You were watching highlights of the 1998 Yankees???? LOL

 
 
Whitey14 says:

Tough call, looked like a catch to me on NESN, was there a better view on YES?

BigBlueAL says:

Same thing on YES, it was definitely a catch.

 
 
Whitey14 says:

Thank God that’s over with!

See you tomorrow guys ;-)

 
BigBlueAL says:

Well at least Tampa Bay is coming back down to Earth, they are only winning 7-0 in the 5th inning today vs the Royals.

 
Manimal says:

Anyone else sick and tired of the warning track power that the yankees have in key situations?

 
BillyBall says:

The Rasner and Ponson experiment must soon come to an end. If not immediately for at least one of them, than by the All Star break. What are our options? None right now, but I would try a Karstens or McCutcheon, our second line of defense!

Lets also please make a move and trade Abreau for a Right Handed Hitting RF that can play defense. Any one have an idea of a decent Right Handed bat?

 
BillyBall says:

Hows about Mike Cameron on Milwaukee. Think we can do one for one Abreau for Cameron deal. Put him in center and move Melky over to right. Abreau is a better offensive player but too streaky. We add the defense and a RH bat! Just a suggestion too pass time on this aggravating fucking night!

 
BillyBall says:

Than we trade the Melk Man and a few prospects such as Horne and Marquez for Suzuki and put Suzuki in right. Now that would be a great outfield. Damon, Cameron, and Ichiro. Great defense and good offense. Have Gardner be the 4th outfielder. The Seattle times has suggested trading Ichiro to rebuild the team. C’mon people,this could work. Our lineup would be:

Ichiro
Damon
Jeter
Arod
Giambi
Matsui
Posada
Cano
Cameron

Than we bring up this kid Aceves and Karsten after the break until the Wang and Hughes comes back and when they do our rotation looks like such:

Wang
Petite
Joba
Moose
Hughes/Aceves/IPK/Horne (one of the 4)

Our Bullpen will look as such after we relieve Hawkins of his duties:

Mariano
Farnsworth
Veras
Geise
Robertson
Ramirez
Karstens or Rasner

we still need that lefty, but this should do for now!

Our Bench will look as such:

Gonzalez
Molina
Gardner
Betemit (though I would love to return him to sender, perhaps get another RH bat that can hit and spot start for catcher and 1st base) Too bad Piazza’s career ended, if we could add a bat like his off the bench, wow! The possibilities!

 
Baseballnation says:

Suzuki– 20 mill singles hitter?? And Cameron who’s not what he used to be in cf

How bout this– Trade Abreu and Veras (yes we love him but he’s replaceable and also highest value in pen aside from Rivera) for Prospects. Does that mean us being sellers? Indeed, and only because I think Abreu is at his peak value right now since I believe he is in the decline and because I think the yankees can only hope to catch the wild card this year.

 
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