Game 88: Blah

July 5, 2008 by Mike Axisa 173 Comments

I dunno about you, but I hate these 4pm Mike Mussina starts on FOX. Something about it just makes me feel very uncomfortable. The only way it could be worse is if the game was in Fenway.

The Damon situation adds injury to insult, and it’s just another in a long line of debilitating injuries that includes (at one time or another) 60% of the Opening Day starting rotation, a HOF third baseman, a HOF shortstop, an All-Star catcher, an All-Star DH, three serviceable if not down right reliable bullpen arms, and a utility man. I’m not making excuses, this team needs to start playing better. Bases loaded with one out? You have to get some runs in, doesn’t matter if you’re the Yankees or the Red Sox or the Pirates. You don’t come through in those situations, you’re going to lose ball games.

Sox starter Justin Masterson has been pounded for 8 earned runs (3 homers) and 21 baserunners in 12 IP over his last 2 starts. Double-A Trenton beat the sidearming sinkerballer from Jamaica on not one, but two occasions last year, so let’s hope the big league team follows suit and gives him the same Bronx welcome they gave The Laptop Stealer earlier this year.

Righties are OPS’ing .501 off Masterson, lefties .864.

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

Notes: PeteAbe says Jorge Posada is a little under the weather, otherwise he’d almost certainly be playing … Brian Bruney’s road back started yesterday with a 2 inning stint in the Rookie Level Gulf Coast League

Andy In Sunny Daytona

Not a lot of Jamaicans in MLB history, I would think. Devon White? Its not exactly a baseball hotbed.
That being said, I hope we send the bumbaclot to a early shower.
dkidd

let’s get a split. we’re still better off than we were on this day last year. grind it
E-ROC

The Yanks need to kick Masterbation’s arse.
Steve

Like to see Gardner lay down a bunt or two today, just like Ellsbury did yesterday. Any way he can get on base is a positive.
Vladdy

are zoilo and abe almonte brothers? because their birthdays are 17 days apart
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
  
  Wouldn’t that be impossible for them to be brothers then? I cant imagine a woman being in labor for 17 days.
  - Vladdy
    
    yea i guess so
    - Andy In Sunny Daytona
      
      Maybe they just have a pimp of a Dad.
http://yankeesetc.blogspot.com/ Travis G.

to those killing girardi, he has managed the bullpen extremely well this year. their 3.57 ERA is considerably better than the AL average of 3.81. no one is overused or underused.

it’s hard to blame him for the hitting. if it had to fall on one person, it would have to be kevin long. and they’re only the 3rd worst AL team with RISP (ahead of Toronto and Seattle), not the very worst.

a win would be nice, and Moose throwing up and in at Manny would also be nice.
E-ROC

“Batting 4th, ManRam playing DH.” How do you play DH Papelbon?
E-ROC

Nice throw by BG.
E-ROC

The RedSox are the Goliaths of the MLB? Ok…Joe Buck, Tim McCarver. Where is Deion Sanders when you need him?
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Nice clean inning or Moose. Gotta make Masterson work for it, can’t just keep rolling over every time a guy throws something that moves.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Nice at-bat, A-Rod.
Whitey14

I think Crisp trapped that….
E-ROC

C’Mon Melky!!! Get a hit!
- E-ROC
  
  Got Melk! RBI single. Nice slide by Giambi
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

Vaya Melky!
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

What a slide by the Big G. He’s an ath-uh-lete.
- Whitey14
  
  Yeah, and his mustache cleaned off the plate as he went by…umpires like that kind of effort!
alex

i thought giambi would’ve been out by a mile
Sam P.

Great to see Melky come through. It wasn’t a great looking pitch he took a swing at though … and coincidentally it was the first pitch.
Tripp

It would be nice to see Moeller get one start every now and then….Molina never takes a pitch
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

Melky Cabrera does have a .300/.364/.400 vital line for July coming into today, I’m just sayin’. ;)
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

Robbie Cano is a fucking man.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  I’ve always felt he was under-rated defensively. That was a great play.
  - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
    
    With that range he shows at Second Base, was he really that awful at Short Stop? I have to think the superior range at Second Base would translate to below average to average range at Short Stop.
    - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
      
      He was bad. Bowa really helped him become the defender he is today.
      - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
        
        So now that he’s improved so, do you think he can be an improvement over Derek Jeter at Short Stop by Spring Training 2009?
E-ROC

Jeter making plays going left. The Yanks just might win today.
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
  
  Heh, that wasn’t Derek Jeter.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

Mark DeRosa has 11-HRs this season, his career high is 13 in 2006 playing in Texas.
Bill N

Man I really hate pedrioa
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  So do I. Luckily he’s already maxed out his skill set; he’s got basically no room for improvement, except maybe for a few more stolen bases.
  - Whitey14
    
    Yeah and I’m going to be pissed if he only hits .300, plays excellent defense and occassionally hits a dinger each season ;-)
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

That was dirty.
Jake H

I hate not getting the game because of Cards vs Cubs!
Bill N

Buck and Mcgarver are making my hangover worse
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

That is the third hit Mr. Gardner has had taken away from him these past four games, wow.
Whitey14

eat it rook !!!
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

That’s at least 3 hits taken away from Gardner since coming up – the comebacker vs Texas the other day, the comebacker to Masterson, and that shot to Lowell. Eventually they’ll start finding the holes, and he’ll go on a nice little tear.
- mike
  
  such is life when you want to make a career of hitting 3-hoppers to the same side of the infield all day, and hope to beat the throw to first….i hope his college correspondence course schedule is current
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

Is it me or does Dustin Pedroia diving for every single fucking ball going to lead to hip replacement surgery at age 29?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  That’s call grit Jamal.
  - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
    
    I’ve always wondered if all that diving is to make up for an utter lack of range.
    - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
      
      The sad part is that ff he was say, 5’10” instead of 3’5″, he’d get most of those balls on the dive.
  - Ivan
    
    it’s also called lack of range.
Bill N

BG is so unlucky
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Make ’em pay Giambino.
alex

does anyone have a good website i can use to look up random stats such as how mike mussina pitches at 4:00pm starts? etc.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Oof, not for stuff like that. I usually hit B-Ref or Fangraphs for my stats, that usually covers it.
- Dan
  
  this has day/night splits, but not necessarily start times
  
  http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/4715/splits;_ylt=AnQtSrh119GRuoxsVYCxi8CFCLcF
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

“The one thing young pitchers lose with the bases loaded is the ability to pitch inside. They’re almost forced to stay on the outside half” says McCarver.

Next two pitches: inside to K the Big G.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Are they really going to load the bases with less than 2 outs and not score a run again? Really?
Whitey14

Hey Betemit…Alex Cole called, he wants his glasses back!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

Screw it, all you can ask for a hitter to do is smack it, that’s what Wilson Betemit did but he just hit it right at someone.

*I love these Burger King Steakhouse commercials.
- mike
  
  we could ask him to get a hit……
  - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
    
    Well if you know how baseball works you know you can’t just ask someone to get a base hit, he smacked the ball, that is all you ask of yourself as a player and of your hitters as a coach.
Jake H

I love how we can’t ever get hits with the bases loaded
Whitey14

Wow, nice job by the kid to get out of that.
Ivan

We have seen this picture before.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

Isn’t the makeup game on July 10th?
mike

why does it feel like the Yanks are losing, but in reality (except for last inning)they have been playing reallly good ball all day?
- Whitey14
  
  It probably feels that way because they’re missing chances…I wouldn’t worry too much today though, they’ll either break through against Masterson or the bullpen cause he’s not good for much more than 6 innings…
Bill N

This ump is fucking terrible…….. nice play melky
E-ROC

Haha….Youkilis’s hot zone starts after his AB. That quite hilarious Mr Tim McCarver. Hah!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

I thought Clay Buchholz was the untouchable pitcher between he and Jon Lester. Didn’t the Red Sox say you can have a Lester package or Jacoby Ellsbury package but not both?

So that’s one for Joe Buck and two for Tim McCarver (the pitching inside with the bases juiced and saying the PIT game is 7/7 when in fact it is on 7/10).
- Whitey14
  
  That’s the way I recall it too Jamal…
Ivan

Man the media do A-Rod dirty sometimes. They never give him a break with these stupid stuff with his wife or Madona, but how many writers jump on the story of A-Rod helping an 18 year old kid with cancer and making his day. Nice job media people.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

I wear shin guards but I swear that shit is a jinx, no matter where you put it the ball always finds a way to hit you right where it’s not.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Bah, it was 3-1 Melky, take a damn pitch.
Jake H

Anyone else think that Melky should have been given the take sign?
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

Is it just me or are the ugliest brides the ones to always get married on a baseball field or get proposed to at a baseball park?
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

Damn Jose Molina is short, Moose looked huge there.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

The Sawx have really given away some outs on the bases this series.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

Jacoby Ellsbury has been owned this series, that’s the third pick-off/caught stealing right?
E-ROC

When will people learn to not run on Molina?! Hopefully, never…
giselle

i feel like if we were just a little more patient with crappy pitchers like masterson we’d be in a much more successful homestand. Half the pitchers we’ve faced are incapable of throwing 3 strikes before they give up 4 balls.

Giambi might’ve walked w/ the bases loaded if he wasn’t trying to hit a damn GS. Melky popped out on a 3-1 count. are you serious? take a damn pitch! better yet, take 2!! mastersons hitting more batters than he’s striking them out. it’s so frustrating to watch.

Damn nice play by molina.
Bill N

Fu Ellsberry. Great throw by Molina freaking hose
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

The Yankees would kill to have a guy like Buchholz waiting in the wings?
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

Ok Tim McCarver, what about Joba Chamberlain, Robinson Cano, Jose Veras, Edwar Ramirez, and Chien-Ming Wang? How about the fact that the Red Sox are the fourth oldest team in baseball you shit.
- E-ROC
  
  Those players aren’t RedSox, so they don’t count. Deion Sanders needs to bring his bucket of water and dump it on McCarver again.
- Whitey14
  
  Jamal, I think you misunderstood what he said. What he was implying is that Buchholz has been lights out since he went back to AAA, and he’s currently ready to come up at the drop of a hat. He’s saying the same thing you guys have been saying lately which is there is no yankee starter dominating at the AAA level so therefore nobody is “waiting in the wings” The guys you mentioned are all performing at the ML level (or are injured, but established, in wang’s case).
  
  The yanks are trying to give the 4th and 5th starters jobs to somebody but nobody seems to want them. If Kennedy or another young gun was pitching lights out, they’d surely be considered “in the wings” too.
giselle

buck just called giambi “girardi”. he really just did that?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  McCarver just called him Joey Cora too.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

Fuck these two assholes, fuck them. “Where are the players going to come from?” How about the fifth best fucking farm system in baseball.
- giselle
  
  you can’t listen to them. they’re absolute idiots…
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  I’m used to the hate. People were bashing the Yanks’ system when they were running Alfonso Soriano and Nick Johnson and Robinson Cano and Chien-Ming Wang out there. Whatever man.
giselle

i want arod to steal home. i know it’ll never happen, but that’d be sweet.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  And as he ran home, he’d pretend to run over Varitek. Then when Varitek stared at him, A-Rod would say “we don’t run over .223 hitters!”
  - Ivan
    
    I don’t care what anybody says, A-Rod was gonna kick Varitek ass.
  - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
    
    You see, only difference between that AB and his AB with the bases loaded was placement.
    
    Did Tim McCarver just say Steve Nash was a “tall guy”?
Bill N

Son of a bitch
E-ROC

Friggin’ Youkilis….
http://fitnesse.co.uk UKYankee

oh my god!!!!!!!!!!
I don’t get to see Fox broadcasts very often…..but these broadcasters may aswell be wearing Redsox uniforms!
The Sox are amazing….so young…have the best farm in the history of the world
While the Yanks are old…”where is the youth in there system”. .. Joba is taking too long to convert to starting….IPK and Franchise are nothing!

Unbelievable!!!!!!!!!!
- Ivan
  
  Hey People like sucking the Sox dick.
  - Whitey14
    
    You guys never complained for years while the yanks got their dicks sucked though did you? Every Sox fan believes that McCarver and Buck are biased towards ny so I guess it’s just how you interpret the comments.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

That’s about three RBIs taken off the board by hard hit liners that were right at fielders. Wilson Betemit’s liner to Dustin Pedroia with the bases loaded and just now by Jason Giambi with a hot shot to Kevin Youkilis.
Ivan

Man it just seem the yanks can’t get a break.
giselle

omg. that was strike three. mastersons getting that call ALL DAY
E-ROC

That umpire is smoking crack.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

In the twelve starts prior to that horrid three game stretch last season Mike Mussina allowed three Earned Runs or less in eleven of those starts. He pitched less than six innings in just three of those twelve starts. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, his season was not as bad as it seems.

*MOOOOOOOOOSE
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

I thought Rocky was the Moose. Why is McCarver calling it Bullwinkle?
- zack
  
  Bullwinkle was the moose. Rocky, the squirrel…
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
    
    My bad.
    - Ivan
      
      that is Sad Mike A.
Bill N

Suck it long and suck it hard manny. This ump still blows
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Betemit’s been really good of late. People bashed him because he went like, 0 for 4 with 3 K over a 3 week stretch, but he’s a solid bench guy.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

You see, only difference between that AB and his AB with the bases loaded was placement for Betemit.

Did Tim McCarver just say Steve Nash was a “tall guy”?
- Ivan
  
  To be fair, Nash is tall for the average human, but in the NBA, no.
Bill N

Greatest blow up ever Mr. Brett
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Oh PLEASE bring Timlin in. Please please please…
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

“You’d think that New York would name Sixth Ave. International Ave…” No Tim McCarver, we wouldn’t, we aren’t lame.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeze!
Jake

Watching Robbie is such a frustrating experience. The guy just oozes talent, but has no ability/desire to learn the strike zone.
- Jake
  
  Although, to be fair, Robbie is downright selective compared to Molina. He just throws his bat at the ball no matter where it is.
- Ivan
  
  neither does Vlad but he’s the exception.
  - Jake
    
    I worry Robbie is never going to become the hitter he could if he just showed a little patience/strike zone judgment.
    - pete
      
      well part of what makes robbie so talented is his ability to put good wood on bad pitches, which he’s been doing of late. He’s just not hitting to gaps.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Bases loaded. One out. At least Gardner’s fast enough to beat out a GIDP.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

Showing a little pop there to the opposite field.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Emphasis on “a little.” ;)
Ivan

one run. the way the yanks are struggling, it feels like we scored three.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

With the way this bullpen has been going you can’t blame Joe Girardi for the early hook. This ‘pen has been nothing short of dominant.
Bill N

Your a bitch youk
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

Kevin Youkilis is a pussy (Although our Captain has been guilty of doing that now and again).
giselle

is masterson bald? he looks sickly…
E-ROC

Rick Ankiel is a beast.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Moose threw only 89 pitches, why take him out? Oh that’s right, because Veras is the 7th inning guy.
- Ivan
  
  but they way Veras was throwing can argue with it.
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
  
  Mike, this bullpen has been fantastic. You and I both know that we are going to ride Mike Mussina into the ground to make a playoff push in the second half so why not be as cheap as possible with him before that time comes? Also when you have four or five guys doing their thing in the bullpen all at once you can go to them a lot without overworking one or the other.
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
    
    I thought it was an unecessary move though. A move for the sake of making a move. Why not let Moose at least start the inning?
    
    He’s not some 22 year old kid pitcher who’s never been through the grind of a full 162 game season before. He’s been around the block, he knows what he’s doing.
    - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
      
      I see that argument but I don’t think it is worth criticism. Not saying it was a perfect move just not something that is worth criticism.
Ivan

Veras just made Varitek his bitch.
Ivan

Hit a HR A-Rod. Just think Homer.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

Mike, what’s the story on Josh Vitters? Serious injury, anything that could be related to his struggles last season?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Not sure. I know he was hurt at the start of the year, but he’s certainly been disappointing. Imagine if he was in the Yanks’ system, people wouldn’t give it a rest with how big of a bust he is and how terrible of a pick he was.
E-ROC

Farns getting loose; should be an entertaining 8th inning.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  He’ll be fine. He’s been borderline dominant the last month or so.
  - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
    
    I assume this was in response to my post.
    
    Yeah I just check MiLB.com. It seems thebaseballcube.com has failed to update their stats on him for 2008 in Short Season ball.
    - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
      
      No, it was in response to the Farns post. I responded to yours above.
      - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
        
        As you did. My bad.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  You see? Lights out.
  - E-ROC
    
    Yes I do. From now on, I’ll have more faith in Farns when he hits the mound.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

LoL McCarver, sit the fuck down.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Is it just me, or have the Yanks’ catchers been taking more of a beating than usual this year? The toughest job in baseball right there.
- giselle
  
  i’d say so. after chris snyder’s fractured left testicle it’s clear that catchers from every team this year have taken a huge beating behind the plate.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

That shit was fair.
- E-ROC
  
  Sssshhhh….can u keep a secret?
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

Arm strength and dive-less range, sorry Dustin.
Ivan

can buck and McCarver shut the fuck up about our Farmsystem please.
Jake

Mo missing his spots.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

How awesome is Mo? Giving the Sox a little bit of hope just so he can crush their spirits even more later.
- Jake
  
  Jesus, you called that.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

A loss here would cripple the season says McCarver. Overreact much?
Jake

Wow, he looks like he has nothing today.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Coco needs to get rid of that Bo Derek hair style.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Swings like Bo Derek too.
  - E-ROC
    
    Now thats gangsta.
  - http://www.pinstripesplus.com ansky
    
    dont forget “throws like”
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

Jason Varitek is so gritty.
Bill N

Comeon mo shut this shit down
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

I would classify that second strike as “generous.”
E-ROC

I’m really liking the ump’s strike zone now. lol.
http://www.pinstripesplus.com ansky

PHEW
PsiFighter37

Wow, to come back from bases loaded and no outs – Mo redeems himself.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

A devout Christian versus a man who beats his wife, who’d you think God was going to let win? ;)

Bases loaded, nobody out and down one run, Mariano Rivera does not fold. He is the best.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

See? I told you.
http://www.pinstripesplus.com ansky

i know its fun and all, but Mo doesnt need to do that. I was trying to relax this weekend.
Todd S.

I would pay like 10 bucks to watch Joba throw a fastball into Tim McCarver’s back on national TV.

http://thedaveburbarevolution.blogspot.com/
- pete
  
  i would pay like 50 bucks to see joba dominate the sox tomorrow – i.e. like 12 or more Ks, no runs, 7/8 IP. I hate hearing abou thow he’s never faced a good offense yet.
raymond samuels

arod will never be clutch a loser
raymond samuels

to get rid of jeter. arod is a loser .